Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Tampa Bay Rays
O/U: 8
LAD -165
It was an absolutely wild Game 4 as the Rays rallied back on multiple occasions, including the two runs in the ninth inning to win it on a Brett Phillips base hit. With a day off in between Games 2 and 3, Clayton Kershaw and Tyler Glasnow were able to get a full week’s rest and come back to pitch here in this pivotal Game 5.
CPT/MVP
1. Clayton Kershaw , SP LAD - It’s hard not to love what Kershaw was able to do in his first start of this postseason. At that same time, what lefties have done to the Rays all year long. We just saw Julio Urías strike out nine opponents in just 4.2 IP in Game 4. Tampa Bay had nearly a 30% K-rate vs. LHP. Kershaw is an elite option here despite it being the most expensive option on the slate.
2. Randy Arozarena, OF TB - I’m not sure if you heard, but Arozarena hit his ninth postseason home run in Game 4, which is a new MLB record. Nobody else has hit that many in one singular postseason. Not only that, but he went 3-for-4 and reached base four times, scoring three runs and upping his World Series OPS up over 1.200. Oh, he also has a .591 wOBA vs. LHP this year.
3. Justin Turner , 3B LAD - Turner is rollin’ at the dish homering in two straight while notching six hits, four being the extra-base variety in those same two games. Turner mashed right-handed pitching during the regular season hitting .340 with a .397 wOBA against them. Tyler Glasnow struggled more with righties this year to boot.
Mid-Tier
1. Corey Seager , SS LAD - Seager had four hits in Game 4 and his average because of it spiked to .500 for the series. I mentioned above that Arozarena broke the postseason home run record, well, Seager is one away from tying him. Seager has 8 HR, 18 RBI and a 1.234 OPS this postseason.
2. Tyler Glasnow , TB SP - The strikeouts are as good as anyone, well, he actually led baseball this year in K/9 amongst all starting pitchers with over 50 IP. He was shelled in Game 1 allowing 6 ER, but struck out eight. If he eliminates the damage, we’re talking about massive potential. Glasnow won’t garner nearly as much ownership as Kershaw if you want to use that as a leverage play.
3. Brandon Lowe , 2B TB - It took him a while. All postseason, pretty much, but Lowe has three home runs over his last three games after going deep on Saturday. Not to mention how well he’s performed against left-handed pitching this year. Lowe hit 6 HR along with a .300 and .466 wOBA versus left-handed pitching.
Value Tier
1. Hunter Renfroe , OF TB - We saw Renfroe draw another start versus a left-handed pitcher on Saturday and it paid off dividends as he homered. Well, he gets another lefty here and he’s back in the lineup hitting fifth. It’s a risk because he could be lifted later in the contest but the fact he has home run potential puts him in play.
2. Will Smith , C LAD - Smith has reached base in nine of his last 10 games including hits in eight games. Smith also has been a great source of run production driving in nine runs over his last 10. Smith has hit right-handed pitching very well this year notching a .288 AVG and .427 wOBA.
3. Joc Pederson , OF LAD - I hate rostering multiple guys that could potentially be removed late for defense or a pinch-hitter, but I understand the potential with rostering a guy like Pederson who could homer in any at-bat. Pederson is as risky as it gets.