Game 5 was Kershaw’s resounding statement
The label has been attached to Kershaw for years. There was no way around the reputation that Clayton Kershaw was a bad pitcher in the postseason. While the reputation may be skewed by the critics as Kershaw has his fair share of good starts as well as bad starts. What we most remembered Kershaw for were the games where Kershaw would get lit up, costing his team in the postseason. In Game 5, Kershaw proved doubters like myself wrong and pitched another gem.
Like David Price a few years ago, Kershaw needed to have a postseason like this one. In 2018 with Boston, Price was torched against the Yankees in game 2 of the ALDS. Price came back to pitch great in the ALCS and World Series to finally win the World Series that his Hall of Fame career deserves. Kershaw went 5.2 innings with 6 strikeouts and only surrendered two runs in the 4-2 victory.
Dodgers bats got to Glasnow early
Tyler Glasnow struggled in the later innings against the Dodgers lineup in Game 1. In tonight’s rubber game, Glasnow got beat early and often by the Dodgers lineup. The top of the first inning set the tone for the game. World Series MVP candidate Mookie Betts circled the bases with a Corey Seager base hit. After a few wild pitches advanced Seager to third base, Cody Bellinger sliced a 1-2 off-speed pitch to drive in Seager with an infield single. The RBI gave the Dodgers the early 2-0 lead and Kershaw the cushion to start his strong night.
The following inning, Tyler Glasnow left a high heater to Joc Pederson to only worsen the situation. Pederson powered the high fastball over the center-field wall, giving the Dodgers the 3-0 lead in only the second inning. With Glasnow fighting through the rest of the start, it was only a matter of time before the Dodgers bats struck again. That moment was in the fifth inning, with Max Muncy clobbering a meatball over the plate to give the Dodgers their 4th run of the night.
With an early lead, the Dodgers bullpen put Game 5 to rest
The Rays did try to fight back, even pulling to within one run at one point. Tampa Bay may have thought they were catching a break by taking Kershaw out of the game. The bullpen erased any of that theory shut the door on Game 5. Dustin May entered to retire the final out of the 6th inning and then held the lead in the seventh. May gave the ball over to Victor Gonzalez who finished off the 8th inning with only a walk and a hit surrendered between the two relievers. Blake Treinen is closer by committee at the moment and he might keep the position for a closeout game. Treinen struck out two Rays on the way to the save.
What will the Rays have to do to come back and win the series?
For starters, they need their starting pitching to be lights out. Blake Snell was on fire last time on the mound and will need to be in Game 6 to stave off elimination. Charlie Morton is known for being clutch in the postseason but in Game 3, the Dodgers had Morton’s number. The Rays have the better bullpen but they can’t trail again and expect to beat the Dodgers rotation. Walker Buehler will be the likely Game 7 starter if we have the extra game (uh-oh).
I mentioned in my 3 keys for each team to win the World Series, that the Rays need to work counts. The Rays have been aggressive in their at-bats and on the basepaths. This needs no further reference than Manny Margot trying to steal home with two outs. The issue is, that the Rays have been most effective in this series when they work counts, put runners on base, and show the willingness to lace a single if it means they can bring in a crucial run. The Rays will need to not only get ahead early with this strategy. They must constantly drive in runs with the Dodgers lineup showing the ability to come back from any deficit.
