Oct 21

NLCS Game Five, 2021

Braves at Dodgers, 5:07 PM PDT, TV: TBS

LHP Max Fried (postseason 1-0, 1.50 ERA) tries to close out the Series for the Braves, while the Dodgers throw their entire bullpen (or at least those who aren’t exhausted).

Today in baseball history the newly-moved San Francisco Giants bought and moved the San Francisco Seals to Phoenix, Arizona. The hallowed PCL team had played in the City-by-the-Bay since 1903. The Phillies won their first-ever World Series behind Steve Carlton’s four-hitter in 1980 on this date, in 2000 the Yankees and Mets played the longest World Series game ever (to that point), 12 innings in 4:51, and in 2006 two rookie pitchers started a World Series game against one another for the first time; the Cardinals’ Anthony Reyes outdueled the Tigers’ Justin Verlander.

Lineups when available.

Braves:

Dodgers:

Oct 20

NLCS Game Four, 2021

It’s gotta be the haircut. He started hitting the moment he cut his hair. Sort of a reverse Samson.

Houston Mitchell in the LA Times on Bellinger’s home run

Braves at Dodgers, 5:08 PM PDT, TV: TBS

The Braves give the ball to RHP Huascar Ynoa (postseason 0-0, 18.00 ERA). He’ll face the Dodgers’ LHP Julio Urías (postseason 1-0, 3.60 ERA). The Dodgers hope that Urías can bounce back from his relief showing in Game Two in which he gave up 2 runs on 3 hits and Atlanta tied and later won the game.

Today in baseball history Gene Tenace hit his fourth home run of the Series in 1972, Orel Hershiser threw a four-hitter to win Game Five and the Series for the Dodgers in 1988 and the Red Sox completed their 2004 ALCS comeback from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Yankees and move on to the World Series.

Lineups when available.

Braves:

Dodgers:

Oct 20

ALCS Game Five, 2021

Astros at Red Sox, 2:08 PM PDT, TV: FS1

LHP Framber Valdez (postseason 0-0, 7.71 ERA) goes for the Astros and LHP Chris Sale (postseason 0-0, 14.73 ERA) goes for the Red Sox. Yes, it’s a rematch of the Game One pitchers. Houston won that one.

Lineups when available.

Astros:

Red Sox:

Oct 19

ALCS Game Four, 2021

Astros at Red Sox, 5:08 PM PDT, TV: FS1

The Astros hand the ball to one-time ace RHP Zack Greinke (11-6, 4.16 ERA); the Red Sox counter with RHP Nick Pivetta (9-8, 4.53 ERA). Boston leads the series 2 games to 1.

Lineups when available.

Astros:

Red Sox:

Oct 19

NLCS Game Three, 2021

Braves at Dodgers, 2:08 PM PDT, TV: TBS

RHP Charlie Morton (postseason 0-1, 3.36 ERA) takes the mound for the Braves to face RHP Walker Buehler (postseason 0-1, 3.38 ERA) of the Dodgers. The Braves lead the series 2 – 0.

Today in baseball history Rick Monday homered in Game Five of the 1981 NLCS to beat the Expos out of the World Series and Curt Schilling won Game Six of the 2004 World Series with a bloody sock.

Lineups when available.

Braves:

Dodgers:

Oct 18

ALCS Game Three, 2021

Astros at Red Sox, 5:07 PM PDT, TV: FS1

RHP Jose Urquidy (8-3, 3.62 ERA) pitches for the Astros and LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (postseason 0-1, 5.40 ERA) goes for the Red Sox.

Today in baseball history in 1950 Connie Mack retired after 50 years of managing in the big leagues, Casey Stengel was fired for being 70 years old and losing the 1960 World Series to the Pirates on Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off home run, Reggie Jackson homered in three consecutive at-bats in the 1977 World Series, and David Ortiz singled in Johnny Damon in the 14th inning of Game Five of the 2004 ALCS to beat the Yankees.

Lineups when available.

Astros:

Red Sox:

Oct 17

NLCS Game Two, 2021

Dodgers at Braves, 4:38 PM PDT, TV: TBS

The Dodgers give the ball to RHP Max Scherzer (postseason 0-1, 1 SV, 1.46 ERA). He’ll face the Braves’ RHP Ian Anderson (postseason 1-0, 0.00 ERA).

Today in baseball history Steve Blass threw a four-hitter and the Pirates beat the Orioles in Game Seven to win the 1971 World Series, in Game Seven of the 1979 World Series Willie Stargell went 3-4 and the Pirates overcame a three games to one deficit and beat the Orioles (again!), and the Loma Prieta earthquake rattled the Bay Area just minutes before Game Three of the 1989 World Series was to begin.

Lineups when available.

Dodgers:

Braves:

Oct 16

NLCS Game One, 2021

Dodgers at Braves, 5:07 PM PDT, TV: TBS

The Dodgers have decided to make this a bullpen game. RHP Corey Knebel (4-0, 2.45 ERA) will start, just two days after he started Game Five of the NLDS. He’ll face the Braves’ LHP Max Fried (14-7, 3.04 ERA).

Why an opener for the Dodgers?

Los Angeles was hoping to stay away from Max Scherzer in Game 5 of the NL Division Series against the Giants, but the right-hander ended up closing out the game with a scoreless ninth. Because of Scherzer’s appearance on Thursday, the Dodgers will have reliever Corey Knebel open Game 1, which comes two nights after he threw a scoreless inning as the opener in the Dodgers’ NLDS Game 5 win over the Giants. Tony Gonsolin is a likely option to take down the bulk of the innings after Knebel exits.

Lineups when available.

Dodgers:

Braves:

Oct 16

ALCS Game Two, 2021

Red Sox at Astros, 1:20 PM PDT, TV: Fox

U-less RHP Nathan Eovaldi (13-9, 3.75 ERA) takes the hill for the BoSox; he’ll face the Astros’ RHP Luis Garcia (11-8, 3.48 ERA). Eovaldi went five innings in Boston’s ALDS Game Three against the Rays, giving up two runs on three hits. Garcia started Game Three in Houston’s ALDS Game Three against the White Sox and was horrible; he gave up five runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings.

On this date in baseball history Bobby Richardson caught Willie McCovey’s line drive to end the 1962 World Series, the Miracle Mets won the 1969 World Series behind a Jerry Koosman five-hitter in Game Five, Jack Clark broke Tom Niedenfuer’s and Dodgers’ fans hearts in the 1985 NLCS, Aaron Boone did the same to Tim Wakefield and the Red Sox in the 11th inning of Game Seven of the 2003 ALCS, and Will Smith the Dodgers’ catcher homered off Will Smith the Braves’ reliever in 2020.

Lineups when available.

Red Sox:

Astros:

Oct 15

ALCS Game One, 2021

Red Sox at Astros, 5:07 PM PDT, TV: Fox

LHP Chris Sale (5-1, 3.16 ERA) tries to bounce back from a one-inning five-run outing in Game Two of the ALDS against the Rays. He’ll face the Astros’ LHP Framber Valdez (11-6, 3.14 ERA). His last outing was about as bad as Sale’s, although he lasted into the fifth inning of Game Two of the ALCS against the White Sox. He gave up four runs on seven hits in that game (which the Astros came back to win).

Today in baseball history the Yankees won their first World Series in 1923, Enos Slaughter scored as “Pesky held the ball” in Game Seven of the 1946 World Series and Ron Swoboda’s diving catch kept the Orioles off the scoreboard in the 1969 World Series:

Kirk Gibson hit a memorable HR for the Dodgers in Game One of the 1988 World Series:

And in 2017 the Dodgers’ Justin Turner emulated Gibson and hit a three-run walk-off home run against the Cubs in the twelfth inning of Game Two of the NLCS:

Lineups when available.

Red Sox:

Astros: