The Los Angeles Dodgers are locked in an even fight with the Toronto Blue Jays. The visitors showed their resilience in stunning the Dodgers 6-2 Tuesday to tie the series 2-2. Now one ex-player revealed a harsh reality the Dodgers face in the World Series.
Talkin' Baseball podcast co-host Trevor Plouffe helped compare where one has the advantage over the other. Before the WS, many believed it was the National League champs with the deeper pitching lineup.
L.A., however, breezed through 10 different pitchers in Game 3. Even Game 2 starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto was seen warming up as Dave Roberts went through the lineup.
Game 4 starter Shohei Ohtani looked off his game in the Tuesday loss. Does Plouffe now believe the momentum is drifting away from L.A.?
“I think the Blue Jays are in such a better position in the bullpen,” Plouffe said.
Ex-player shares ‘Huge part' on why Blue Jays have edge over Dodgers
Plouffe cites Chris Bassitt as the reason why he's leaning towards Toronto now. But there's more besides the 36-year-old veteran.
“[Jeff] Hoffman has looked good,” Plouffe said, regarding the Blue Jays' closer. “So you have Hoffman, you have Bassitt. I think Seranthony (Dominguez), do you still trust him. But [Mason] Fluharty got the job tonight. They are in a really, really good spot.”
Shane Bieber claimed the win on the hill for Toronto — pitching through five innings, allowing four hits but striking out three Dodgers. Louis Varland also earned action in one inning. The American League champs totaled seven strikeouts and surrendered six hits. Freddie Freeman, the Game 3 hero off his walk-off home run, led with two hits. Max Muncy and Mookie Betts got held to one hit.
Is Plouffe, though, losing faith in the Dodgers' chances of repeating?
“If you're the Dodgers, you just have to say ‘Please Blake Snell, please Yamamoto, you got to go seven [innings] at least?” Plouffe asked.
The former third baseman Plouffe, who's an L.A. native from nearby West Hills, is believing Roberts and L.A. must ride its two starters for the remainder of the WS.
