American League Champions Tampa Bay Rays will take on National League Champions Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020 World Series battle starting from Tuesday evening at Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas. First pitch of Game 1 is set for 5:11 PM PT/ 8:11 PM ET.
The Dodgers and Rays were the only two teams to reach the 40-win mark this year. The National league Champions did it with the highest scoring offense and best pitching staff in baseball. The American league Champions did it with pitching depth and superb defense.
As the Dodgers (43–17) dominated their National League competition, the Rays (40–20) were doing the same in the American League. Even with the number of teams expanding in this year’s playoffs, the World Series ended up with a matchup of baseball’s top two clubs.
According to FanGraphs’ Defensive Runs Above Average (DEF) metric, the Rays had baseball’s top defense this season. While holding onto their American League Championship Series lead against the Astros, they always appeared to be in perfect position defensively.
Both teams have a number of players who can change a series with their gloves, as Mookie Betts demonstrated at Globe Life Field’s spacious outfield in the NLCS. On Tampa Bay’s side, Kevin Kiermaier finished with 10 defensive runs saved this year, trailing only Betts and Minnesota’s Byron Buxton for the most among Major League outfielders this year.
Both teams have a young player starring offensively this October. NLCS MVP Corey Seager has a .298/.358/.766 slash line with six home runs this postseason. ALCS MVP and rookie Randy Arozarena has a .382/.433/.855 slash line with seven home runs this postseason.
And both teams have identical 3.36 ERAs this October, using a plethora of arms to get to this point. Eight different Dodger pitchers have thrown at least five innings. Ten different Rays pitchers have tossed at least five innings.
In Game 1, it will be Lefty Clayton Kershaw against Righty Tyler Glasnow. Kershaw will start on four days of rest after spending Games 6 and 7 in the bullpen. Kershaw will make the fifth World Series start of his career and sixth appearance. He is 1-2 in the Fall Classic with a 5.40 ERA in 26 2/3 innings. In his Game 4 start of the NLCS against the Braves, Kershaw allowed four runs on seven hits in five-plus frames.
Glasnow starts the Rays’ first World Series game since 2008. He’s 2-1 with a 4.66 ERA this postseason coming off his six-inning, four-run outing against the Astros in Game 4 of the ALCS. His 25 strikeouts are fourth-most in the 2020 playoffs.
World Series Schedule (all games at Globe Life Field on FOX)
Game 1 — Rays @ Dodgers Oct. 20, 5:11 p.m. PT
Game 2 — Rays @ Dodgers Oct. 21, 5:08 p.m. PT
Game 3 — Dodgers @ Rays Oct. 23, 5:08 p.m. PT
Game 4 — Dodgers @ Rays Oct. 24, 5:08 p.m. PT
Game 5 (if nec.)— Dodgers @ Rays Oct. 25, 5:08 p.m. PT
Game 6 (if nec.)— Rays @ Dodgers Oct. 27, 5:08 p.m. PT
Game 7 (if nec.)— Rays @ Dodgers Oct. 28, 5:08 p.m. PT
Rays vs Astros ALCS Recap
Los Angeles Dodgers (43–17, 1st in NL West)
Team Hitting
AVG: .256 (11th in MLB)
OBP: .338 (5th)
SLG: .483 (T-1st)
OPS: .821 (2nd)
R: 349 (1st)
HR: 118 (1st)
BB: 228 (10th)
K: 471 (4th lowest)
Team Pitching
ERA: 3.02 (1st)
WHIP: 1.06 (1st)
K/9: 8.64 (23rd)
K/BB: 3.57 (2nd)
HR: 66 (2nd fewest)
Starters ERA: 3.29 (2nd)
Bullpen ERA: 2.74 (2nd)
Tampa Bay Rays (40–20, 1st in AL East)
Team Hitting
AVG: .238 (21st)
OBP: .328 (11th)
SLG: .425 (15th)
OPS: .753 (13th)
R: 289 (12th)
HR: 80 (14th)
BB: 243 (2nd)
K: 608 (most in MLB)
Team Pitching
ERA: 3.56 (3rd)
WHIP: 1.22 (T-5th)
K/9: 9.42 (8th)
K/BB: 3.29 (4th)
HR: 70 (T-10th fewest)
Starters ERA: 3.77 (T-6th)
Bullpen ERA: 3.37 (3rd)
