FYI, the 630 comments on the Dodgers’ Game Three post was the fourth-highest ever on this blog. The three higher all occurred during the 2017 World Series: Game Five — 1,022; Game Seven, — 691; and Game Three — 638.
On this date in baseball history Woodrow Wilson became the first President to attend a World Series game in 1915, rumors circulated about a fix of the 1919 World Series, Frank Robinson homered off Don Drysdale in the 1966 World Series to complete the sweep, 1-0, and Jeffrey Maier gave Derek Jeter and the Yankees a victory in Game One of the 1996 World Series.
The early game: Cardinals at Braves, 2:02 PM PDT, TV: TBS
The Cards’ RHP Jack Flaherty faces the Braves’ RHP Mike Foltynewicz in a rematch of Game Two pitchers. The Braves got three runs off Flaherty and won 3-0 in that game behind Foltynewicz’s seven scoreless innings.
Cardinals lineup:
For all the marbles#NLDS | #TimeToFly pic.twitter.com/ihON3pDyjH
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) October 9, 2019
Braves lineup:
Game 5. Winner takes all.#RELENTLESS pic.twitter.com/VrYP1lhucH
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 9, 2019
The late game: Nationals at Dodgers, 5:37 PM PDT, TV: TBS
The Nats send RHP Stephen Strasburg to the mound to face the Dodgers’ RHP Walker Buehler. In Game Two Strasburg gave up one run in six innings while striking out ten. Buehler gave up one hit and no runs in six innings in Game One.
Nationals lineup:
Go 1-0 today.#BeatLA // #STAYINTHEFIGHT pic.twitter.com/iIGcPIr98Z
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) October 9, 2019
Dodgers lineup:
Tonight’s Gm. 5 Dodger lineup vs. Nationals:
Pederson RF
Muncy 2B
Turner 3B
Bellinger CF
Beaty 1B
Seager SS
Hernández LF
Smith C
Buehler P#NLDS | #LABleedsBlue pic.twitter.com/4CtCv7idBS— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 9, 2019
Hmm. I guess the idea is to hold Freese in reserve for pinch-hitting duties. I can’t see any other reason to start Beaty there.