WORLD SERIES GAME 3

Astros-Dodgers preview: McCullers and Darvish square off in a key pitching matchup

Astros-Dodgers preview: McCullers and Darvish square off in a key pitching matchup
It's Game 3 of the World Series. MLB.com

The Astros and Dodgers play Game 3 of the World Series today. Here is a preview of the game. Check back during the game for inning by inning updates:

When: 7:20 p.m.

Where: Minute Maid Park.

TV: Fox Sports.

Streaming: Fox Sports Go.

Pitching matchup: Lance McCullers vs. Yu Darvish.

Series: Tied 1-1.

The breakdown:  The Astros have momentum after Wednesday night's amazing win. They Astros send out McCullers, who had a great start in New York in Game 4 of the ALCS then pitched four dominant innings of relief in Game 7 to clinch the AL pennant. The Astros will face a familiar face as the Dodgers send out Yu Darvish, whom they acquired from the Rangers earlier this year. In Darvish's two starts against the Astros this year as a Ranger he was part of a 7-1 loss where he allowed three runs and also a 6-1 win where he allowed just one. For his career, Darvish is 5-5 with a 3.44 ERA in 14 starts against Houston. A key for the Astros could be George Springer, who can be streaky and appears to be heating up.

Series schedule 

                    Time/Date            Site/Result              Pitchers

Game 1        Tuesday                    Dodgers 3, Astros 1    Kershaw (W), Keuchel (L)

Game 2        Wed.                          Astros 7, Dodgers 6   Devenski (W), McCarthy (L)

Game 3       Today                         Minute Maid Park      McCullers vs. Darvish 

Game 4        Sat., 7:20 p.m.         Minute Maid Park      Morton vs. TBA

Game 5        Sun., 7:20 p.m.        Minute Maid Park     TBA

Game 6*       Oct. 31 , 7:20 p.m.  Dodger Stadium         TBA

Game 7 *      Nov. 1, , 7:20 p.m.   Dodger Stadiun          TBA

*-if necessary. 

All games on Fox

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Kyle Tucker returns to Houston this weekend. Composite Getty Image.

Two first-place teams, identical records, and a weekend set with serious measuring-stick energy.

The Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs open a three-game series Friday night at Daikin Park, in what could quietly be one of the more telling matchups of the summer. Both teams enter at 48-33, each atop their respective divisions — but trending in slightly different directions.

The Astros have been red-hot, going 7-3 over their last 10 while outscoring opponents by 11 runs. They've done it behind one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, with a collective 3.41 ERA that ranks second in the American League. Houston has also been dominant at home, where they’ve compiled a 30-13 record — a stat that looms large heading into this weekend.

On the other side, the Cubs have held their ground in the NL Central but have shown some recent shakiness. They're 5-5 over their last 10 games and have given up 5.66 runs per game over that stretch. Still, the offense remains dangerous, ranking fifth in on-base percentage across the majors. Kyle Tucker leads the way with a .287 average, 16 homers, and 49 RBIs, while Michael Busch has been hot of late, collecting 12 hits in his last 37 at-bats.

Friday’s pitching matchup features Houston’s Brandon Walter (0-1, 3.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) and Chicago’s Cade Horton (3-1, 3.73 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), a promising young arm making one of his biggest starts of the season on the road. Horton will have his hands full with Isaac Paredes, who’s slugged 16 homers on the year, and Mauricio Dubón, who’s found a groove with four home runs over his last 10 games.

It’s the first meeting of the season between these two clubs — and if the trends continue, it may not be the last time they cross paths when it really counts.

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -112, Cubs -107; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

Here's a preview of Joe Espada's Game 1 lineup.

The first thing that stands out is rookie Cam Smith is hitting cleanup, followed by Jake Meyers. Victor Caratini is the DH and is hitting sixth. Christian Walker is all the way down at seventh, followed by Yainer Diaz, and Taylor Trammell who is playing left field.

How the mighty have fallen.

Pretty wild to see Walker and Diaz hitting this low in the lineup. However, it's justified, based on performance. Walker is hitting a pathetic .214 and Diaz is slightly better sporting a .238 batting average.

Screenshot via: MLB.com



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