As the Fall Classic continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. World Series goes long in Game 3:
The Blue Jays fell to the Dodgers in heartbreaking fashion last night as Freddie Freeman hit a walk off homer in the 18th inning to end the game in a 6-5 with for Los Angeles. The game is now tied for the longest game in World Series history with the 18-inning affair between the Red Sox and Dodgers, which also ended on a walk-off homer at Dodger Stadium. As the teams get ready for a pivotal Game 4 at 5pm local time this evening, the starting pitchers will be more important than ever after a game where both bullpens emptied the tank.
Shohei Ohtani (2.87 ERA) is set to take the mound for L.A. tonight for his first start since the ten-strikeout, three-homer game to clinch against the Brewers that has widely been called the greatest individual performance during a postseason game in MLB history. His opponent will be right-hander Shane Bieber (3.57 ERA), who surrendered four runs in 9 2/3 innings of work across two starts during the ALCS.
2. Jays, Springer await MRI results:
A shadow looming over last night’s game from Toronto’s perspective, even prior to the devastating loss, was the status of veteran slugger George Springer. One of the most impactful hitters in postseason history, Springer exited last night’s game due to what the team is currently describing as “right side discomfort.” The diagnosis immediately brings to mind concerns over an oblique injury, which would surely bring Springer’s season to an abrupt end if confirmed by an MRI. Springer had already gone for testing before the end of last night’s game, and we should know more about his status ahead of Game 4 later today. If Springer were to be sidelined, one silver lining would be that putting Bo Bichette at DH could allow the Jays to use him a bit more aggressively than they have so far by avoiding the toll taken by fielding.
3. Coaching staff changes around the game:
While the Dodgers and Blue Jays continue their fight for the commissioner’s trophy, other teams around the league are already in offseason mode. While much of the focus to this point has been on managerial searches and subsequent hirings, there have been a number of coaching moves made around the league as well. Just yesterday, the Mets brought in a new hitting coach while parting ways with their first base coach, and the Pirates hired their next pitching coach. There’s a number of other coaching vacancies around the league, but one team in particular to keep an eye on would be the Guardians after they lost associate manager Craig Albernaz to the Orioles when he took over their managerial gig and major league field coordinator Kai Correa when he departed to become the Mets’ next bench coach.
Ohtani is like a one man wrecking crew, he was really wasted in Anaheim. Thank god the baseball world got to see him in the playoffs finally. WOW ! GO DODGERS!
Wasted? While he was good to great when healthy. He was dealing with major injuries 5 of the 6 years he was there. If he had been on the Dodger, they would have traded or tried to restrict him to a 1 position player.
I think he meant wasted in the sense the Angels never truly were a threat to make the playoffs when he was there.
For what it’s worth, Jays… the last time the Dodgers had a walk off HR in the 18th inning of the World Series they didn’t win another game…. So you got that going for you at least……
Dad? Is that you?
After a few beverages, Tyler Glasnow looks like Michael Myers.
Can you imagine if Michael Myers was as fragile as Glasnow? The movie would be 30 minutes long. Mike stubs his toe trying to break out of the insane asylum, crumples like a house of cards in the wind, and they lock him up again.
Let’s go Blue Jays!!! Mattingly needs a WS win. Don’t ruin this opportunity.
One win Guarantees the series goes back to “The True North Strong and Free!!!” Then all that needs to be said is……
GO JAYS GO!!!
FEAR THE TRUE NORTH!!!
“Fragile” says the fan of the team with Mike Trout. I’m sorry about your owner and lack of October games. I can’t imagine how jealous most Angel fans are watching LA take their talented MVP and dominate the entire league. I feel for you guys
(this is the second time I have typed this)
I am a Red Sox fan. I have no horse in the race. The iPad thing was a joke from when Percival did the whole “old man yells at cloud” thing
Slightly puling for the Blue Jays now because of course it’s Dodger fans using an electron microscope looking for something to get mad at.
For the philosophical MLBTR people, I found a new way to re-phrase the tree falling in the forest question:
If I change my account name to “Ruben Rivera’s eBay Account” does that make me a Yankee fan?
“Red Sox fan”
We took your best player too so it doesn’t really matter. They don’t give pennants to teams that don’t reach the World Series so you’re all (excluding TOR of course) equal to the Angels to me
Impressive. They only started selling 40s in California an hour ago. Walk Off Freddie has already started. Cheers
“He’s an angry drunk”
Said in the same tone Will Farrell used to say “He’s an angry elf”
I’m sorry I’m drunk on walk off wine. Can’t read your gibberish
WOW
(Walk-Off Wine. Now available at your local 7Eleven. Please drink responsibly)
Hey Freddie, I’ll be your huckleberry. I’m not the least bit jealous of the Dodgers getting into the playoffs or World Series these last few years. If anything I am surprised at how they have struggled against the Blue Jay’s with the lopsided amount of talent that they are carrying. This should have been a 4 and done. This Dodger team, even on it’s worst day should roll over their competition, regardless of who it is.
Honestly, I think the Jays outplayed themselves and lost the game rather than the Dodgers actually won. They pulled a bunch of their regulars for bench players that eroded the overall strength of the lineup and made some bad decisions on the basepaths. They had so many opportunities and base runners and couldn’t score. They’re going to have to look themselves in the mirror and decide if they are interested in winning or not. The Dodgers offense didn’t seem like they were interested in winning.
John Schneider managed the later part of regulation play as though he was ahead. There was nothing to be done about Springer or Bichette as their subs were injury related. But there was no excuse for pulling Barger. Straw was a faster runner, but Barger is no slouch. His bat remaining in the lineup could have been the difference.
…as well as Kirk.
And no excuse for letting Ohtani hit his second HR. He should have received an intentional walk a la Barry Bonds.
“The Dodgers offense didn’t seem like they were interested in winning.”
Freddie won that game with his walk off home run buddy. I guess you missed it. Or maybe everyone is taking him hitting walk off WS dingers for granted now.
We just love dramatic walk off World Series HR in LA and don’t care what happens before that.
@Walk Off Freddie
He was 2 for 7 last night. Where was the offense during the first 17 innings? Exactly…
I’ll take 2-7 with a walk off jack everyday. That was one of the most exciting games I’ve ever watched and being a Dodger fan means I get to watch a ton of exciting games.
Spit the grapes out if they taste so sour to you.
“Where was the offense during the first 17 innings?”
The same can be said of the Jays. Spin it any way that you want, at the end of the night, it’s a win and the Dodgers are up 2 games to 1.
@Padres have zero WS
Yes, it’s a win for them but I think the Jays lost it with subs.
Blue Jays got a Dodgers starter out before 5 innings and still lost. They’re in trouble, with probably their shakiest pitcher starting today and Springer hurt. They had to win last night’s game.
“ The Dodgers offense didn’t seem like they were interested in winning.”
That statement wins this month’s stupidity award.
@Bivouac-Sal
Why? Because you don’t like it? LOL!
@Old
No because it is a moronic take. Blue Skies had the patience to explain it at some length. I don’t think your viewpoint deserves that much explanation. It is ridiculous on its face.
This is an epically silly take. Both teams had plenty of scoring opportunities from the seventh on, but neither team could push a run across until the 18th. Both teams emptied their bullpens. Both managers played every card they held. Smith and Teo Hernandez drove flies right to the wall. Muncy hit one for the distance but just a few feet foul. They all looked plenty interested to me. Somebody was going to win eventually, because there are no ties in baseball.
Honestly, you seem to be watching an entirely different game than the one I watch. I don’t know what you call it, but it isn’t baseball.
Ohtani was on base all 9 times he went up to the plate last night. That’s incredibly impressive, but being involved throughout that game, you have to wonder whether that will have any impact on his performance tonight.
Shorter rest than normal and more activity than normal during the game prior to his start. It may not affect him at all, but something to keep an eye on.
Could you imagine entering the 17th inning at precisely this moment without the pitch clock?
I know the between innings are longer for some extra commercials, but thanks so much for the lack of 45 seconds between pitches and limited mound visits.
Schneider lost the series pitching to Ohtani in the 7th inning when they were up a run
Amen!
Kids 40-50-60 years from now will be talking about Ohtani the way I talked about Babe Ruth when I was younger. And the Babe died 20 years before I was born.
So enthralling and fun to watch.
Dodgers bats went to bed after the Wild Card, and their sloppy defense at home continues. Need Ohtani to channel Yamamoto tonight….
Series isn’t over. Come on BlueJays beat these deferred jerkoffs
It’s over nauseating douchebags too good
Changed your name back to “Otto”, “Fu*ka?”
Said the present day jerkoff.
@Bivouav-Sal this “Fuc*a”/”Otto” is a worthless troll.
Changed his name back to the more normal “Otto” when the he commented he wanted the Blue Jays to thrash the Dodgers last night and it didn’t happen.
I now know what true despair feels like.