Giants turn to ex-dodger to face Scherzer in Game 3
Alex Wood is coming home to start Game 3 of a National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium. For the Giants.
The ex-dodgers pitcher gets the ball Monday against Los Angeles ace Max Scherzer with the best-of-five series tied at one win apiece.
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The 30-year-old left-hander was a key member of the Dodgers’ bullpen in their World Series title run last year after rejoining the team on a one-year deal. He became a free agent after the season and was eager to become a starter again. In January, he signed with the rival Giants.
Wood was 10-4 with a 3.83 ERA in 26 regular-season starts. In three outings against his former team, he had two 1-0 losses and a no-decision. He pitched six innings in each of the first two outings, allowing two runs and four runs. In his third outing, he was tagged for three runs.
“If you look at Woody’s numbers in the postseason, he’s been incredible, whether it’s starting or coming out of the bullpen,” Game 2 starter Kevin Gausman said. “… It’s going to be a good matchup and I’m excited to watch Woody work.”
The Giants need to win one of the next two games in L.A. to force the series back to San Francisco for a fifth and deciding game. They won 4-0 in Game 1, and the Dodgers’ bats came alive in Game 2 to produce a 9-2 victory.
Wood was the obvious choice with so much on the line. He’s come up big for the Giants following a loss, with the team going 12-1.
“He’s just pitched really well for us, and in particular he’s pitched well for us late, so that’s the main consideration,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “He’s one of our best three pitchers right now.”
Brewers-braves
For Craig Counsell, the decision to have Freddy Peralta start Monday’s Game 3 of an NLDS for Milwaukee at Atlanta was easy.
The manager said he considered no other options. “Freddy was the starter,” Counsell said Sunday. “That was the plan from probably July.”
The best-of-five series is tied at one win apiece, putting pressure on Peralta and Braves starter Ian Anderson to give his team the edge. Each pitcher has returned from stints on the injured list to feel healthy entering the postseason.
It will be Peralta’s first postseason start. He won his lone start against the Braves this season, pitching six scoreless innings in a 10-9 win at Milwaukee on May 16.
The 25-year-old right-hander was 10-5 with a 2.81 ERA in the regular season.
Peralta was on the IL from Aug. 19 to Sept. 2 with right shoulder inflammation. He was 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA in five September starts and has not pitched in almost two weeks since his last start on Sept. 26.
Anderson, 23, has the edge over Peralta in postseason experience. He is 2-0 with a 0.96 ERA in four postseason games. He started in Game 7 of last season’s NLCS loss to the Dodgers, allowing two runs in three innings.
Anderson was 9-5 with a 3.58 ERA this season. He took a no-hitter into the seventh inning of a 5-1 win at Milwaukee on May 15. He was on the IL with right shoulder inflammation from July 16 to Aug. 19.