Los Angeles Dodgers v Tampa Bay Rays (Series tied 1-1)
This was the big pitching matchup I was most excited to see. Charlie Morton and Walker Buehler tried to give their teams some much-needed momentum. One pitcher had the game of his life while the other lost his postseason magic. The Dodgers won the game 6-2 in a game that didn’t live up to the hype but still put up an amazing game on Friday.
Charlie Morton had a playoff ERA of .57 heading into Friday’s game against the Dodgers. The Dodgers had not been doing well against left-handed pitching, but they had Morton figured out on Friday. Morton (4.1IP 7H 5ER 1BB 6K 91PC 1L) was not bad, but the Dodgers were just better against him. This is the first time in the postseason that Morton didn’t pitch at least five innings, and his first start this postseason where he gave up more than one run.
Despite the Dodgers’ offense being shut down by Walker Buehler, DH Randy Arozarena was able to crush a 9th inning home run off CP Kenley Jansen. That was his eighth for the 2020 postseason, tying the record for home runs hit in one postseason.
Buehler has been the best pitcher for the Dodgers in this postseason. I think this was the best-pitched game of his young career. Buehler (6IP 3H 1ER 1BB 10K) became the first pitcher to strike out ten batters in six innings or less in any World Series game. He had what most would consider a letdown season, but he is making up for it with an incredible playoff run. He is now in line to win game seven if they need to.
The top four Dodgers carried this team offensively. OF Mookie Betts, SS Corey Seager, 3B Justin Turner, and 1B Max Muncy went 7-17 3R 4RBI 1HR this game. The Dodgers also pulled off a safety squeeze in this game, not something most teams do. It showed how versatile their offense could be.