Murphy Sticks With an Unchanged Nine
For the first time this season, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy will send out the same starting nine for a third consecutive game. The decision comes as his club enters Monday night's World Series Game 3 against the Tampa Bay Rays holding a 2-0 series advantage, two victories shy of a title. During the regular season Murphy routinely rotated personnel according to the opposing pitcher and leaned on the roster's depth, but with a championship close he has settled on the group he trusts most.[S1]
The posted lineup lists Jackson Chourio in left field, Jake Bauers at first base, Christian Yelich as designated hitter, William Contreras behind the plate, Brice Turang at second, Garrett Mitchell in center, Cooper Pratt at shortstop, Sal Frelick in right and David Hamilton at third, with Robert Gasser on the mound. The series moves to Tropicana Field in Florida after Milwaukee opened with two home wins.[S1]
Two Tight Wins Set Up the Road Trip
Both opening games were decided narrowly and drew controversy. Milwaukee held on for a 3-2 win in Game 1, then erased a 4-0 deficit in Game 2 to prevail 5-4. The Brewers entered the postseason with the best record in baseball, built on consistent at-bats and strong work from both the rotation and a bullpen that has been close to untouchable across the playoffs.[S1]
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Monday's pitching matchup carries an unusual wrinkle: Tampa Bay starts Freddy Peralta, a former Brewers pitcher, while Milwaukee turns to the left-hander Gasser. Neither club has announced a starter for Game 4, and the Rays may use their entire staff in that game, particularly if they fall behind 3-0 and need to keep the series alive.[S1]
Power Threats on Both Sides
Analysts give Tampa Bay a slight edge on the mound for Game 3, citing Gasser's vulnerability to right-handed power. Junior Caminero is the recommended Rays home run pick after a regular season in which he batted .287 with a .390 wOBA and .490 slugging percentage against left-handers, with expected numbers even stronger; he homered eight times in 157 at-bats. Gasser allowed homers at a higher rate on the road, 1.44 per nine innings versus 0.97, and sat in the 27th percentile in expected slugging against righties.[S2]
Jake Bauers is the suggested Milwaukee pick, having produced hard contact and barrels against right-handed pitching all year and still barreling righties at an 11.3% rate in the playoffs. Ryan Vilade is named as the long-shot option, with seven regular-season homers off lefties, a 49.6% flyball rate and a near-.400 expected weighted on-base average over his last 30 games against Gasser's three most-used pitches. The suggested combination has Tampa Bay striking early and Bauers answering to keep Milwaukee in the game.[S2]
