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Los Angeles Dodgers: World Series Game 3 pitching preview

By Jason Reed

MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 20: Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers during the fourth inning in Game Seven of the National League Championship Series at Miller Park on October 20, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 20: Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers during the fourth inning in Game Seven of the National League Championship Series at Miller Park on October 20, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers /

Rick Porcello:

  • Regular season stats: 33 starts, 191.1 IP, 4.28 ERA, 1.176 WHIP, 190 Ks
  • Postseason stats: 2 starts, 10.2 IP, 4.22 ERA, 1.218 WHIP, 6 Ks

Rick Porcello has started just two games for the Boston Red Sox in the postseason and has also come in out of the bullpen twice as well for Boston. Despite the numbers, Porcello has been pretty good this postseason, with his last start making it worse than it appears.

In his last start, which was Game 4 of the ALCS, Porcello was only able to complete four innings of work, allowing seven hits, four runs and two home runs. The Red Sox still went on to win that game, 8-6, behind some controversy.

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In his other start, Porcello tossed five innings, allowing four hits and one run. He has allowed just one hit in his two bullpen outings.

Porcello did win the 2016 American League Cy Young with the Red Sox but is a very hittable pitcher, especially with some power-hitting left-handed bats in the Dodgers lineup. He does not walk a lot of guys at all with most of the traffic on the bases being that of base hits.

According to FanGraphs, Porcello’s 2.26 BB/9 was the ninth-best among pitchers with at least 190 innings pitched this season. Even if you reduce the qualifications to qualified pitchers, Porcello still ranks 12th.

Porcello attacks the zone and is susceptible to letting up base hits if he does not find the corners. Over the last two seasons, Porcello has allowed 413 hits, the most of any pitcher in baseball.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are a very patient team and are going to have to put some of that away while facing Porcello. While you do not want to swing at a pitchers pitch on the first pitch, the strategy must be to look for base hits, not to grind out walks.

Next. What it will take for LA to win Game 3. dark

Grinding out a walk is perfectly fine with me but the Dodgers statistically have a better chance if they attack what he offers them in the zone. This should mean a lot of 0-0 green lights for Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy and Joc Pederson.

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