Dodgers: Kershaw, Kemp, and Freese All Get Start in Game One
There were a few questions surrounding the potential Game One lineup for the Dodgers and Dave Roberts has made his decision. Clayton Kershaw will officially take the ball for game one, just three days removed from a 15-pitch relief outing in Game 7 of the NLCS.
Clayton Kershaw is officially starting Game 1 of the World Series.
— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) October 22, 2018
Kershaw started two games in the Championship Series, allowing five earned runs across his 11 total innings pitched. He did pitch a masterful outing in game five, tossing seven innings of one-run ball en route to nine strikeouts. Kershaw has thrown a combined 19 inning so far in the playoffs, more than any other pitcher.
The Offense
There were also two other clarifications in the lineup when Roberts met with media at Fenway. David Freese will get the start in game one, presumably at first base. Matt Kemp has already been announced as the designated hitter for the first game of the series. Kemp is hitting a lowly 214 in the playoffs and has not seen the ball well thus far. David Freese is hitting 300 with a home run. The move would allow the Dodgers to keep some left-handed hitters on the bench when the bullpen comes into play.
David Freese has five at-bats against Sale in his career and singled twice off of him. Matt Kemp has never faced Sale, but he did go deep 11 times off of left-handed pitching in 2018.
