The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox open the 2018 World Series tonight in a game featuring Clayton Kershaw and Chris Sale, two elite lefties that are arguably the two best pitchers in all of baseball right now.
Sale leads a Boston team that won 108 games this season and beat the New York Yankees (3-1) and the defending champion Houston Astros (4-1) on the way to this Fall Classic.
Although he’s suffered a few hiccups along the way, Kershaw’s been solid in the postseason-clinching Game 7 of the NLCS for L.A. He leads a Dodgers team that is trying to win their first World Series since 1988 and is playing in their second straight World Series after losing to the Houston Astros in seven games last year.
Sale reaches this game on a nine-day rest after suffering stomach issues in the ALCS that postponed his scheduled start against the Astros. Sale is used by now to seeing scarce action this season as he’s dealt with two disabled list stints that have limited his number of starts and innings pitched since September.
Sale, however, is now ready to make his World Series debut as he’s expected to start twice in this series against Los Angeles and make a bullpen appearance if needed.
Kershaw, who’s pitching at Fenway Park for the first time in his career, will most likely spring into action whenever Boston sends Sale to the mound. The three-time Cy Young winner already proved against the Milwaukee Brewers that he can come off the bullpen if needed and won’t shy away from entering the game in clutch situations if needed.
The key for Kershaw will be to shake off his frequent postseason struggles and lead the Dodgers to a win in Game 1. If they do, the Dodgers could change the outlook of this World Series.
Las Vegas is taking the Red Sox to win the World Series as they are favored at -165 to beat the Dodgers, whose comeback is +145. As for the most probable outcome is Boston in six games, which is priced at +300.
But if the Dodgers snatch a victory in the series opener against Sale that puts extra pressure on David Price in Game 2 and on the Red Sox for the rest of the series.
Price is another outstanding pitcher that tends to struggle in the postseason, so the Red Sox are looking to win Game 1 not only to keep home-field advantage but to instead take pressure off him.
Pitching Matchups:
Game 1: Clayton Kershaw (9-5, 2.73) vs. Chris Sale (12-4, 2.11) at L.A
Game 2: Hyun-Jin Ryu (7-3, 1.97) vs. David Price (16-7, 3.58) at L.A
Game 3: TBD vs. Walker Buehler (8-5, 2.62) at Boston
Both teams have yet to announce their starters for Game 4 and beyond
Prediction: Boston Red Sox win in seven games
