LOS ANGELES (AP) The Latest on Game 2 of the World Series between the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers (all times local):
4:35 p.m.
Lance McCullers Jr. will start Game 3 of the World Series for the Houston Astros on Friday and Charlie Morton will open Game 4.
Astros manager A.J. Hinch had held off announcing the order of his rotation until Wednesday.
McCullers did not get a decision in his one postseason start, when he allowed one run over six innings in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series at Yankee Stadium. He gave up two runs over three innings of relief in Game 3 of the Division Series at Boston, and he followed Morton with four scoreless innings to finish Game 7 against the Yankees last Saturday, when he finished with 24 consecutive breaking pitches.
”It opens up Lance a little more in Game 6 and 7, if we can get that far, and if we don’t clinch before that or if they don’t clinch before that,” Hinch said.
Morton is 1-1 in three postseason starts this year, allowing nine runs and 15 hits in 13 innings.
Yu Darvish starts Game 3 for the Dodgers and Alex Wood goes in Game 4.
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4:25 p.m.
Joc Pederson earned a start in Game 2 of the World Series over Andre Ethier because Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts thinks he has a better chance for success against Justin Verlander.
”This guy is obviously plus, plus velocity,” Roberts said. ”I like Joc a little bit better with the velocity. And I think Joc is a better defender in left field, too.”
Pederson was not on the active roster for the NL Division Series after going 4 for 22 from Sept. 1 on. He was 1 for 5 in the NL Championship Series.
”In his batting practice and simulated games I think he’s in his legs a little bit more, more consistent mechanically,” Roberts said. ”And so I think for us is it hasn’t really translated into production. And he hasn’t had those opportunities really, to be fair to him. But I think in this one case I think he’s going to put some at-bats together against him.”
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1:30 p.m.
Left fielder Joc Pederson and second baseman Chase Utley get the start for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the World Series in place of Enrique Hernandez and Logan Forsythe, and shortstop Corey Seager moves from sixth to second in the batting order.
Chris Taylor bats leadoff and plays center field Wednesday night, followed by Seager, third baseman Justin Turner, first baseman Cody Bellinger, right fielder Yasiel Puig, Pederson, catcher Austin Barnes, Utley and left-hander Rich Hill.
Center fielder George Springer tops an unchanged Houston Astros batting order, followed by third baseman Alex Bregman, second baseman Jose Altuve, shortstop Carlos Correa, first baseman Yuli Gurriel, catcher Brian McCann, left fielder Marwin Gonzalez, right fielder Josh Reddick and right-hander Justin Verlander.
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