LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The World Series will shift to Dodger Stadium today, with the Los Angeles Dodgers seeking their first victory after losing both games at Boston's Fenway Park.
The Dodgers are attempting to become the 12th team to overcome a two games to none deficit to win a World Series. The others include the 1955, 1965 and 1981 Dodgers.
Teams taking 2-0 leads have gone on to win the Series 43 of 54 times, 79.6 percent, including each of the last 10 times.
Boston is 5-0 on the road in the 2018 postseason.
The Dodgers will be facing a right-handed starting pitcher for the first time in the Series. The only specific change to the lineup Dodgers manager Dave Roberts disclosed is that Joc Pederson will be the leadoff hitter, replacing Brian Dozier.
Dozier was hitless in four at-bats in the first two games, walking twice and scoring a run. Pederson was hitless in three at-bats off the bench.
The only comment Red Sox manager Alex Cora made about his lineup was that outfielder Mookie Betts would not start at second base, where he has played 15 games in his major league career -- one this season and 14 as a rookie in 2014.
A challenge Cora has in making his lineup is the absence of the designated hitter.
Rookie Walker Buehler will be the Dodgers starting pitcher, facing fellow right-hander Rick Porcello.
“He's got a lot of tools,” Roberts said of Buehler. “He's got a plus fastball with good command. He can change eye levels. He can pitch in and out. He's got a slider, cutter. He's got a breaking ball with a little bit more depth, and he's got a change-up. So he's got weapons to attack particular hitter's weakness and also go to his strengths.
“But the No. 1 thing with Walker is that when he is good, he's got good fastball command.”
Buehler is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in three appearances in the 2018 postseason. He was the Dodgers starting pitcher in Saturday's 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series, allowing one run and six hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out seven and not walking a batter. He was one out short of qualifying for the victory.
In the regular season, Buehler was 4-3 with a 1.93 ERA at Dodger Stadium and 4-2 with a 3.45 ERA on the road.
“I think the routines are the same here every time, and you get on the road and things can be a little quirky,” Buehler said. “The anthem is played at a different time. You've got to warm up. You know how everything is going to be here.
“So I think most guys are better at home. That's kind of a guess, but I would think that most people would be better at their home ballpark and to have their home crowd behind them.”
Buehler is trying to become the second consecutive Vanderbilt alumnus to be the winning pitcher in the World Series, following Boston left-hander David Price.
“It's kind of cool and something you might look back at, but right now it doesn't really matter too much,” said Buehler, whose college career began in 2013, six years after Price's ended.
Porcello is 1-0 with a 4.22 ERA in four appearances in the 2018 postseason, starting twice. His most recent appearance was in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series Oct. 17, where he was replaced after allowing four runs and seven hits in four innings in Boston's 8-6 victory.
“I don't think his stuff was as crisp as early in the playoffs,” Cora said. “So now with the rest I think he'll be fine. I know it's a different lineup with them, all the lefties are going to play. But I do feel with his stuff we can match up with them, and he can give us a quality start.”
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