2017 World Series, Game 2

Houston Astros (0-1) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (1-0), Oct. 25, 2017, 7:20 p.m. CDT

Location: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
TV: FOX
Radio: Streaming on MLB At Bat app, 790 KBME AM, ESPN Deportes 1230, ESPN Radio
Online: MLB.TV, Fox Sports Go
Dodgers SBNation Blog: True Blue LA

Pitching Matchup

RHP Justin Verlander (4-0, 1.46 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, .262 BABIP, 4.37 xFIP) vs. LHP Rich Hill(0-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, .211 BABIP, 3.21 xFIP)

Preview

Here we are again. The Astros in a hole and the Justin Verlander on the mound. Can the Astros righty step up again?

The answer is yes, if the his 2017 playoff record continues. Verlander has allowed four earned runs over 24 2/3 innings during the postseason in which he is 4-0 over four games.

Verlander hasn’t had the same success in his previous starts in the World Series. He is 0-3 with a 7.20 ERA in three career starts.

Verlander is 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two career games against the Dodgers. But Verlander is making his first career start at Dodger Stadium. It will be the 35th stadium at Verlander has pitched at.

Rich Hill is in his third playoff run his 13-year career. He has allowed three earned runs over nine innings during the 2017 season. He is making his first career start the World Series.

Hill have been consonantly good for the Dodgers in the second half of the season. He is 7-4 with a 3.01 ERA in 13 starts since the All-Star Break.

Hitting trends

No active Dodger has more then 10 career at-bats against Verlander. Chase Utley is the only L.A. player with an extra-base hit. Logan Forsythe is 2-for-9 with three strikeouts in his career.

Jose Altuve and Carlos Beltran each have a home run against Rich Hill. Beltran is 3-for-11 with four strikeouts. George Springer is 1-for-5 with a triple against the lefty.