Rays-Dodgers World Series Game 2: FAQ

The Dodgers’ stars played like stars, and that made all the difference in Tuesday’s 8-3 victory in Game 1 of the World Series.

But in Game 2 at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Wednesday, the Rays have a star of their own taking the mound in the form of 2018 American League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell. And with the Dodgers turning to rookie Tony Gonsolin on two days’ rest after his two innings of relief in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday night, this could be an opportunity to dent a Los Angeles team that entered as the favorite and played like it in the opener.

Game	Date	Result	Highlights
Gm 1	Oct. 20	LAD 8, TB 3	Watch
Gm 2	Oct. 21	TB 6, LAD 4	Watch
Gm 3	Oct. 23	LAD 6, TB 2	Watch
Gm 4	Oct. 24	TB 8, LAD 7	Watch
Gm 5	Oct. 25	LAD 4, TB 2	Watch
Gm 6	Oct. 27	LAD 3, TB 1	Watch

Shop for postseason gear: Rays | Dodgers
• Postseason schedule and bracket

“We definitely belong here,” Snell said. “People are going to say a lot of things, but our focus is let’s just do what we can to find a way to win, and let’s try to win four before they do.”

Snell enters the game fully rested after taking the loss -- and getting an early hook -- in a four-plus-inning start against the Astros in Game 6 of the ALCS on Friday. Gonsolin -- who gets the nod because Walker Buehler pitched on Saturday and Julio Urías was used for three innings of relief on Sunday -- also had an L in the LCS round, allowing 5 runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Braves in Game 2 on Oct. 13.

• 7 compelling storylines for World Series G2

There’s no mystery to what Snell and the Rays have to do better in Game 2. Tyler Glasnow’s six walks against a patient Dodgers team allowed L.A. to take command of Game 1. Snell’s 12.5% walk rate this season was his highest since his rookie year of 2016, and he walked four Astros batters in that Game 6 start in the ALCS.

For the Dodgers, Game 2 is a chance to earn a commanding edge. Of the 54 teams to take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven World Series, 44 (81.5%) went on to win it, including each of the past 12 and 18 of the past 19.

When is the game and how can I watch it?
The game airs on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET/5 PT on FOX. It is also available to stream on MLB.TV.

Who will be the home team?
The Dodgers are the top overall seed, so they will be the home team for Game 2 and will bat last.

What are the starting lineups?
Rays: Though Gonsolin is starting for the Dodgers, L.A. has both lefty Urías and righty Dustin May available out of the bullpen. Because of that, the Rays will look to stay as balanced as possible with their Game 2 lineup.

1) Austin Meadows, DH
2) Brandon Lowe, 2B
3) Randy Arozarena, LF
4) Ji-Man Choi, 1B
5) Manuel Margot, RF
6) Joey Wendle, 3B
7) Willy Adames, SS
8) Kevin Kiermaier, CF
9) Mike Zunino, C

Dodgers: With the southpaw Snell starting for Tampa Bay, the Dodgers inserted AJ Pollock and Enrique Hernández into the lineup. The top six spots were unchanged from Game 1.

1) Mookie Betts, RF
2) Corey Seager, SS
3) Justin Turner, 3B
4) Max Muncy, 1B
5) Will Smith, C
6) Cody Bellinger, CF
7) AJ Pollock, DH
8) Kiké Hernández, 2B
9) Chris Taylor, LF

Who are the starting pitchers?
Rays: Snell will get the start for the Rays. In four postseason starts this year, he has gotten good results, posting a 3.20 ERA with 19 strikeouts. But one area where Snell will need to improve is getting deeper into games. He has not pitched more than 5 2/3 innings this season (or postseason), and he went just four-plus innings against the Astros on Friday.

Dodgers: Gonsolin will be the opener in a bullpen game forced by recent usage. In Sunday’s NLCS clincher, Gonsolin, Urías and May each pitched, leaving none of the club’s starters available for Game 2 of the World Series, with Clayton Kershaw pitching Game 1 and Buehler Game 3 on Friday. While Urías has emerged as the best of the other three, none can pitch deep on two days’ rest. Gonsolin had a 2.31 ERA in the regular season, but it’s up to 9.95 in his two postseason appearances.

How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Rays: Josh Fleming threw 2 2/3 relief innings in Game 1, which sets the bullpen up nicely for Game 2. Ryan Yarbrough, who threw 19 pitches in Game 1, would also be available in Game 2, but the Rays will likely want to stay away from the left-hander. Nick Anderson, Pete Fairbanks and Diego Castillo should each be able to provide multiple innings.

Dodgers: Blake Treinen could use another day off, but Kenley Jansen and Pedro Báez are rested.

Are there any relievers who are unavailable?
Rays: Fleming would be the only arm unavailable in Game 2 after throwing 40 pitches.

Dodgers: No one is likely to be off-limits for manager Dave Roberts.

Any injuries of note?
Rays: None.

Dodgers: Bellinger has a dislocated right shoulder, but he still provided a home run and a great catch in the Game 1 win.

Who is hot and who is not?
Rays: Despite going 0-for-3 with a walk, Arozarena is hitting .362 with seven home runs this postseason. He’s one hit shy of tying Derek Jeter’s rookie record with 22 hits in a single postseason.

Lowe went 0-for-4 in Game 1 as his postseason struggles continued. He is now 6-for-56 (.107) with 19 strikeouts in the 2020 playoffs. Hunter Renfroe went 0-for-2 on Tuesday and is now 3-for-17 (.176) in eight postseason games.

• Rays' reliance on HRs not paying dividends

Dodgers: Bellinger has homered in his past two games, and NLCS Most Valuable Player Award winner Seager is so hot that the Rays walked him in his first three at-bats of Game 1. Hernández, who drove in another run in Game 1, is not afraid of the postseason moment. And when isn’t Betts hot?

Anything else fans want to know?
Rays: Kiermaier became the fourth player in franchise history to homer in the World Series, joining Carl Crawford, Eric Hinske and Rocco Baldelli.

Dodgers: With his outing in Game 1, Victor González became the 10th pitcher born in Mexico to appear in a World Series game, joining Horacio Pina, Enrique Romo, Fernando Valenezuela, Aurelio Lopez, Alfredo Aceves, Fernando Salas, Jaime García, Urías and Roberto Osuna.