PHOENIX — Sometimes you have to tip your cap to the opposing pitcher. Merrill Kelly was every bit the impressive pitcher that he had been all postseason for Arizona in Game 2 of the World Series, holding the Texas Rangers to just three hits over his seven innings of work.
After the Diamondbacks’ 9-1 win in Game 2, the stage is set for a response from the Rangers, who aim to bounce back with Max Scherzer on the mound as the series shifts to Arizona beginning in Game 3.
Where we stand
The kid strikes again – While not another milestone or accolade, Evan Carter found himself in the middle of importance again. After retiring 11 in a row to start the game, Kelly certainly seemed to have the Rangers’ number. Evan Carter, though, stepped up and ended Kelly’s perfect game bid in the 4th with a looping single to short center field. Carter now has a hit in 13 of 14 postseason games and has been on base in every playoff game.
Garver goes yard – Nothing came of Carter’s single the inning before, but designated hitter Mitch Garver made sure that the Rangers would not be shut out. With a moonshot of a homer on the lowest pitch that he hit for a home run all season, Garver put Texas on the board in the 5th, tallying their only run of the game.
Bullpen blowback – A game after the Texas bullpen threw 6 ⅓ shutout innings, in Saturday night’s Game 2, the ‘pen coughed up five runs in three innings. That wouldn’t have cut it in a close game but by the time the relievers were allowing runs, the Rangers were already struggling to hit Kelly.
Game 3 match-up
Texas Rangers (1-1) @ Arizona Diamondbacks (1-1) – 7:03 PM CT, Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona – Broadcast on FOX
Starting Pitchers – RHP Max Scherzer (0-1, 9.45 ERA) vs. RHP Brandon Pfaadt (0-0, 2.70 ERA)
This is the stage that the Rangers acquired Max Scherzer for. Technically, it’s the stage they signed Jacob deGrom for, but when he went down after the first month, needing Tommy John surgery, the Rangers needed a backup plan. Scherzer fit the bill in every way imaginable upon coming over from the Mets.
Then Scherzer got injured and was shut down for the rest of the regular season on September 13 with a strained teres major muscle. His status for the postseason was listed as “unlikely,” but Scherzer worked his way back and was slotted in for the first home game of the ALCS against Houston.
In that game, the rust showed and Scherzer allowed five runs in four innings as the Astros claimed their first of three straight at Globe Life Field. In his next outing, the decisive Game 7, Scherzer still wasn’t at his best, allowing two runs in 2 ⅔ innings, but he did his job with the Texas offense already jumping on the board early in the game. That allowed Jordan Montgomery to come in and take the bulk of the starter’s load as Texas clinched the World Series berth.
Scherzer faced the Diamondbacks just once this season, as a member of the Mets. In that game, he gave up four runs in six innings of work. With the Mets, Scherzer was far more susceptible to the home run ball and he showed it, allowing three in that Independence Day affair.
For his career though, Scherzer has faced Arizona 12 times, pitching to a 9-0 record and a 2.65 ERA. At Chase Field, where Scherzer’s career started, the future Hall-of-Famer has pitched in 29 games in the desert, holding an 11-8 record and 3.86 ERA.
The expectations for Scherzer are high, but the leash may still be short. Bruce Bochy used all five of his long relievers in the first two games in Texas – Cody Bradford, Andrew Heaney, Chris Stratton, Martin Perez, and Dane Dunning twice. Bradford was only used in Game 1, so he may get the call if Scherzer gets into trouble early. Dunning was only used for two batters in Game 2 and one inning in Game 1, and with the off day Sunday, he may be good for a couple of hitters.
Opposing Scherzer for Arizona is rookie righty Brandon Pfaadt. The 25-year-old has been lauded as a postseason hero for holding the Philadelphia Phillies to just two runs over two outings totaling 9 ⅔ innings. The Diamondbacks have seen Pfaadt take bouncing back and forth from the minors in stride, returning with improvements each time. The demeanor for Pfaadt has earned him the honor of starting the first World Series game at Chase Field in 22 years.
Pfaadt might have just as short a leash as Scherzer, having not passed through the 6th inning in any of his postseason starts. He faced Texas once this year, in his Major League debut, and the Rangers tagged him hard for seven runs in 4 ⅔ innings.
Merrill Kelly’s heroics in Game 2, going seven strong, might have given Arizona the edge as far as effective relievers in short bursts, but looking forward, the Diamondbacks may need to use a bullpen game in Game 4, similar to what they did in the NLCS, which means they’ll be counting on Pfaadt for some innings.
Avoid or Continue
Avoid: Not striking out Diamondbacks – Arizona was one of the teams that struck out the least in the majors during the regular season. They showed that strength in Game 2, as Texas didn’t register its first strikeout of a Diamondback until Chris Stratton did so in the 8th. With Max Scherzer on the mound, the opportunity for strikeouts presents itself, but Scherzer’s game plan might change in just his third outing since coming back from injury.
Continue: Stellar defense – There’s not much a whole team can do to control what the pitcher throws and where the balls land, but Josh Jung and Corey Seager had a busy night on the left side of the infield and they handled their chances cleanly. Jung had a fantastic diving stop in the 4th inning, throwing out Christian Walker from foul territory.
Avoid: Letting them back in an inning – Seven of the nine runs that Arizona scored in Game 2 came with two outs in the inning. None of the pitchers on the night – Montgomery, Dunning, Heaney, Stratton or Perez had a definitive put-out pitch. The Diamondbacks registered 16 hits with just two strikeouts on the night, effectively bludgeoning the Rangers’ pitching staff through the night.
The World Series now heads to Arizona. It’s another closed-roof stadium, another fan base starved for a championship, but more importantly it’s a road game. It’s the first of three road games – and Texas, undefeated on the road, needs three more wins.
Do you think the Rangers will be able to take a 2-1 series lead with a Game 3 win? Share your predictions with Matt on Twitter @FisherWritesMLB.
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