World Series Game 4 lineups - MLB

Following Friday’s seven-hour, 20-minute marathon, the Dodgers and Red Sox are back at it again for Game 4 of the World Series. There’s really no predicting the way this game will break, considering the two clubs combined to use a total of 46 players — the Dodgers’ Rich Hill and Hyun-Jin Ryu and Red Sox’ Drew Pomeranz and Chris Sale were the only members not to appear on the mound (or, like Clayton Kershaw, at the plate) — and will enter tonight’s matchup less-rested than usual.

Here are the lineups:

1. Mookie Betts (R) RF CF
2. Andrew Benintendi (L) LF
3. Steve Pearce (R) 1B
4. J.D. Martinez (R) RF
5. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
6. Eduardo Núñez (R) 3B
7. Brock Holt (L) 2B
8. Christian Vázquez (R) C
9. Eduardo Rodríguez (L)

On the hill for the Red Sox: Southpaw Eduardo Rodríguez, who will be making the first postseason start of his career. Rodríguez pitched 1/3 of an inning during Game 3 of the World Series, expending just six pitches as he struck out Joc Pederson to end the fifth. Over the course of six relief appearances this fall, the lefty has issued two hits, three runs, and five strikeouts over a cumulative 4 1/3 innings, though the club will be looking for something closer to the 3.82-ERA, 1.265-WHIP numbers he delivered during the regular season as they try to close out their third win of the series.

Alex Cora will utilize a primarily right-handed lineup against the Dodgers’ left-hander. Mookie Betts will shift from right field to center in order to accommodate J.D. Martinez in right and Andrew Benintendi in left field, while first baseman Mitch Moreland and third baseman Rafael Devers will be relegated to the bench in favor of righties Steve Pearce and Eduardo Núñez, respectively. Jackie Bradley Jr. is also expected to sit for the first time since the start of the Red Sox’ postseason run, though he’ll presumably be available to pinch-hit or sub into the outfield if need be.

1. David Freese (R) 1B
2. Max Muncy (L) 2B
3. Justin Turner (R) 3B
4. Manny Machado (R) SS
5. Cody Bellinger (L) CF
6. Yasiel Puig (R) RF
7. Chris Taylor (R) LF
8. Austin Barnes (R) C
9. Rich Hill (L) P

Against Rodríguez, the Dodgers will roll with lefty Rich Hill as planned, as Dave Roberts elected not to start the game with an ‘opener’. Hill made his last playoff start during Game 4 of the NLCS and pitched the Dodgers to victory with five innings of one-run, six-strikeout ball. Behind him, David Freese will bat leadoff and play first base, with game-winner Max Muncy scooting over to second base and swapping places with Justin Turner in the no. 2 spot. Chris Taylor will resume his post in left field as Joc Pederson takes a seat on the bench, while behind the plate, the Dodgers will go to Austin Barnes in place of Yasmani Grandal.

Game 4 will kick off at Dodger Stadium at 8:09 PM EDT.

ATLANTA – Given a seven-run lead in the first inning, Atlanta right-hander Spencer Strider could relax and keep adding to his majors-leading strikeout total.

“That game felt like it was over pretty quick,” Strider said.

Ronald Acuña Jr. drove in three runs with four hits, including a two-run single in Atlanta’s seven-run first inning, and the Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 11-4 on Sunday night to split the four-game series.

“Getting a lead first is big, especially when you get that big of a lead,” Strider said. “… When we’re putting up runs, my job isn’t to be perfect. My job is to get outs.”

Following the game, Braves manager Brian Snitker announced right-hander Michael Soroka will be recalled to make his first start since the 2020 season on Monday night at Oakland.

Matt Olson hit a pair of two-run homers for Atlanta, and Strider became the fastest pitcher in modern history to reach 100 strikeouts in a season.

“It’s incredible,” said Acuña through a translator of Strider. “Every time he goes out to pitch it seems like he’s going to strike everybody out.”

Acuña hit a run-scoring triple in the fifth before Olson’s second homer to center. Acuña had two singles in the first when the Braves sent 11 batters to the plate, collected seven hits and opened a 7-0 lead. Led by Acuña and Olson, who had three hits, the Braves set a season high with 20 hits.

Strider (5-2) struck out nine while pitching six innings of two-run ball. The right-hander fired a called third strike past Nick Castellanos for the first out of the fourth, giving him 100 strikeouts in 61 innings and topping Jacob deGrom‘s 61 2/3 innings in 2021 as the fastest to 100 in the modern era.

“It’s cool,” Strider said, adding “hopefully it’ll keep going.”

Olson followed Acuña’s leadoff single with a 464-foot homer to right-center. Austin Riley added another homer before Ozzie Albies and Acuña had two-run singles in the long first inning.

Phillies shortstop Trea Turner and left fielder Kyle Schwarber each committed an error on a grounder by Orlando Arcia, setting up two unearned runs in the inning.

Strider walked Kody Clemens to open the third. Brandon Marsh followed with a two-run homer for the Phillies’ first hit. Schwarber hit a two-run homer off Collin McHugh in the seventh.

LEAPING CATCH

Michael Harris II celebrated the one-year anniversary of his major league debut by robbing Schwarber of a homer with a leaping catch at the center-field wall in the second. As Harris shook his head to say “No!” after coming down with the ball on the warning track, Strider pumped his fist in approval on the mound – after realizing Harris had the ball.

“He put me through an emotional roller coaster for a moment,” Strider said.

SOROKA RETURNING TO ROTATION

Soroka was scratched from his scheduled start at Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday, setting the stage for his final step in his comeback from two torn Achilles tendons.

“To get back is really a feather in that kid’s cap,” Snitker said.

Soroka will be making his first start in the majors since Aug. 3, 2020, against the New York Mets when he suffered a torn right Achilles tendon. Following a setback which required a follow-up surgery, he suffered another tear of the same Achilles tendon midway through the 2021 season.

Soroka suffered another complication in his comeback when a hamstring injury slowed his progress this spring.

Acuña said he was “super happy, super excited for him, super proud of him” and added “I’m just hoping for continued good health.”

Soroka looked like an emerging ace when he finished 13-4 with a 2.68 ERA in 2019 and placed second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting and sixth in the NL Cy Young voting.

The Braves are 0-3 in bullpen committee games as they attempt to overcome losing two key starters, Max Fried (strained left forearm) and Kyle Wright (right shoulder inflammation) to the injured list in early May. Each is expected to miss at least two months.

RHP Dereck Rodriguez, who gave up one hit in two scoreless innings, was optioned to Gwinnett after the game to clear a roster spot for Soroka.

QUICK EXIT

Phillies right-hander Dylan Covey (0-1), claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 20, didn’t make it through the first inning. Covey allowed seven runs, five earned, and six hits, including the homers by Olson and Riley.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Phillies: 3B Alex Bohm was held out with hamstring tightness. … LHP José Alvarado (left elbow inflammation) threw the bullpen session originally scheduled for Saturday. Manager Rob Thomson said there was no report that Alvarado, who was placed on the injured list on May 10, had any difficulty.

UP NEXT

Phillies: Following an off day, LHP Ranger Suárez (0-1, 9.82 ERA) is scheduled to face Mets RHP Kodai Senga (4-3, 3.94 ERA) in Tuesday night’s opener of a three-game series in New York.

Braves: Soroka was 1-2 with a 4.33 ERA in eight games with Triple-A Gwinnett. He allowed a combined four hits and two runs over 10 2/3 innings in his last two starts. RHP Paul Blackburn (7-6, 4.28 ERA in 2022) is scheduled to make his 2023 debut for Oakland as he returns from a finger injury.