The Los Angeles Dodgers have decided to make a few major lineup changes for World Series Game 5.
The team is benching Andy Pages, instead starting Alex Call in left field. Kiké Hernandez is moving to center field.
More news: Shohei Ohtani Wants to Pitch in Relief for Dodgers in World Series
Additionally, the Dodgers are moving Will Smith up to the No. 2 spot in the lineup, dropping Mookie Betts to third.
This is the first time the Dodgers have changed the starting nine in their lineup since the National League Division Series as manager Dave Roberts looks for a spark heading into a pivotal Game 5.
Who’s Pitching for Dodgers in Game 5?
Game 5 will be a pitching rematch of Game 1, with lefty Blake Snell taking the mound for the Dodgers against Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage.
Snell struggled in Game 1, allowing five runs on eight hits and three walks with four strikeouts across five innings. As for Yesavage, he allowed two runs on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts across four innings.
Dodgers Lineup vs Blue Jays
- Shohei Ohtani, DH
- Will Smith, C
- Mookie Betts, SS
- Freddie Freeman, 1B
- Teoscar Hernandez, RF
- Tommy Edman, 2B
- Max Muncy, 3B
- Kiké Hernandez, CF
- Alex Call, LF
How to Watch Dodgers vs Blue Jays World Series Game 5 on Wednesday
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays face off in World Series Game 5 on Wednesday, Oct. 29 with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m. PT. The game will be broadcast on Fox.
How to Watch Dodgers vs Blue Jays World Series Without Cable
The World Series will be broadcast on Fox, and fans can stream the seven-game series on any live TV streaming service including DirecTV, Fubo, and Hulu + Live TV.
Fans can also watch World Series games on Fox’s new streaming platform, Fox One. Those who want to stream the Fall Classic, but don’t have streaming services, can sign up for a free trial before fully committing.
Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Have you downloaded the new Dodgers Nation app yet? Click here for Apple Users and here for Android Users to be a part of the redesigned app to give fans everything they need, all in one place. Don’t miss out on live GameCast with play-by-play, news and analysis, Dodgers Nation podcasts and videos, all the stats you want and more!
8 Responses
Something…anything…absolutely had to be done. Seriously, I just hope it isn’t too little too late. Other than Ohtani and Freeman, occasionally Smith and Teo, their offense is DOA. It was like that for the most part against Philly and Milwaukee, resulting in nearly impossibly high pressure on the starting pitchers to be perfect and go at least 7 innings. That’s an unrealistic expectation.
LAD averaged 9 runs per game vs. the Reds in the WC round. 3.25 vs. Philly in the NLDS. 3.75 vs. the Brewers in the NLCS. And thus far, 4.25 vs. Toronto in the WS. Since the WC round, they’ve scored more than 5 runs once in those 12 games, and that took 18 innings to accomplish. In their three losses, one to Philly and two to Toronto, they’ve given up 25 runs, or 8.33 per game.
Said this in another comment, but 7 HRs in the WS has produced a meager and pathetic 8 runs. Toronto’s 5 HRs have produced 13 runs. Who exactly, is the better team so far? The weight of poor decisions by Roberts and unrealistic expectations is crushing LAD right now and they appear to be playing not to lose vs. Toronto’s relentless playing to win mindset. Snap out of it boys or you’ll be watching Toronto hoisting the trophy and proving Schneider prophetic after the game 3 marathon: “They won a game, not the World Series”.
I’ve posted a similar lineup earlier but I would rather see Freeman bat 3rd, with Teo 4th, Muncy 5th, and then struggling Mookie at 6th. With a RH starter, Freeman would be more opportunistic in the top 3 and splitting the lefty-righty lineup.
Agree, especially with a RH starting pitcher for Toronto tonight.
Doesn’t matter who is out there dodgers are dead dead they not gonna win another game this postseason the bluegays are just to much for the dodgers to handle they can’t hang with the big boys better luck next year
I’ve stated here in comments in the past that I’m sick and tired of hearing the accolades and encouraging positives about Betts. It’s about time he was dropped in the batting order, but like SHAKA808U points out, he should be dropped more than to just 3rd position. There are other more trusted to perform and deserving hitters that should take the 3rd spot! SHAKA808U is being more than generous in advocating for putting Betts at the 6th position. I wouldn’t be put off in the slightest is he were put in the 9th spot. It’s time to stop coddling this Prima Donna. He’s earned the 9th spot all by himself! I’m even routing for him to get out of the way on defense when it comes to either him or Edman making a play on the ball.
The results of these changes resulted in the worst playoff performance by the Dodgers this post season. 4 hits and 1 run. 15 strikeouts and one walk. One RISP all night and not even close to advancing him. Yesavage pitched well, but they chased all night. No energy, no urgency. They are approaching these games like the LAD pitching staff is unhittable and they don’t care about run support. Smoltz said it late in the game that this is something they did from early July to early September, when they were 26th pr 27th in offense. I remember complaining in the comments here that they were something like 10 games under .500 in this time. Absolutely horrible time for them to look indifferent. Meh, we won it last year so no big deal.
Treinen looked fine this evening, but a perfect example of what so many have been saying about him (and Scott). Only use them in low leverage situations. Toronto could see the Dodgers were a beat team in the 6th inning. Every time Toronto needs to make something happen, they have. Putting the entire season on Yamamoto’s shoulders is dangerous considering all season he had the lowest run support of all starters in MLB. Heavy sigh as I fear it’s over.
Oh, and a smashing 4 runs in their last 29 innings. They are seriously lucky with Roberts bumbling decisions with e BP in game 3 that Klein saved his bacon and pitched 4 shut down innings. Otherwise, Kike would have gotten his wish about not wanting to go back to Toronto as they just as easily could have lost all 3 games at home and with it the series 4 – 1. What an overwhelmingly and absolutely pathetic effort. No words left to describe this team and their top to bottom lack of effort. Two errors that were scored as hits (Mookie’s horrible throw to second killing a double play and Toronto didn’t score thankfully) and Teo showing why we have all hated him being in right field all season with that turning a single into a leadoff triple for Varsho to turn a 2 – 1 deficit into a 3 – 1 deficit. They never recovered from the two HRs on the first three pitches.
These knuckleheads don’t need any help in getting beat. They beat themselves better than anyone else can. Roberts can put Betts in the 3rd position of the batting order. He can put him in any other spot of the batting order. It didn’t and it won’t make any difference. Betts has become a Hollywood prima donna. He can’t handle the celebrity lifestyle. But he loves it. And he couldn’t give a you know what about it! Betts was supposed to be the leader of this team. He couldn’t lead his way out of a paper bag.