WORLD SERIES GAME 2
Astros-Dodgers preview: Verlander tries to even the series
Oct 18, 2017, 6:05 am
The Astros and Dodgers play Game 2 of the World Series today. Here is a preview of the game. Check back during the game for inning by inning updates:
When: 7:09 p.m.
Where: Dodger Stadium.
TV: Fox Sports.
Streaming: Fox Sports Go.
Pitching matchup: Justin Verlander vs. Rich Hill.
Series: Dodgers lead 1-0.
The breakdown: The Astros bats struggled on the road again in Game 1, but a lot of that had to do with Clayton Kershaw, who was on his game. The matchup is much more favorable for the Astros tonight. Verlander has struggled in the World Series in the past, but he is on his game right now, and is 9-0 as an Astro. The Astros need this one in a big way; if they go down 0-2, their odds of winning the series are pretty slim. In 54 previous series where a team went down 0-2, they won just 11 times. Hill has been a solid find for the Dodgers, and is much better at Dodger Stadium than he is on the road. He is a curveball pitcher, and the Astros need to be much more patient at the plate. When they have struggled, it has been because they have been free swinging at trying to hit home runs. When they are playing their best, they look for pitches to drive, and if they don't get one, they try to make contact and pass it on to the next guy. They will need to do that tonight to send the series back to Minute Maid 1-1. A victory would be the first in the Series for the franchise; Houston is now 0-5.
Time/Date Site/Result Pitchers
Game 1 Tuesday Dodgers 3, Astros 1 Kershaw (W), Keuchel (L)
Game 2 Today, 7:09 p.m. Dodger Stadium Verlander vs. Hill
Game 3 Fri., 7:09 p.m. Minute Maid Park TBA
Game 4 Sat., 7:09 p.m. Minute Maid Park TBA
Game 5* Sun., 7:16 p.m. Minute Maid Park TBA
Game 6* Oct. 31 , 7:09 p.m. Dodger Stadium TBA
Game 7 * Nov. 1, , 7:09 p.m. Dodger Stadiun TBA
*-if necessary.
All games on Fox
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The meetings with Smith and Slowik gave the Jets 12 known candidates with whom they've spoken about their vacancy.
New York has also interviewed Aaron Glenn, Vance Joseph, Mike Locksley, Matt Nagy, Ron Rivera, Darren Rizzi, Rex Ryan, Steve Spagnuolo, Jeff Ulbrich and Mike Vrabel for the job. Vrabel has since been hired by New England as its coach.
Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley are also expected to meet soon with the Jets.
The 42-year-old Smith, who was the Atlanta Falcons' head coach from 2021-23, was considered one of the Jets' top candidates in 2021 when he interviewed with the team before New York hired Robert Saleh. Smith was hired by the Falcons the next day and went 21-30, with three straight 7-10 finishes, before being fired after the 2023 season.
Mike Tomlin hired Smith last offseason to run the Steelers' offense, which improved in several categories this season with Russell Wilson at quarterback as Pittsburgh made the playoffs.
Smith spent 10 years with Tennessee, including the last two as the Titans' offensive coordinator in 2019 and 2020. He previously had a stint with Washington as its defensive quality control coach in between college stops at North Carolina (2006) and Mississippi (2010).
The 37-year-old Slowik met with the Jets in a video interview since the Texans remain in the playoffs and are preparing to face the Chiefs in Kansas City on Saturday.
He's in his second year running the Texans' offense with quarterback C.J. Stroud, who was last season's AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and has been one of the league's most dynamic young playmakers.
Slowik, whose father Bob coaches in the CFL after several years as an NFL assistant, spent six years as an assistant under Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco before joining the Texans. The Princeton, New Jersey, native started his pro coaching career as a video assistant for Washington in 2010 before being promoted to defensive assistant, a role he held for three years. Slowik then worked at Pro Football Focus as a senior analyst for three years before being hired by the 49ers.
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