L.A. Times CNPA Entry Inside Pages World Series

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V4

TUES DAY, O CTOBER 24, 2017

L AT I ME S . C O M

LAT I M E S . CO M

T UE S DAY, OC T O BE R 2 4 , 2 017

WORLD SERIES PREVIEW: ROSTERS

WORLD SERIES PREVIEW: ROSTERS

DODGERS PROJE CTED BULL PEN

DODGER S PRO JE CT ED STARTI NG PIT CHE R S

Rich Hill

Brandon Morrow

LHP No. 44 Age: 37

RHP No. 17 Age: 33

2017 STATS ERA SO 3.32 166

2017 STATS ERA SO 2.06 50

W-L 12-8

Clayton Kershaw 2017 STATS: W-L: 18-4 ERA: 2.31 SO: 202 IP: 175

IP 43.2

W-L 13-6

Age: 29

2017 STATS ERA SO 4.22 140

IP 134.1

Has appeared in five playoff games and hasn’t allowed a runner to reach base.

Yu Darvish

Tony Watson

Josh Fields

RHP No. 21 Age: 31

LHP No. 33 Age: 32

RHP No. 46 Age: 32

2017 STATS ERA SO 3.86 209

2017 STATS ERA SO 3.38 53

IP 186.2

W-L 7-4

IP 66.2

W-L 5-0

2017 STATS ERA SO 2.84 60

IP 57

If he pitches in Houston, he won’t be able to replicate his crucial NLCS walk.

His ability to induce ground balls has continued during the postseason.

Appeared in three games during first two playoff rounds.

Alex Wood

Ross Stripling

Tony Cingrani

RHP No. 68 Age: 27

LHP No. 54 Age: 28

W-L 16-3

Age: 26

2017 STATS ERA SO 2.72 151

IP 152.1

Victimized by homers in Chicago, he otherwise pitched well after layoff.

His six innings of one-run baseball kept the Cubs quiet in the NLCS clincher.

W-L 6-0

RHP No. 18

His 1.08 postseason ERA won’t hurt his case in free agency this winter.

LHP No. 57 Jamie Squire Getty Images

IP 135.2

Kenta Maeda

Has given up two runs and struck out 12 in his two playoff starts this year.

W-L 10-12

LHP No. 22 Age: 29

V5

W-L 3-5

2017 STATS ERA SO 3.75 74

IP 74.1

Can be used to soak up innings, as he did during the NLCS against the Cubs.

K.C. Alfred San Diego Union-Tribune

Kenley Jansen RHP No. 74 Age: 30

2017 STATS: SV: 41 ERA: 1.32 SO: 109 IP: 68.1

Has retired 24 of the 28 batters he has faced in the playoffs.

W-L 0-0

2017 STATS ERA SO 4.22 52

IP 42.2

Unheralded when acquired in August, he faces opponents’ top left-handed hitters.

ASTROS PROJE CTED BULL PEN

ASTRO S PROJE CT ED START ING PI T CHE RS STARTING PITCHERS

Justin Verlander

Brad Peacock

Will Harris

RHP No. 35 Age: 34

RHP No. 41 Age: 29

RHP No. 36 Age: 33

W-L 15-8

2017 STATS ERA SO 3.36 219

IP 206

Aug. 31 acquisition was ALCS MVP after twice shutting down the Yankees.

W-L 13-2

2017 STATS ERA SO 3.00 161

IP 132

W-L 3-2

Rose from obscurity at 29 to shine as a starter this season.

2017 STATS ERA SO 2.98 52

IP 45.1

Warmed up often in the ALCS, but didn’t pitch much.

Doug Murray Associated Press

Ken Giles RHP No. 53 Age: 27

Charlie Morton

Francisco Liriano

RHP No. 50 Age: 33

LHP No. 46 Age: 33

W-L 14-7

Doug Murray Associated Press

Dallas Keuchel LHP No. 60 Age: 29

2017 STATS: W-L: 14-5 ERA: 2.90 SO: 125 IP: 145.2

Former Cy Young winner uses command to overcome below-average velocity.

2017 STATS ERA SO 3.62 163

IP 146.2

W-L 6-7

2017 STATS ERA SO 5.66 85

2017 STATS: SV: 34 ERA: 2.30 SO: 83 IP: 62.2

Closer throws 100 mph, spins a slider, but has had missteps in October.

Luke Gregerson RHP No. 44 Age: 33

IP 97

W-L 2-3

2017 STATS ERA SO 4.57 70

IP 61

Veteran throws as hard as ever, still using the famed Roy Halladay delivery.

Acquired at the trade deadline, ex-starter has been used sparingly.

Lance McCullers Jr.

Collin McHugh

Joe Musgrove

RHP No. 43 Age: 24

RHP No. 31 Age: 30

RHP No. 59 Age: 24

W-L 7-4

2017 STATS ERA SO 4.25 132

IP 118.2

Bullpen star in ALCS Game 7, but will use curveballs in start against Dodgers.

W-L 5-2

2017 STATS ERA SO 3.55 62

IP 63.1

Veteran is likely to pitch only in mop-up situations.

Former closer fell out of favor for much of this season.

Doug Murray Associated Press

Chris Devenski RHP No. 47 Age: 26

2017 STATS: W-L: 8-5 ERA: 2.68 SO: 100 IP: 80.2

Cerritos native has had back-to-back great seasons but struggled this month.

W-L 7-8

2017 STATS ERA SO 4.77 98

IP 109.1

Faced four batters in the ALCS and retired two of them.

ADVA NTAGE: D O DGERS

ADVANTAGE: DODGERS

Clayton Kershaw was effective in his two NLCS outings against the Cubs, with his command much sharper in the clincher. The Dodgers remain vigilant in their usage of him, aware of his vulnerability to home runs. The team has used a similar strategy in managing Rich Hill, Yu Darvish and Alex Wood, though manager Dave Roberts extended Darvish into the seventh inning against the Cubs. After spending almost his entire career in the American League, Darvish’s familiarity with the Astros can’t hurt. The August acquisition of Justin Verlander proved vital to the Astros’ reaching this stage, as his seven dominant innings in Game 6 against New York kept Houston’s season alive. He will be paired with Dallas Keuchel, the team’s resident ace. The back half of the Astros’ rotation — Charlie Morton, Lance McCullers and Brad Peacock — is less dominant, but still impressive. — Andy McCullough

The Dodgers relievers handcuffed the Cubs for the entirety of the NLCS. Chicago didn’t score against the Dodgers bullpen in 17 innings. Kenley Jansen has been nearly flawless and has not been subjected to heavy usage. Jansen has pitched in seven games, but only two involved multiple-inning outings. The combination of Brandon Morrow and Kenta Maeda can shut down right-handed hitters; Tony Watson and Tony Cingrani can handle the left-handed hitters. The Astros bullpen is less reliable. The Yankees roughed up middle relievers such as Chris Devenski, Will Harris and Joe Musgrove. Ken Giles, the heat-throwing closer, has an impressive arsenal of pitches but saw his strikeout rate dip this season. The patience of the Dodgers hitters could defuse most of the Astros relievers. Houston relies on curveballs, and the Dodgers tend to hit those well. — Andy McCullough


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