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Pursuing the Pennant: Astros, Dodgers prepare to cap a classic World Series
Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander will try to close out the World Series in Game 6 on Tuesday night.  Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Pursuing the Pennant: Astros, Dodgers prepare to cap a classic World Series

Only five games into the World Series, and we have already enjoyed four games that have outdone the best that many Fall Classic pairings have offered over their full lifespan. The dramatics of Game 1 were outdone a night later, while the Dodgers late inning roar in Game 4 were quickly forgotten by a Game 5 that may be the best baseball game of all-time.

This year’s Fall Classic has already secured its place in history, that is for certain. But considering how often this series has bested itself, it would be a foolish proposition to think it could not happen again. And there will be plenty of opportunities for it to happen, as the Dodgers look to cash in on home field advantage to salvage the series back in Dodger Stadium, where they have only lost once this postseason. The battle lines have been drawn, and after a series of games that feature the emotional capital of a week’s worth of regular season tilts, urgency in L.A. has reached its crescendo. In the wake of a Game 6 loss where the Dodgers ace folded early on and the top closer in the National League could not hold the floodgates back at the end, Yasiel Puig still went so far as to guarantee a Game 7 will take place.

And as the series switches back to the California, there are several questions that still remain to be seen. Does Justin Verlander have another classic outing left in his arsenal? Can Cody Bellinger continue his mid-series revival? What will Houston do when it turns to its tattered bullpen? What will happen if Yuli Gurriel steps back into the box against Yu Darvish? And after abbreviated outings in Game 5, have really we seen the last of Clayton Kershaw and Dallas Keuchel? How high will the already record-setting home run tab reach?

It is a series that has had a bit of everything, and there could be much more to come. Here’s a look at where we have been so far, as well as what is left to come in this classic cap to the MLB season.

The ‘moments’ so far

Chris Taylor wasted little time in getting the fireworks started in a series that has become defined by them. In the bottom of the first inning of Game 1, Taylor took Dallas Keuchel’s first pitch deep to left field, setting the record breaking home run pace into action with haste.

In a career that has been unevenly defined by regular season success and postseason struggles, Clayton Kershaw had the signature performance of his postseason career in Game 1. Kershaw shutdown the Astros over seven innings, while striking out 11 in route to picking up a victory in his World Series debut.

A furious comeback highlighted by four home runs over the final three innings painted the picture in Game 2 that was defined by the big moment. A record five extra inning home runs, capped by a game-winner from George Springer in 11th capped the first of three lead changes to come in the first five games of the series.

Cody Bellinger took the big stage in Game 4, tying the game late with a seventh inning double that broke him out of an 0-for-13 start to the series. Later he scored the go-ahead run in the ninth inning as the Dodgers tied the series up.

It may be easier to count the number of blades of grass in the Minute Maid Park outfield than trying to pick apart all the incredible moments that Game 5 produced, but here’s the gist of it. The five-hour, 17-minute affair produced 25 runs, six lead changes, seven home runs (including four that changed the lead) and the first time that a single Series game had three, 3-run homers. And finally, as the dust struggled to settle, an Alex Bregman single won a walk off affair in the second extra innings victory of the series for the Astros. You know, your standard fare, nominee for the greatest World Series game of the last quarter century – and perhaps further back.

Who’s hot (and not) at the plate


Jose Altuve celebrates with Alex Bregman after hitting a three-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning in Game 5 of the 2017 World Series. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The Astro All-Star trio of Carlos Correa, George Springer and Jose Altuve has shown out so far to the tone of a .305 combined average, with seven home runs, 14 RBI and 12 runs scored. Each connected for a pivotal home run in Game 5, with Correa getting extra points for raising the bar in dugout enthusiasm.

Although Joc Pederson’s admiration for his pop-up turned ballpark effect double likely cost him a shot at a triple (or more), the resurgent slugger has performed well when called upon throughout the first five games of the Series. All four of Pederson’s hits have gone for extra bases, and he is clubbing a robust 1.552 OPS in 11 at-bats.

Following in the wake of his timely breakout in Game 4, Cody Bellinger has become the man to be avoided again in the L.A. lineup. Over the final two games in Houston, Bellinger went 4-for-9 with a pair of doubles, a triple and a home run. And what’s more is the timelessness, with the three-run homer on Sunday night pulling the club ahead after the big inning that rapidly chased Kershaw off, while the Game 3 double set the table for a go-ahead run in a now pivotal victory.

Who’s hot (and not) on the mound


Should Rich Hill look shaky in the early going he could face an early hook for the Dodgers.  Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

In his two outings thus far, it has been somewhat of a tale of night and day for Clayton Kershaw. After a brilliant Game 1 in which the ace lefty struck out 11 over seven shutout innings, it appeared he was locked in for another stellar outing on Sunday. However, his brilliant carry over from Game 1 ended in rocky fifth inning, where he allowed a massive three-run homer to Yuli Gurriel and stayed on the hook for two more runs after exiting the game. It remains to be seen if this will be the last chapter or not in his 2017 postseason story, but odds are if a Game 7 happens, he will return to mound over the course of that deciding game.

Dallas Keuchel was a different man on Sunday than he was in his first go-around in the series. He struggled with his control, let up three runs in the first inning and didn’t last past the fourth inning. It was equal parts bad strike zone from home plate umpire Bill Miller (which was a source of frustration throughout the entire game for hitter and pitcher alike) and perhaps the length of the season catching up as well.

Alex Wood had started just one game in the last month before taking the mound for Game 4. But he showed few signs of rust in getting back acquainted on the mound, holding hold the Houston bats to one run over 5.2 innings. Should either Rich Hill or Yu Darvish look shaky early on, Dave Roberts should not hesitate to look to Wood as a mid-game option.

Although his Game 1 homer was huge, relatively speaking, it has been a long time since Marwin Gonzalez has checked in. So far he is hitting just .118 (2-for-17) in the Series, with his misplayed ball in the first inning that allowed Corey Seager to score from second base has been the most notable impact he has made in the past four games.

Meanwhile, his outfield mate in Josh Reddick is not doing much better. Reddick is hitting just .211 with only five total bases in the series.

Finally, the bottom falling out for Ken Giles could not have come at a worst time. The club’s season long closer was officially bumped from closer role headed into Game 5, after giving up three runs late in the loss. Giles postseason ERA has soared north of 11.00 and he has allowed a run in six of seven outings. It is a situation that has thrown the Houston bullpen into state of flux at the most inopportune time.

Stepping up… or stepping out


Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch heads to Los Angeles with his bullpen stretched thin.  Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The condition of the Astros' bullpen is makes it impossible for Houston to be comfortable despite having a 3-2 lead headed back to Los Angeles. With the implosion of Giles, how A.J. Hinch choses to deploy his bullpen is up in the air. Joe Musgrove pitched the top of the 10th inning on Sunday more out of availability than desire, and it will be interesting to see who gets the call if/when a save situation presents itself.

While the Dodgers' lineup has been able to find the big hit when needed, it still needs for a pair of its most dependable bats this postseason to get back into gear. Justin Turner and Yasiel Puig have combined to hit .147 (6-for-41) so far in the series. Bellinger, Seager, Kiki Hernandez, Chris Taylor and Austin Barnes are all also at .250 or lower so far against the Astro hurlers.

Charlie Culberson and Logan Forsythe likely will not get a ton of credit for the bit roles they play, but the duo has been invaluable in allowing roster flexibility for the Dodger lineup, especially in taking to infield defense.

Missing in action

Despite being one of the foremost postseason contributors of his era, Carlos Beltran has had only two at-bats so far in the series. It would be a good bet to see him get a critical at-bat at some point during the return to National League play, and the increased pinch-hit opportunities.

Likewise, Francisco Liriano is yet to make an appearance and Luke Gregerson is at three innings on the series. On the Dodger side of affairs, Brandon McCarthy and Josh Fields have been missing in action since a pair of forgettable appearances earlier in the series.

What’s next?

Could a series that has been so defined by a hits party have itself be ultimately decided by an epic outing off the mound?

If A.J. Hinch had his pick of every pitcher on to attempt to seal a World Series victory on Tuesday night, considering how he has performed over the last two months, it would be hard to imagine choosing anyone other than Justin Verlander. With his bullpen in tatters, having a workhorse the caliber of Verlander slated to make an all-in outing this late in the year is a huge advantage. If he hits his groove, Verlander could easily be tasked with staying on the mound for well over 100 pitches before yielding to the Astro pen as late as possible.

It is likely that every Dodger arm except for Kershaw and Yu Darvish will be available on Tuesday, and that it will be an all-out effort if they live to fight until the final possible day of the season on Wednesday. It would be best if Brandon Morrow could stay out of fray, meaning the ante is upped for those that form the bridge to Kenley Jansen, especially in Game 6.

It has been a series that will be talked about for years, and while the big moment has defined it so far, it will be the ability to make inches feel like miles that will decide who wins it in the end.

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