Dodgers @ Brewers Game 6 Preview

By MLB

Boston won its fourth consecutive game over Houston on Thursday night to advance to the World Series. Los Angeles will try to ride similar momentum and win its third in a row on Friday night to eliminate Milwaukee and get this year’s Fall Classic started early.

The oddsmakers like the Dodgers to do just that as slight favorites in Milwaukee for Game 6. Hyun-Jin Ryu opposes Wade Miley.

Preview

We won our play with the Dodgers -1 on Wednesday night. Part of the reason I liked the Dodgers was because I suspected Craig Counsell would pull Wade Miley early and that the Brewers’ bullpen wouldn’t be able to hold off the Dodgers, pitching its third game in three days.

I didn’t expect Miley to pitch to just one batter, though. He walked Cody Bellinger to lead off the game and Counsell made the pre-arranged move, which gave Brandon Woodruff a dense forest of right-handers to cut down, which he did until the fifth inning, when he found trouble.

The trickery wasn’t all about Game 5, either. Miley will start tonight, this time looking for some length, with a rested bullpen behind him.

Neither Corey Knebel nor Josh Hader appeared in Game 5 and both may be available for two innings tonight, if necessary. So while Milwaukee would love to be up 3–2, its pitching is well-situated for a must-win Game 6 tonight.

But I look at Hyun-Jin Ryu as an ace these days. He comes into this game on a full five days of rest and I’d be surprised if is not stellar tonight. He was cruising in Game 2 until Orlando Arcia homered to leadoff the fifth inning and Miley got his second hit in two at-bats. Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yellich followed with hits and Ryu’s evening was over. It would be surprising if the bottom of Milwaukee’s lineup, especially Miley, did damage to Ryu for the second time in the series.

Ryu and Miley are both 31-year-old, finesse left-handers and both have had tremendous comeback seasons after recent injuries. They are both free agents after this season and have lots of money coming their way (and their agent’s way) soon. Not only do I want to see each pitch well tonight, I believe they will; and with rested bullpens behind them, the total feels at least half a run too high.

Play: Under 8.0 (-115)


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