Rays at Dodgers 9/17/19 | MLB Game of the Week Live on YouTube

♪ >> DODGERS TAKING ON THE RAYS. >> CODY BELLINGER IS BECOMING A SUPERSTAR. >> AUSTIN MEADOWS HAS BEEN THE BEST HITTER. >> THE DODGERS HAVE PITCHING, BULLPEN, YOUNG PLAYERS, STAR PLAYERS. THEY ARE THE BEST PUT TOGETHER TEAM. >> A KNOCKOUT IN 2019. A SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE DIVISION TITLE. >> IN TAMPA THEY HAVE A FEW GOOD STARTERS. >> THE RAYS WIN IT ON A WALKOFF. ♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE MLB GAME OF THE WEEK LIVE ON YOUTUBE PREGAME SHOW. HEIDI WATNEY AND JOE GIRARDI COMING TO YOU FROM STUDIO 42 IN NEW JERSEY. YOU ARE LOOKING AT HOLLYWOOD. CHAVEZ RAVINE, HOME OF THE DODGERS, THEY WILL HOST THE TAMPA BAY RAYS ON THIS LOVELY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EVENING. GETTING THE MOUND READY FOR THE MATCHUP, BLAKE SNELL IS BACK FOR THE TAMPA BAY RAYS, PITCHING FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE JULY 21. THIS IS HUGE FOR THE RAYS. >> REALLY BIG. HE MADE TWO STARTS IN THE MINORS, TO INNINGS, AND HE HAS THREE STARTS POSSIBLE IF THEY WANT TO GET HIM READY FOR THE PLAYOFFS. AND HE COULD BE READY FOR THE WILD-CARD GAME IF THEY WANTED TO USE HIM OUT OF THE BULLPEN. I THINK THIS IS HUGE. HE HAS TREMENDOUS STUFF, CY YOUNG AWARD WINNER. GLASNOW AND HIM COMING BACK, MAKING A DIFFERENCE DOWN THE STRETCH. HEIDI: WE WILL DO A DEEPER DIVE INTO SNELL IN JUST A BIT. WE WILL LET YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A COUNTDOWN CLOCK. THEY ARE PUTTING A CLOCK ON US. WE HAVE A TIME LIMIT. THE COUNTDOWN TO FIRST PITCH, THE CLOCK WILL BE SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE. I LIKE WHEN THEY DO THE SOUND EFFECTS. JOE: I LOOK FOR IT. HEIDI: IT IS NOT ACTUALLY FLOATING ABOVE OUR HEADS FOR YOU CAN SEE IT ON THE SCREEN. WE ARE GETTING YOU SET FOR FIRST PITCH. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ROSS STRIPLING FOR THE DODGERS BUT DAVE ROBERTS WANTS TO SEE STRIPLING COME OUT OF THE BULLPEN BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT HE WILL BE DOING IN THE POSTSEASON. JOE: THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THAT. HE HAD TWO STARTS AND HAVE COME IN RELIEF. HE IS A GUY THAT WILL EAT UP INNINGS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THEY MIGHT DO THIS BY BULLPEN. THEY MIGHT START A LEFTY OR A DIFFERENT RIGHTY AND HE WILL COME IN AND TRY TO EAT SOME INNINGS. THAT IS — HEIDI: THAT IS TAKING A PAGE OUT OF THE RAYS BOOK WHO STARTED THE BULLPENNING PHENOMENON. THEY WILL HAVE THEIR ACE ON THE MOUND AS HE IS BUILDING UP FOR THE POSTSEASON. BLAKE SNELL, WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR FROM HIM TONIGHT? IT WON’T BE A FULL OUTING. HE IS STILL REHABBING BUT AS A MANAGER MAKING HIS FIRST BIG-LEAGUE START OFF OF INJURY, WHAT YOU LOOK FOR? JOE: COMMAND OF THE FASTBALL, CURVEBALL, AND CHANGEUP. HE HAS A SLIDER AS WELL BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM GET TO 45 PITCHES. THIS IS TRICKY BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO WIN, BUT HE HAS TO HIT. WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SECOND INNING IF THE BASES ARE LOADED AND ONE OUT? WILL YOU REMOVE HIM? I THINK IT IS TRICKY. I LOVE THIS KID’S STUFF. DON’T BE DECEIVED BY HIS E.R.A.. LOOK AT HOW DOMINANT WITH THE CURVEBALL. HE HAS TWO DIFFERENT ONES HE THROWS, A SLOWER ONE FOR A STRIKE AND A HARDER ONE TO MAKE YOU SWING AND MISS. AT — HE HAD A BAD MONTH OF JUNE WHEN HE HAD AN E.R.A. IN THE NINES SO DON’T BE DECEIVED BY HIS NUMBERS. HE LOVES TO PITCH SIMILAR TO THE HOUSTON ASTROS, WHERE HE WILL THROW HIS FASTBALL UP IN THE ZONE. HE WILL GET IT ALL THE WAY UP TO 97. HE STRIKES OUT JAMES MCCANN. 96 UP IN THE ZONE. THE SLOW CURVE, SECOND TIME THROUGH THE LINEUP COME I WILL GIVE YOU A DIFFERENT LOOK AND THROW A CURVEBALL FOR A STRIKE. IF I GET AHEAD OF YOU I WILL BURY YOU. THIS IS ABREU, A TREMENDOUS HITTER. BELOW THE ZONE, ANOTHER ONE. HE GETS MONCADA TO SWING. HE HAS THIS CHANGEUP THAT HE GETS ROLLOVERS, HE GETS A LOT OF GROUND BALL OUTS. ONE OF THE BEST HITTERS IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE, HE STARTS HIM WITH THE SLOW CURVEBALL. THEN HE THROWS HIM A CHANGEUP. HE LOOKS SILLY. LOOK HOW FOOLED HE IS ON THE HIGH FASTBALL. HE IS NOT PICKING HIM UP. HE GETS HIM TO GROUND OUT WEEKLY ON THE CHANGEUP — WEAKLY ON THE CHANGEUP. I THINK HE WILL BE UP TO 80 PITCHES BY THE END OF THREE STARTS, THIS BEING THE FIRST. I THINK HE WILL BE PRETTY GOOD. HIS LAST START IN TRIPLE-A ON THE 12TH WAS PRETTY GOOD. HE WENT TWO INNINGS. IT WAS A PLAYOFF GAME AGAINST THE YANKEES, WHICH MAYBE HE MATCHES UP IN THE SECOND ROUND. JOE: THAT COULD HAPPEN IN THE ALDS. THEY ARE IN A BATTLE FOR THE WILD-CARD RACE. HE HAS BEEN OUT FOR A WHILE AND THE RAYS HAVE KEPT GOING. THEY HAVE KEPT CHUGGING ALONG. LOWEST PAYROLL IN BASEBALL, THEY LOSE THEIR CY YOUNG GUY AND THEY ARE STILL IN THE RACE. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT STARTING LINEUPS. STARTING WITH THE DODGERS. DODGERS, JUSTIN TURNER STILL NOT IN THERE. INTERESTING. CODY BELLINGER IN THE LINEUP, DAVID FREESE LEADING OFF, PLAYING FIRST BASE. A.J. POLLOCK, CHRIS TAYLOR, WITH THE LOSS OF JUSTIN TURNER, STILL DEALING WITH THE SPRAINED ANKLE. THEY EXPECTED HIM BACK TODAY. JOE: THAT CONCERNS ME BECAUSE THEY ARE SO GOOD WHEN HE IS IN THE LINEUP. WHEN HE CAME BACK IN 2018, THEY TOOK OFF. THE GOOD THING FOR ME, IT IS HIS FRONT FOOT. HE DOESN’T, YOU WILL SIT ON YOUR BACK LEG. FOR HIM, IT IS JUST THE LEG KICK AND PUT IT DOWN. IF THERE IS ONE ANKLE I WILL WANT TO BE HURT, IT WOULD BE MY FRONT ONE. HEIDI: THAT IS GOOD. WHAT HASN’T BEEN GREAT NEWS IS, CODY BELLINGER IS STRUGGLING A LITTLE LATELY. HAVING AN MBA BE — M.V.P. CALIBER SEASON, BUT OVER THE LAST MONTH HE DIPPED A LITTLE. JOE: YOU WONDER IF IT IS A LITTLE FATIGUE LATE IN THE SEASON AS THEY HAD YESTERDAY OFF AND MAYBE YOU GIVE HIM A COUPLE DAYS AS THEY MOVE FORWARD. THE BIGGEST THING, THE GUYS ARRESTED. .25 FOR THE SECOND HALF, NOT A GOOD SECOND HALF. NOT A GOOD SECOND HALF FOR HIM. HE HAS AN O.P.S. AROUND .900 BUT HE WAS 1100 THE FIRST HALF. I THINK HE ALLOWED ANTHONY RENDON TO CLICK — TO CREEP INTO THE M.V.P. HE IS A GOOD HITTER AND A FEW DAYS OFF WOULD PROBABLY HELP HIM. HEIDI: THERE YOU GO. DAVE ROBERTS, MAYBE GIVE HIM REST. THEY NEED HIM RIGHT FOR THE POSTSEASON. TRYOUTS AND POSTSEASON SCENARIOS, PARTICULARLY WITH THE BULLPEN GUYS AND PITCHING GUYS BUT EVEN WITH THE OFFENSE, GET GUYS HEALTHY. WE WILL TALK TO JOE ABOUT HOW YOU BALANCE THAT, GETTING READY FOR THE POSTSEASON VERSUS PLAYING FOR THE HERE AND NOW. LET’S LOOK AT THE RAYS LINEUP IN THIS MATCHUP. TOMMY PHAM LEADING OFF, AUSTIN MEADOWS IN RIGHT FIELD. HE HAS BEEN SPECTACULAR. TRAVIS D’ARNAUD CATCHING, JI-MAN CHOI, MATT DUFFY, WILLY ADAMES AT SHORT, KIERMAIER THE CENTER FIELDER. BACK TO AUSTIN MEADOWS. JOE: WHAT A MONTH. HEIDI: LEADING ALL BASEBALL IN R.B.I.’S IN SEPTEMBER, HE HAS BEEN FANTASTIC. JOE: 18 R.B.I.’S IN 13 STARTS, ONLY 52 AT-BATS, SEVEN HOME RUNS. I SEE HIM USING THE WHOLE FIELD. HE IS AN UP-AND-DOWN GUY BUT IF THIS IS THE MONTH, I WANT HIM HOT, THIS IS IT. THIS GUY USES THE WHOLE FIELD. HE HAS POWER, HE CAN RUN, HE IS ATHLETIC AND I LIKE WHAT HE IS DOING. I LIKE HOW HE HITS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PITCHES AS HE DRIVES BALL TO LEFT FIELD. HE HAS BEEN SO PRODUCTIVE. YOU LOOK AT THE CURVEBALL ON THE HANGING SLIDER, YOU WANT TO DO THAT? I WILL SHOOT IT THE OTHER WAY. HE GOT BEAT BUT HE STAYED INSIDE THE BASEBALL. HE HITS THE BALL WHERE THEY ARE NOT STANDING ON THAT IS THE KEY. LOOK AT HIM GO DOWN AND GET THE CHANGEUP AND HEADED OUT FOR A THREE RUN HOMER. I HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH THE PROGRESS HE HAS MADE. HE HAS BIG-TIME POWER, OVER 30 HOME RUNS. HE ONLY HIT 4 IN JUNE AND JULY. HE HAS OVER 30 HOME RUNS AND DID NO DAMAGE IN JUNE AND JULY. THIS IS THEIR SUPERSTAR BAT BUT THEY COME TO LAMENT HIM AND THEY MIX-AND-MATCH WELL. — THEY COMPLEMENT HIM AND THEY MIX-AND-MATCH WELL. HEIDI: THEY JUST SEEM TO BE PLAYING THE MATCHUPS PERFECTLY. THAT IS WHY THEY ARE WHERE THEY ARE. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE WILD-CARD STANDINGS. YOU HAVE THE A’S IN THE LEAD, PLUS ONE ON THE RAYS. THEY WOULD HOST HOME FIELD SHOULD THE SEASON AND TODAY. THE INDIANS, NOT FAR BEHIND, A GAME AND A HALF OUT OF THE SECOND SPOT. WE ARE LOOKING AT A THREE TEAM RACE. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE INDIANS DID IN THEIR GAME. SOME HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOU FROM THEIR ACTION, HOSTING THE TIGERS. OSCAR MERCADO WITH A SOLO SHOT, THAT MAKES IT 1-0. JOE: HE HAS BEEN A PLEASANT SURPRISE FOR THEM. MOVING INTO LEFT FIELD, GIVING THEM SOME OFFENSE THEY DIDN’T HAVE EARLY ON IN THE YEAR. I HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH WHAT OSCAR MERCADO HAS DONE IN YOUR — IT — HIS FIRST SEASON. HEIDI: THEY HAVE THE PITCHING, THEY NEED THE OFFENSE TO KEEP PACE. JORDAN LUPLOW TRIPLES TO LEFT. JOE: THE MOST EXCITING HIT IN BASEBALL, A TRIPLE. WHEN A CATCHER GETS A TRIPLE, I GET REALLY EXCITED. HEIDI: OF COURSE. INDIANS HAVE A 6-2 LEAD OVER THE TIGERS IN THE EIGHTH-INNING SO THEY ARE DOING THEIR JOB KEEPING PACE. IT IS THE TWINS HOSTING THE WHITE SOX, BOTTOM OF THE THIRD, EDDIE ROSARIO WITH A DOUBLE TO CENTER FIELD, SCORING, NO, THAT WOULD BE A HOME RUN, A SOLO SHOT. JOE: WHITE SOX ARE NOT A TEAM THAT I NECESSARILY WANT TO PLAY DOWN THE STRETCH BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE OFFENSE AND SOMETIMES, THESE KIDS GET ENERGIZED IN SEPTEMBER. WHEN THEY ARE PLAYING A PLAYOFF BOUND TEAM, NOT A TEAM, TORONTO WAS ANOTHER ONE I WOULDN’T WANT TO PLAY. THROW IT ON THE MIDDLE, UP, THIS IS WHAT I DO. I HIT HOME RUNS. HEIDI: DO SOME DAMAGE. THAT’S RIGHT. THE TWINS HAVE A COMFORTABLE LEAD RIGHT NOW IN THE CENTRAL. THE INDIANS WOULD HAVE TO GO QUITE — ON QUITE A CHARGE. OF THOSE THREE TEAMS IN THE RACE , WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE? JOE: THE WILD-CARD TEAMS? OAKLAND. I LIKE THE SCHEDULE THEY HAVE MOVING FORWARD. THEY DON’T REALLY PLAY ANY TEAMS OVER .5 00. THEY WILL PLAY THE ANGELS AND THE MARINERS AND THE ANGELS ARE DEPLETED WITH INJURIES. I LIKE OAKLAND ESPECIALLY WITH THE ADDITION OF SOME OF THESE YOUNG PLAYERS. HEIDI: TAKING A LOOK AT THE AND A WILD-CARD STANDINGS, YOU SEE THIS IS STILL TECHNICALLY A SIX TEAM RACE ALTHOUGH THE PHILLIES, METS AND DIAMONDBACKS APPEAR TO BE FALLING BACK. NATIONALS, CUBS AND BREWERS. A WEEK AGO, THE NATS HAD A THREE-GAME LEAD FOR HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE. THAT HAS DIPPED TO A HALF GAME LEAD AS THE CUBS HAVE SURGED. JOE: I WAS A BIG BELIEVER THAT THE NATIONALS WERE THE TEAM THAT COULD GIVE THE DODGERS TROUBLE, BUT THEY HAVEN’T PLAYED WELL. THEY WENT TO ATLANTA AND DIDN’T PLAY WELL. THEY HAVE A TOUGH SCHEDULE. THEY GET THE PHILLIES FIVE TIMES . MAYBE THAT WILL HELP THEM, BUT THEY NEED TO PICK IT UP A LITTLE. HEIDI: CUBS HAVE SEVEN LEFT AGAINST THE CARDINALS. JOE: MILK — MILWAUKEE MIGHT SLIP IN THERE. HEIDI: HOWIE KENDRICK, SOLO SHOT TO CENTER GIVES THE NATIONALS A 2-1 LEAD. JOE: SO MANY TIMES YOU SEE THE VETERANS STEPPING UP AT BIG MOMENTS LIKE THIS. THIS TIME OF YEAR, LOTS OF TIMES YOUNG PLAYERS GET TIRED AND AREN’T USED TO THE PRESSURE THAT GOES INTO PLAYING IN SEPTEMBER. JOE: HOW HE IT — HEIDI: HOWIE IS ONE OF THOSE COOL AS A CUCUMBER GUYS. JOE: ANOTHER VETERAN. HEIDI: I LOVE THIS GUY. HIS DEFENSE IS SPECTACULAR. JOE: HE HAD A TOUGH YEAR, BUT HE CONTINUES TO FIGHT. THAT IS A BIG HOME RUN EARLY ON IN THE GAME. HE GIVES THEM THE LEAD EARLY AND THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT. HEIDI: THE PADRES STRIKE BACK. HUNTER RENFROE. JOE: THAT IS A PRETTY GOOD PITCH. THAT IS A PRETTY GOOD PITCH DOWN IN THE ZONE, THE BREAKING BALL AND HE REACHES OUT AND GETS IT. I REALLY LIKE THE WAY THAT MILWAUKEE’S BULLPEN, AFTER A FEW MOVES, THEY PUT IT TOGETHER AND HAVE PITCHED VERY WELL. HEIDI: A 2-1 LEAD IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH. HE CAN BE SCARY WHEN HE IS ON. ARISTIDES AQUINO WITH A RUNNER ON, THAT IS A HOME RUN. JOE: YU DARVISH, THAT IS THE ONE THING HE HAS DONE, GIVEN UP A LOT OF HOME RUNS. HE PITCHED GREAT THE SECOND HALF, THE BEST SECOND-HALF PITCHER. AQUINO BURST ONTO THE SCENE IN AUGUST, SEPTEMBER HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE, BUT MAYBE NOT TONIGHT. HEIDI: AND THEY WANT TO PLAY SPOILER. THEY GOT A LOT OF TEAMS RIGHT NOW IN SOME SORT OF CONTENTION. KYLE SCHWARBER, YOU SAID YOU WERE A FAN OF TRIPLES? JOE: THIS IS A CATCHER. HE WAS A CATCHER AT INDIANA AND CAME UP AS A CATCHER SO HE GETS CREDIT FOR THIS. HE ALMOST GOT BREAK THERE. HE HAS REALLY PICKED IT UP WITH RIZZO GOING DOWN. A BIG SERIES AGAINST THE PIRATES, HIT WELL AGAINST CINCINNATI IN THE FIRST TWO GAMES, A THREE RUN HOMER, THEY NEED THAT. HE HAS 37 HOME RUNS. HEIDI: RIZZO, BAEZ, BOTH HURT. THE CUBS HAVE TO MAKE A PUSH RIGHT NOW AND THEY HAVE TWO OF THEIR SUPERSTAR SIDELINED. JOE: DOESN’T SEEM LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP EVERYONE TOGETHER. THEY LOST THEIR CATCHER FOR A WHILE, THEY LOST BAEZ AND NOW RIZZO. SOMEHOW THEY ARE GETTING IT DONE. IT WILL GET TOUGH. THEY WILL PLAY THE CARDINALS SEVEN TIMES IN THE LAST 10 DAYS BUT THEY ARE IN A GOOD SPOT. HEIDI: THE BREWERS ARE LICKING THEIR CHOPS, GOING, WE ARE GOING TO SNEAK IN. WE WILL HEAD OUT TO DODGER STADIUM. >> THANKS FOR TAKING A COUPLE MINUTES TO BE WITH US. I WANT TO KNOW IF YOU ARE STILL FEELING AS GOOD AT THE PLATE AS IT APPEARS BECAUSE IT’S SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME YOU STEP IN THE BOX, YOU DON’T HAVE ANY SORT OF ISSUES SEEING THE BALL AND HITTING THE BALL. JOC: I FEEL GOOD. I GUESS I FEEL GOOD AND I WILL KEEP GOING. ALANNA; YOU ARE IN THE POSTSEASON. YOU HAVE THE NUMBER ONE SEED TO WORRY ABOUT, AND THE BEST RECORD IN BASEBALL. HOW DO YOU TAKE THAT DAY BY DAY? JOC: THE SAME WAY WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE AT. STICK TO THE GRIND, TAKE CARE OF THE LITTLE THINGS, ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND GRIND OUT AT-BATS, GET INTO THE BULLPEN. OUR PITCHING STAFF, THEY DO THEIR OWN THING. PUT UP ZEROS TO HELP US WIN AND THE OFFENSE TAKES CARE OF IT. IT IS A GOOD PROCESS FOR W’S. ALANNA: YOU MENTIONED GETTING INTO THE BULLPEN. WITH THE RAYS YOU ALWAYS HAVE A BULLPEN GAME. HOW MUCH MORE WORK DO YOU HAVE TO PUT IN TO SEE A LOT MORE ARMS THAN YOU NORMALLY WOULD HAVE TO WITH ANOTHER TEAM? JOC: IT IS NOT THAT BIG OF A DIFFERENCE. YOU KNOW WHO THEY HAVE IN THE BULLPEN, AND THAT IS THE WAY THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL. SO KUDOS TO THEM. BUT WE STILL HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO WIN, WHOEVER IS ON THE MOUND. THAT CAN CHANGE OUR GAME PLAN. ALANNA: YOU ARE COMING OFF A SERIES AGAINST THE METS COME ALSO FIGHTING FOR THE PLAYOFFS. IS THERE ANYTHING EXTRA IN THESE GAMES BECAUSE THESE GUYS HAVE A LOT TO PLAY FOR? JOC: ABSOLUTELY. WE ARE GETTING READY TO WIN A WORLD SERIES, SO I DON’T THINK IT MATTERS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FIELD. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN STUFF TO WORRY ABOUT AND WE HAVE OUR OWN STUFF TO WORRY ABOUT AND WE HAVE TO PREPARE OR OCTOBER. THERE IS NO LETTING OFF THE GAS PEDAL. ALANNA: THANK YOU, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. HEIDI: GOOD STUFF. BACK HERE IN THE DUGOUT WITH A WORLD SERIES WINNING MANAGER, JOE GIRARDI. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. YOU KNOW THIS VIEW AND YOU WERE JUST SAYING, THIS IS WHAT YOU DO AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. YOU ARE LOOKING OUT THERE AT THE SCOREBOARD, SCOREBOARD WATCHING AND WATCHING THE GAME AT THE SAME TIME. IF YOU SEE A TEAM THAT IS AHEAD OF YOU OR BEHIND YOU LOSING A GAME, YOU LICK YOUR CHOPS. JOE: IF I AM IT — IN MILWAUKEE AND WASHINGTON IS BEATING ST. LOUIS, CINCINNATI IS BEATING CHICAGO, WE COULD PICK UP A GAME ON BOTH OF THEM AND WOULD BE TIED FOR THE WILD-CARD, THAT IS WHAT YOU DO. YOU HOPE YOU ARE WINNING YOUR DIVISION AND CAN WATCH WITH CURIOSITY. SOMETIMES YOU WATCH AND SAY, JUST LOSE TONIGHT. HEIDI: SPEAKING OF WINNING YOUR DIVISION, THE DODGERS ALREADY CLINCHED THE N.L. WEST. DAVE ROBERTS IN HIS POSITION, HOW DOES HE JUGGLE KEEPING HIS PLAYERS RESTED AND HEALTHY AND SHARP FOR THE POSTSEASON WITH TWO WEEKS TO PLAY? THEY ARE ALSO FIGHTING FOR THE BEST RECORD OVERALL IN BASEBALL AND HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE. JOE: I THINK HE WILL MAKE SURE HIS PITCHERS ARE RESTED. A GUY LIKE RYU, HE WILL MAKE SURE HE IS NOT OVERWORKED DOWN THE STRETCH. HIS LAST START HE THREW SEVEN SCORELESS INNINGS AGAINST THE METS. HE WAS REALLY GOOD. CONTINUE TO GET HIM GOING. DAVID FREESE, AND WILL PLAY AGAINST LEFT-HANDERS, LEADING OFF, MAYBE HE CAN GET TWO AT-BATS AGAINST LEFT-HANDERS AND GIVE CODY SOME TIME UP. YOU WILL PLAY YOUR GUYS BUT YOU WILL CHOOSE TO MAYBE GIVE THEM A DAY OFF HERE AND THERE AND MAKE SURE THEY FEEL REALLY GOOD. THERE WILL BE TIMES I WOULD ASK GUYS, WHAT DO YOU NEED? IS THERE ANYTHING YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE WITH? THEN, YOUR BULLPEN, YOU TRY TO GIVE THEM CONSISTENT WORK, NOT TO WHERE THEY ARE THROWING THREE DAYS IN A ROW. YOU CAN’T AFFORD ANY INJURIES AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. YOU WILL SAY, FOR THE LAST WEEK IT DOESN’T MEAN ANYTHING. HE WILL THROW FRIDAY AND SUNDAY. IT IS LIKE SPRING TRAINING, WHERE IT IS MAPPED OUT. JOE: THAT — HEIDI: THAT HAS TO BE NICE TO SAY DON’T WORRY, YOU ARE NOT COMING IN NO MATTER WHAT, YOU HAVE A NIGHT OFF. THEY CAN MENTALLY TAKE A BREAK. JOE: THAT IS IMPORTED THIS TIME OF YEAR. IT IS A LONG YEAR. CODY BELLINGER HAS PLAYED IN 140 SIX GAMES. HE IS PLAYING TONIGHT AND I KNOW WHY. THE LEFT-HANDERS HAVE BEAT UP SNELL THIS YEAR. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS KEEPING YOUR PLAYERS HEALTHY. NUMBER TWO WAS MAKING SURE THEY ARE READY TO GO. THEY FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHO THEY ARE GOING INTO THE PLAYOFFS. NUMBER THREE’S HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE. PEOPLE GET EXCITED ABOUT HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE BUT IF YOU HAVE A MAX MUNCY AND CODY BELLINGER ON THE D.L. THAT DOESN’T DO YOU ANY GOOD. HEIDI: YOU MENTIONED RYU. WHAT HAS BEEN RUNG WITH HIM? AS A MANAGER, HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THAT? FOUR OF HIS LAST FIVE STARTS WERE BAD. HIS LAST ONE WAS IMPROVED. JOE: I THINK HE HAD NEXT DAY SO I GIVE HIM AN EXTRA DAY OR MAYBE AN EXTRA 2 IT HAS HE IS AT A POINT WHERE HE IS HASN’T BEEN IN A WHILE. HE IS A VETERAN, BUT SOMETIMES, I DON’T WANT TO USE THE WORD PANIC BUT YOU LOOK, SOMETIMES TIES GO THROUGH A HARD TIME AND WE OVERTHINK THREE AT I THINK SPACING OUT HIS STARTS IS PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA RIGHT NOW, TO MAKE SURE OCTOBER 3 OR FOURTH WHEN THEY PLAY, I AM READY TO GO. HEIDI: YOU WANT HIM BACK WITH THE SUB-2.00 E.R.A.. WHAT IS KEVIN CASH’S APPROACH WITH THE RAYS AND HIS MESSAGE TO THE TEAM? JOE: JUST WIN TONIGHT. IF WE WIN OUR GAMES, WE DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANYONE BEHIND US BECAUSE WE ARE IN A WILD-CARD SPOT. IN TONIGHT, WE WILL WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW TOMORROW. IF I HAVE TO USE THIS COMBINATION THIS IS WHAT I WILL DO. THEY ARE IN PLAYOFF MODE. THEY WOULD PROBABLY LOVE TO CATCH OAKLAND AND HER — HAVE HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE. HEIDI: OAKLAND HAS A HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE WITH THEIR CRAZY FANS. JOE: IF IT IS CLEVELAND, YOU DON’T WANT THEM TO CATCH YOU, SO TAKE CARE OF YOUR OWN BUSINESS. THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE ALL YEAR. HEIDI: THEY HAVE BEEN IN PLAYOFF CONTENTION FOR THE LAST MONTH. EVERY SINGLE GAME MATTERS. WE WILL SEND IT BACK OUT TO THE PARK WITH OUR ANALYSTS, B.J. UPTON AND NOMAR GARCIAPARRA. >> ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY, DODGERS VERSUS RAYS, TWO TEAMS LOOKING AT THIS GAME DIFFERENTLY. THE DODGERS, CLINCHING THEIR SEVENTH STRAIGHT WESTERN DIVISION TITLE. THEY ARE MAKING SURE GUYS ARE HEALTHY. JUSTIN TURNER IS OUT NURSING AN ANKLE SO THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE HE IS HEALTHY AND THEY HAVE THE LUXURY OF DOING SO. ANOTHER THING IS THE STARTING PITCHING. THE GUY PENCILED IN WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ROSS STRIPLING BUT THEY BRING IN CALEB FERGUSON. HE WILL BE STARTING THE GAME AND THEY WILL BE BRINGING ROSS OUT OF THE BULLPEN. THEY WANT HIM TO GET USED TO DOING THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE SETTING UP FOR POSSIBLY POSTSEASON ACTION FOR STRIPLING OUT OF THE BULLPEN. THEY ARE LOOKING AT THIS GAME DIFFERENT. THEY WANT TO WIN BECAUSE THEY ARE STILL IN THE HUNT FOR THE N.L. AS FAR AS HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE. THEY WANT TO HAVE THAT, AS WELL, BUT AS FAR AS THE RAYS, DIFFERENT STORY. B.J.: THE RAYS HAVE TO WIN EVERY BALLGAME. THEY ARE SITTING AT THE TOP OF THE WILD-CARD SPOT BUT WE KNOW THAT COULD CHANGE VERY FAST. THEY HAVE BLAKE SNELL COMING BACK, AND THAT IS THE GUY THEY HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR TO COME BACK. LIKE YOU SAID, UNFORTUNATELY DIDN’T GET THE MINOR LEAGUE STARTS HE WANTED BUT THEY ARE BRINGING BACK WHEN THEY NEED HIM. NOMAR: IT WILL BE EXCITING TO HAVE HIM. HOPEFULLY HE CAN BOOST THE CLUB, AND THE REIGNING CY YOUNG IN THE A.L., ANY TEAM WOULD BE EXCITED TO HAVE HIM BACK. YOU HAVE OTHER GUYS GOING OUT FOR THE RAYS THAT ARE COMPETING ON A DAILY BASIS. THEY KNOW EVERY GAME COUNTS, EVERYTHING MATTERS AND LIKE WE SAID, DODGERS HIM A DIFFERENT STORY. IT SHOULD BE EXCITING. IT IS ONLY A TWO-GAME SERIES SO HERE IS GAME ONE OF THE TWO-GAME SERIES. BACK TO YOU. HEIDI: SHOULD BE AN EXCITING TWO-GAME SERIES. WE HAVE INTERLEAGUE PLAY AT DODGER STADIUM. KIKE HERNANDEZ IN THE STARTING LINEUP GETTING WARMED UP AT DODGER STADIUM. WE WILL TAKE YOU TO FIRST PITCH. WE HAVE ABOUT SEVEN MORE MINUTES, BUT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A SPECIAL FOR YOU. YOUTUBE CREATORS AND THE HOSTS OF GOOD MYTHICAL MORNING, AT DODGER STADIUM. THEY WILL THROW OUT A PITCH. GOOD MYTHICAL MORNING IS THE MOST WATCHED DAILY SHOW ON YOUTUBE, THEIR PAGE GETTING CLOSE TO 16 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS. HERE’S A TASTE OF WHAT IS ON THE SHOW. ♪ >> RIGHT OUT THE CLOACA. >> THAT’S RIGHT, THAT’S RIGHT. >> ♪ THE ITSY-BITSY SPIDER WENT UP THE WATER SPOUT ♪ >> NO, NO, NO. >> I PLAYED WITH THIS IS A CHILD. >> I REALLY HOPE SO. HEIDI: I’M NOT SURE WHAT TO THINK OF THE LAST SHOT WITH THE DOLL HEADS. THAT IS FRIGHTENING. BUT HERE THEY ARE GETTING READY TO THROW OUT THE CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCH. THIS ISN’T AN EASY THING TO DO. JOE: I THINK YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT AIMING HIGH. I TELL PEOPLE, AIM HIGH BECAUSE IT WILL THEN GET, AND CATCHERS DON’T WANT IT TO BOUNCE. HEIDI: YOU DON’T WANT TO BOUNCE IT. YOU DON’T WANT TO AIRMAIL IT OVER THEIR HEAD. JOE: HOLD ON. I WOULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT THAT BUT THEY PULLED IT OFF. THEY OBVIOUSLY TOLD THE CATCHERS — HEIDI: I HOPE THEY DID. JOE: THAT WAS GOOD. HEIDI: THEY HIT THEIR TARGETS. JOE: DOWN IN THE ZONE. YOU DON’T GIVE UP HOME RUNS DOWN IN THE ZONE. HEIDI: A LITTLE CROSS OF ACTION. JOE: IN SPRING TRAINING THAT IS WHAT I AM WORRIED ABOUT. HEIDI: WHEN YOU HAVE LINED UP — JOE: THAT SOMEBODY IS GOING TO THROW ONE COME I DON’T LIKE IT. HEIDI: YOU ARE CATCHING THIS GUY IN FRONT OF YOU AND SOMEONE HITS YOU — JOE: AND THERE IS ONE HERE AND HERE AND ON THE OTHER SIDE. HEIDI: HAVE YOU DONE A FIRST PITCH RECENTLY? JOE: IN MONTERREY, MEXICO. THEY HAD, HOME PLATE WAS THERE AND THEY HAD TWO PEOPLE STANDING HERE. I WAS LIKE, GOSH. I HOPE I DON’T HIT ANYBODY. THEY WERE STANDING REALLY CLOSE. HEIDI: YOU GOT SKILLS. YOU GOT THIS. WE WILL SEND IT BACK OUT TO ALANNA TRAVIS D’ARNAUD. FREESE YOUR — ALANNA: YOU HEAR THE PHRASE A COUPLE OF COFFEE. YOU HAD US UP A COPY WITH THE DODGERS, BUT THEN YOU GO TO THE RAYS AND REINVENT YOURSELF. WHAT IS YOUR SUCCESS WITH THE RAYS? TRAVIS: EARLY ON IN THE YEAR, EVEN MY SIP OF COFFEE WITH THE DODGERS COME I WAS TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH. I HAD A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE RAYS AND WAS ABLE TO SIMPLE IF I THE GAME, AND IT PAID OFF. NOW, OUR TEAM IS WHERE WE ARE AT, GOING FOR THE WILD-CARD AND IT HAS BEEN FUN. ALANNA: WHAT HAS ALLOWED THIS TEAM TO BE IN THE POSITION YOU ARE RIGHT NOW, TO STILL BE FIGHTING FOR THE WILD-CARD SPOT IN THE A.L.? TRAVIS: WE HAVE LOST A LOT OF OUR BEST PITCHERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, ESPECIALLY STARTERS. THE TEAM CAMARADERIE HAS KEPT US TOGETHER THROUGH THOSE TOUGH TIMES AND WE ARE ABLE TO PICK EACH OTHER UP AND I THINK OUTPERFORM EXPECTATIONS WERE PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT WE WERE AT, AND WE HAVE STAYED REALLY TIGHT AND WE CAME OUT ON TOP AND ARE BATTLING FOR A SPOT. ALANNA: THIS IS A YOUNG TEAM, NOT MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN THE POSITION YOU GUYS ARE IN RIGHT NOW. HOW DO YOU THINK THAT CAN BENEFIT YOU, NOT KNOWING WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW, AND WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES? TRAVIS: THE CHALLENGE IS, YOU COULD PUT TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON YOURSELF TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH. THE POSITIVES, EVERYBODY IS YOUNG AND HUNGRY. EVERYONE’S GOT A TON OF ENERGY. THAT HAS HELPED ME OUT, HELPING ME FEEL MORE AWAKE EVERY DAY. IT HAS BEEN FUN. THE YOUNGER GUYS DEFINITELY HELP WITH THAT. ALANNA: WHAT IS YOUR WILL — YOUR ROLE WITH THIS CLUB? TRAVIS: I WOULD SAY I AM ONE OF THE VETERANS ON THE TEAM. I ONLY HAVE SIX YEARS IN THE BIG LEAGUES BUT I HAVE THE FOURTH MOST TIME HERE. IT IS A NEW ROLE FOR ME. I TRY TO KEEP EVERYBODY LOOSE. THERE COULD BE A LOT OF HIGH-PRESSURE SITUATIONS OR HIGH-PRESSURE MOMENTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY, EVEN OFF THE FIELD, BUT I TRY TO KEEP EVERYBODY LOOSE AND REMIND THEM IT IS A GAME AND WE HAVE TO REMEMBER OUR GOALS THAT WE SET TOGETHER EARLIER THIS YEAR AND WE HAVE TO STICK WITH IT. HEIDI: WE ARE GETTING YOU SET FOR THE RAYS AND DODGERS ACTION. THE FINAL MLB GAME OF THE WEEK LIVE ON YOUTUBE IS COMING UP A WEEK FROM TOMORROW, NEXT WEDNESDAY, THE CARDINALS AT DIAMONDBACKS. DIAMONDBACKS TECHNICALLY IN THE RACE RIGHT NOW, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE FALLEN BACK A LITTLE AND THE CARDINALS ARE FIGHTING AND CLAWING FOR THE N.L. CENTRAL. JOE: GOT TO MAKE SURE THE CARDINALS DON’T HAVE A HANGOVER AFTER PLAYING FOUR GAMES. HEIDI: SEVEN AGAINST THE CUBS. THE RAYS TO OCTOBER IS HERE. WATCH THE POSTSEASON WITH YOUTUBE TV. YOUTUBE TV IS 70 PLUS CHANNELS OF LIVE TV, INCLUDING EVERY POSTSEASON GAME. IT COMES WITH UNLIMITED CLOUD DVR STORAGE AND SIX INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE HOUSEHOLD AT NO EXTRA CHARGE. YOU CAN ADD YOUR FAVORITE TEAMS TO YOUR LIBRARY SO YOU DON’T MISS A MOMENT OF THE ACTION. SETUP TAKES MINUTES. GET READY FOR THE POSTSEASON AND WATCH LIVE WITH YOUTUBE TV. TRY IT FREE NOW. WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER A MINUTE AND A HALF LEFT UNTIL GAME TIME. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ROSS STRIPLING STARTING THE GAME, NOW IT IS NOT. IT IS FERGUSON STARTING THE GAME . WHAT YOU SEE DAVE ROBERTS DOING? JOE: HE IS TRYING TO SET UP HOW STRIPLING WILL BE USED IN THE PLAYOFFS. THEY WILL BE USING AN OPENER IN GAME FOUR IF THEY GET THERE IN THE FIRST ROUND, THEN YOU HAVE MAEDA, OR TONY GONSOLIN TO BE THE INNINGS EATER. MAYBE HE IS PULLING A PAGE OUT OF THE MILWAUKEE BOOK WHERE WADE MILEY FACES ONE-HITTER AND FLIPS THE SCRIPT. HEIDI: YOU KNOW THAT IS IN THEIR BACK POCKET FOR THE POSTSEASON. THEY WILL PULL A BAIT AND SWITCH ON SOMEONE. THEIR FOURTH STARTER IS UP IN THE AIR RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY WITH RICH HILL. HE SAYS HE IS WORKING TO TRY TO COME BACK. CHANGED HIS MECHANICS SO HIS KNEE DOESN’T BOTHER HIM AS MUCH. JOE: I THINK HE COULD BE A GREAT BULLPEN PIECE HE — AND HE COULD BE AN OPENER. ONE OF THESE OTHER RIGHT-HANDERS HAS TO TAKE OVER, BUT I BELIEVE THAT HE COULD BE A FACTOR IN THE PLAYOFFS. HEIDI: THEY’VE GOT PLENTY OF OPTIONS. IT GOT DUSTIN MAY THROWING GAS. JOE: THEY HAVE A LOT OF GUYS THAT COULD GIVE YOU FIVE OR SIX INNINGS IF YOU NEEDED IT, SO I THINK THEY ARE IN A GOOD SPOT. NO MIX-AND-MATCH FOR THE FOURTH GAME. HEIDI: THEY ARE TAKING A PAGE OUT OF THE RAYS BOOK. THE RAYS STARTED DOING THIS. THEY MADE A LIVING OUT OF THIS, MAEDA POSTSEASON RANAUDO THIS AREA THE DODGERS ARE LIKE, WE CAN TRY THAT. JOE: THE FRONT OFFICE CAME FROM THE RAYS. WE WILL SEND YOU OUT TO L.A. ENJOY THE GAME. ♪ >> HERE IS THE PITCH. >> DRIVES IT DEEP. >> WHAT A PLAY. >> ARE YOU KIDDING ME? OH MY! NOMAR: BUSINESS AS USUAL IN LOS ANGELES IN SEPTEMBER ON A GORGEOUS 75 DEGREE NIGHT, POSTSEASON PREPARATION MODE IS ON AND THE NEXT TWO DAYS WILL PROVIDE A STRONG TEST OR OCTOBER. THE ATTENDANCE LEADERS WILL HAVE A PACKED HOUSE AS USUAL. THIS IS THE MLB GAME OF THE WEEK LIVE ON YOUTUBE WITH THE TAMPA BAY RAYS TAKING ON THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS AT CHAVEZ RAVINE. WELCOME INSIDE THE BOOTH AT DODGER STADIUM. I’M SCOTT BRAUN. HELLO TO YOUTUBE, WATCHING WORLDWIDE. THANKS FOR JOINING US. THE DODGERS ARE PLAYING AS A TEAM THAT WON THE NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST ABOUT A WEEK AGO. THE RAYS ARE IN A SPRINT, THREE TEAMS FOR TWO WILD-CARD SPOTS. WE CAN’T WAIT TO TALK ABOUT IT, AND A NUMBER OF GUEST JOINING US. WE HAVE A STACKED LIST AGAIN TONIGHT. YOU KNOW THE DEAL. WE CONTINUE OUR RIDE ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL WITH MORE — ONE MORE GAME TO GO. IT IS LIVE AND IT IS FREE. TELL YOUR FRIENDS. SUBSCRIBE TO THE MLB YOUTUBE CHANNEL, OVER 2 MILLION HAVE DONE IT. CLICK THE BELL ICON AND YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE NEXT FREE GAME IS COMING. WE ARE LIVE FOR YOUTUBE TV CUSTOMERS, GO TO THE MLB POP UP ON THE CHANNEL GUIDE. TWO MORE ON THE TEAM WITH ME TONIGHT, B.J. UPTON, NOMAR GARCIAPARRA. THE PITCHING PAIRING IS BLAKE SNELL. WE WILL BE GETTING MORE ON THAT IN A MOMENT. ROSS STRIPLING WAS SCRATCHED AND IT IS CABLE — CALEB FERGUSON. NOMAR: DAVE ROBERTSON — ROBERT HAS TAKEN A PAGE FROM THE RAYS. IT IS ALL ABOUT PREPARING FOR THE POSTSEASON. IF ROSS STRIPLING IS GOING TO BE MAKING THE POSTSEASON ROSTER, HE WILL BE COMING OUT OF THE BULLPEN. ROBERTS IS ELECTING TO GO WITH CALEB FERGUSON TO START AND BRING STRIPLING OUT OF THE BULLPEN SO HE CAN GET READY FOR THE POSTSEASON. CALEB FERGUSON, MAKING THE SECOND START OF THE SEASON, HASN’T STARTED SINCE APRIL. HE WENT TWO POINT TWO INNINGS — 2.2 INNINGS, HAS AN E.R.A. OVER FIVE BUT LOOK FOR STRIPLING TO COME INTO THE GAME. SCOTT: IT IS SNELL’S FIRST START SINCE JULY. HE WON THE CY YOUNG LAST YEAR. HOW DOES HE PROVED TONIGHT THAT HE IS ON HIS WAY BACK? B.J.: A BIG START TONIGHT FOR HIM IN A SITUATION WHERE HIS TEAM NEEDS HIM. IF HE CAN ESTABLISH HIS FASTBALL ON THE INNER HALF OF THE PLATE AND BACK THAT UP WITH HIS OFFSPEED PITCHES, I THINK WE WILL SEE THE BLAKE SNELL WE ARE USED TO SEEING. SCOTT: ALSO HAS THE MEAN CURVEBALL. THE NUMBERS FOR HIM THIS YEAR, NOT AS PRETTY AS LAST YEAR, ALTHOUGH MANY OF THE PERIPHERAL NUMBERS ARE SIMILAR. A BIT MORE UNLUCKY THIS YEAR. B.J.: IF YOU LOOK AT HIS INNINGS, BEING OUT SINCE JULY, HE HAS OVER 100 INNINGS AND HE IS BORDERING 150 STRIKEOUTS STILL AFTER MISSING THAT MUCH TIME. YOU’VE GOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO IT. NOMAR: HE WILL HAVE SOME RUN SUPPORT. SCOTT: THE RAYS HAVE BEEN PORING ON THE RUNS. WHAT IS THE KEY TO THE OFFENSIVE ATTACK YOU — ATTACK? B.J.: AS WELL AS TO — AS LONG AS TOMMY PHAM CAN SET UP AUSTIN MEADOWS, THIS GUY IS YOUNG AND HAVING A GREAT YEAR. HOPEFULLY THEY CAN KEEP HIM GOING AND RIDE HIS BAT INTO THE PLAYOFFS. SCOTT: HIS MANAGER SAID HE IT — IS AS IMPORTANT TO THIS TEAM IS ANY PLAYER AS THEY HAVE ON THE ROSTER. THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN HEAVY EVER SINCE MID-AUGUST. HE HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BEST HITTERS SINCE AUGUST 19. TIED FOR FIRST IN HOMERS AND R.B.I.’S, SECOND IN RUNS SCORED, TIED FOR FIRST IN DOUBLES AND THE O.P.S., BEST IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE, WRITING A 14 GAME HIT STREAK, THE LONGEST ACTIVE STREAK IN BASEBALL. THE BIG SUPERSTAR ON THE OTHER SIDE, M.V.P. CANDIDATE CODY BELLINGER, HAS COOLED OFF A BIT. NOMAR: CODY BELLINGER HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING THE SEASON. SET AN INCREDIBLE OFFENSIVE RECORD FOR THE DODGERS, AND HISTORIC FRANCHISE IN THE DODGERS BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FIRST HALF, IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE FIRST HALF. LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS, 30 HOME RUNS. DEFINITELY COOLED OFF A BIT, I THINK HE CAME INTO THE SEASON IN THE FIRST HALF AND WAS TRYING TO PROVE SOMETHING. LAST YEAR IN THE POSTSEASON, HE WAS A PLATOON GUY. IF A LEFTY WAS IN THERE, HE WASN’T STARTING. HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE HE CAN PROVE TO DAVE ROBERTS THAT HE BELONGED AGAINST LEFTIES. DEFINITELY IMPROVED ON THAT. HE HAD TO POINT TO MAKE. IN THE SECOND OFF HE COOLED OFF — HALF YOU COOLED OFF. HE WAS IN M.V.P. CANDIDATE. YEARS THOSE — HE HEARS THOSE CHANTS REGULARLY. NOW THAT CHRISTIAN YELICH IS OUT, ANTHONY RENDON IS HAVING AN INCREDIBLE SEASON QUIETLY OVER THERE IN WASHINGTON BUT DEFINITELY A KEY PART OF THE CLUB, ESPECIALLY WITH BRYCE HARPER OUT. SCOTT: LET’S DIG DEEPER ON THE DODGERS RIGHT NOW AND BRING IN THE FOURTH MEMBER OF OUR CREW, ALANNA RIZZO. ALANNA: THE DODGERS CLINCHED THEIR DIVISION RELATIVELY EARLY, SEPTEMBER 10 IN GAME ONE OF THE THREE-GAME SET AGAINST THE ORIOLES. THE WORK IS IN DONE FOR THE SEVEN-TIME NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST CHAMPIONS. THEY WANT THE FIRST SEAT IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE. YOU SEE THE ADVANTAGE THEY HAVE OVER THE ATLANTA BRAVES. THE BRAVES, 5.5 GAMES OUT OF THE BEST RECORD IN BASEBALL BUT IF THEY HAPPEN TO MAKE IT TO THE WORLD SERIES FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR, THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE YANKEES IN THE ASTROS AS FAR AS THE BEST RECORDS IN BASEBALL. THE YANKEES, THE OVERALL BEST, 99 AND 53. THE ASTROS, HALF GAME BACK. A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE IN THE FINAL 11 GAMES OF THE REGULAR SEASON. SCOTT: LINEUPS AND FIRST PITCH, COMING UP. IT IS THE MLB GAME OF THE WEEK LIVE ON YOUTUBE FEATURING THE RAYS AND THE DODGERS. LET’S GO. >> THE DODGERS STRIKE FIRST. >> THE RAYS TAKE THE LEAD. >> FORGET ABOUT IT. >> IT’S GONE. HOME RUN FOR MEADOWS. >> THE FIRST CAREER WALKOFF HOME RUN FOR WILL SMITH. HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT? >> KIERMAIER TO THE WALL, AND HE GOT IT. WOW, WHAT A CATCH. >> MUNCY HITS A TOWERING FLY BALL TO RIGHT. THAT ONE IS GONE. >> CHARLIE MORTON CONTINUES TO GET BETTER AND BETTER. >> WHAT A MAGICAL NIGHT. FROM DOWN 8-3 TO WIN IT 9-8. >> RAYS WIN, RAYS WIN, RAYS WIN. JI-MAN CHOI CUTS THROUGH WITH A TWO RUN SINGLE AND THE RAYS WALK IT OFF. >> IT IS BELLINGER’S TIME. >> FROM THIRD, HE’S COMING IN. >> BASES CLEARING DOUBLE FOR CODY BELLINGER, WHO IS GOING TO NEED A NEW BELT. >> IT’S GONE. IT JUST CLEAR THE WALL. A WALKOFF HOME RUN FOR TRAVIS D’ARNAUD, AND THE RAYS WIN IT. >> WE’VE GOT ANOTHER RAYS WIN. >> RAYS WIN IT ON A WALKOFF. >> FORGET ABOUT IT. MUNCY SAVES THE DODGERS. >> BASE HIT INTO LEFT. >> CHOI COMES AROUND TO SCORE ON A LITTLE LEAGUE HOME RUN. AND THE RAYS WILL WIN IT. >> HE STRUCK HIM OUT. GETS OUT OF A BASES-LOADED JAM FOR THE TO-ONE WIN. — FOR THE 2-1 WIN. >> THE RAYS WIN IT. RAYS WIN, RAYS WIN. >> DODGERS WALKOFF AGAIN. >> THE DODGERS HAVE WON IT AGAIN IN THE BOTTOM OF THE NINTH. THIS TIME, IT IS RUSSELL MARTIN, THE HERO. >> SOGARD SCORES AND THE RAYS WIN IT 1-0 IN 13. SCOTT: WE ARE READY FOR THE MLB GAME OF THE WEEK LIVE ON YOUTUBE IN LOS ANGELES. IT IS THE RAYS MATCHING UP WITH THE DODGERS, AND THINGS JUST GOT A LITTLE TIGHTER IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD-CARD RACE. THREE TEAMS FOR TWO SPOTS. THE RAYS’ 90’S WHEN — 90 WINS LAST YEAR, THEY ARE UP TO 80 SO FAR SO THEY WILL SURPASS THAT. KEVIN CASH’S SQUAD IS LOOKING AHEAD TO SEE THE OAKLAND A’S AHEAD OF THEM. THEY LOOK BEHIND AND SEE A CLEVELAND INDIANS TEAM THAT JUST WON. THE UPDATED STANDINGS, INDIANS ONE GAME BACK OF THE RAYS WERE ONE GAME BACK OF THE A’S. IF THE REGULAR SEASON ENDED TODAY, THE WILD-CARD IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE WOULD FEATURE THE A’S AND THE RAYS IN OAKLAND. THE STARTING NINE FOR KEVIN CASH’S TAMPA BAY, TOMMY PHAM, AUSTIN MEADOWS, TRAVIS D’ARNAUD BATTING THIRD, JI-MAN CHOI, MATT DUFFY, JOEY WENDLE SIXTH, WILLY ADAMES PLAYS A MOST EVERYDAY, A CONSISTENT FORCE IN THE SEVENTH SPOT. KIERMAIER IS HITTING EIGHTH HIM AND BLAKE SNELL WILL BE IN THE NINE SPOT AND ON THE MOUND FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE JULY. WE WILL SEE HIM IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FIRST. WE START WITH CALEB FERGUSON AND THEY GO WITH A LEFTY INSTEAD OF A RIGHTY. NOMAR: IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE STRIPLING MAKING HIS START BUT INSTEAD, DAVE ROBERTS ENDED UP CHASING — CHANGING THE WHOLE THING BECAUSE HE IS TRYING TO PREPARE FOR THE POSTSEASON. STRIPLING WILL BE COMING OUT OF THE BULLPEN IN THE POSTSEASON SO HE SAID LET HIM GET USED TO THAT. LET’S PUT HIM IN THE BULLPEN AND START THE GAME WITH CALEB FERGUSON. FOR CALEB FERGUSON, THIS IS JUST HIS SECOND START OF THE SEASON. HIS FIRST START WAS WAY BACK IN APRIL AGAINST MILWAUKEE, WHEN HE ONLY WENT 2.2 INNINGS. TALKING ABOUT THE DODGER TEAM THAT IS GETTING READY FOR THE POSTSEASON, AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE A LOT OF PLAYERS WHO ARE TRYING TO COMPETE AND MAKE THE POSTSEASON ROSTER, AND CALEB FERGUSON IS ONE THAT IS TRYING TO GO OUT THERE AND PROVE THAT HE BELONGS ON THE ROSTER. NOT ONLY IS HE STARTING BUT IT IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT OUTING. SCOTT: LET’S GO, FIRST PITCH FOULED OFF. WE ARE UNDERWAY IN LOS ANGELES BETWEEN THE RAYS AND THE DODGERS. TOMMY PHAM FACING A 0-1 COUNT. SECOND PLAYER IN RAYS FRANCHISE HISTORY TO REGISTER 20 HOME RUNS AND 20 STOLEN BASES IN A SINGLE SEASON. ONE OTHER PLAYER DID THAT IN RAYS FRANCHISE HISTORY. THREE TIMES, ACTUALLY. HE IS SITTING NEXT TO ME. B.J.: MAN, I WAS WAITING FOR YOU TO BRING THAT UP. SCOTT: YOU KNEW WE WERE GOING TO. B.J.: I WAS TRYING TO DOWNPLAY IT BUT I KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO BRING IT UP. SCOTT: I ALSO BRING IT UP BECAUSE TOMMY, RIGHT AFTER THAT GAME WHEN HE REACHED 20-20, SAID I BETTER GIVE A CALL TO MY FRIEND B.J. UPTON. DID HE CALL YOU? B.J.: YES HE DID. I THINK WE ACTUALLY SAT DOWN AND TALKED THAT NIGHT FOR A LITTLE BIT. BUT YET, MAN. — YEAH, MAN. I KNOW TOMMY WELL. I CONGRATULATED HIM. HAPPY FOR HIS SUCCESS IN THAT HE IS DOING IT FOR THE RAYS. SCOTT: LAST YEAR AROUND THE TRADE DEADLINE, COMING OVER FROM THE CARDINALS. 3-1 FROM FERGUSON. THAT WILL BE 3-2. TWO POINT NOT — .291 ON-BASE PERCENTAGE. THEY HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WINNING SINCE HE JOINED THE SQUAD. TURNS ON TO THE LEFT SIDE FOR CHRIS TAYLOR AT THE HOT CORNER. TOUGH THROW, TAG IS THERE. DAVID FREESE, NICELY DONE IN THE AIR. B.J.: I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE A REVIEW. FIRST OUT OF THE GAME. NOMAR: LOOKS LIKE HE GOT A SHOULDER THERE. DAVID FREESE GOING, OK, I WILL COME OFF THE BAG AND MAKE THE TAG. CHRIS TAYLOR OVER THERE AT THIRD, JUSTIN TURNER STILL NURSING AN ANKLE ISSUE FOR THE DODGERS. SCOTT: THE DODGERS ARE IN A POSITION WHERE THEY HAVE THAT LUXURY, ESPECIALLY A GUY AS IMPORTANT AS TURNER IS TO THIS CLUB, THAT IF YOU ARE DEALING WITH ANY AILMENT, LET’S JUST BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN GET AS CLOSE TO 100% AS YOU CAN. A GREAT TAG OVER THERE BY DAVID FREESE. JUSTIN TURNER OVER THERE, WATCHING HIS TEAMMATES AND CHEERING THEM ON. B.J.: IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO BE HEALTHY FOR THE POSTSEASON. WITH THE POSITION THEY ARE IN, THERE IS NO NEED TO RUSH TURNER BACK. LET HIM GET FULLY HEALTHY, AND BRING HIM BACK AND GET READY FOR OCTOBER. THAT IS THE POINT OF PLAYING THE SEASON, TO PLAY THAT LAST GAME OF THE YEAR. SCOTT: AS CLOSE TO 100%, AT THIS STAGE, NOBODY IS 100%. B.J.: EXACTLY. SCOTT: I ALWAYS USED TO LAUGH, ARE YOU TRYING TO GET BACK TO 100%? I HAVEN’T BEEN 100% SINCE I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD. WHEN YOU START THE SEASON, YOU ARE LIKE, WHAT’S GOING ON? EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW IS SORE AND HURTING. BUT YOU ARE HOPING YOU ARE IN A POSITION THAT THESE TEAMS ARE IN, BECAUSE BEING IN THE POSITION WHERE ONE, FOR THE DODGERS, BEING IN THE POSTSEASON GIVES YOU EXTRA ADRENALINE TO PLAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER KNOWING YOU ARE GOING TO BE IN THE POSTSEASON. FOR THE RAYS, TRYING TO GET THE POSTSEASON GIVES YOU ADRENALINE OF THAT CARRIES YOU THROUGH SEPTEMBER. SCOTT: TWO BALLS, TWO STRIKES TO AUSTIN MEADOWS. HE TAKES IT UPSTAIRS. WHY CHRIS TAYLOR AT THIRD? ALANNA: JUSTIN TURNER, NOT IN THE LINEUP BECAUSE OF THE ANKLE AND OBVIOUSLY, CHRIS TAYLOR HAS COME UP AS A MIDDLE INFIELDER. UNTIL THIS YEAR, MAX MUNCY WASN’T KNOWN FOR HIS DEFENSE. DAVE ROBERTS, SAYING TODAY THAT THEY KNOW TURNER IS GOING TO BE BACK. THIS IS NOT A GUY THAT NEEDS A TIME OF AT-BATS TO GET BACK INTO THE SWING OF THINGS, OF GAME ACTION. WHEN HE COMES BACK, IT MAKES MORE SENSE FOR MUNCY TO GO BACK TO SECOND BASE AND CHRIS TAYLOR LIKELY TO GO BACK TO THE OUTFIELD. SCOTT: BASE ON BALLS FOR MEADOWS. THIS IS NOT TURNER’S FIRST RODEO. YOU WOULDN’T BE AS CONCERNED WITH SOMEONE LIKE HIM COMING BACK AND GETTING A WEEK OR SO OF SWINGS, VERSUS A ROOKIE THAT GOES DOWN, SOMEONE LIKE ALEX VERDUGO, WHO IS DOUBTFUL EVEN FOR THE NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES. YOU WOULD BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW HIS AT-BATS WOULD LOOK AFTER MISSING SIGNIFICANT TIME. A STRIKE TO D’ARNAUD. B.J.: YOU LIKE TO SEE TRAVIS HAVE SOME SUCCESS. HE HAD A ROUGH PATCH IN NEW YORK , KIND OF BOUNCED AROUND, WAS A DODGER BRIEFLY, NOW HE IS A RAY. HAVING A GREAT YEAR, ESPECIALLY AS A CATCHER. YOU DON’T REALLY SEE MANY CATCHERS WITH THAT TYPE OF THUMP AND HE IS SITTING ON 16 RIGHT NOW. SCOTT: FIVE DAYS AS A DODGER, PURCHASED BY THE RAYS ON MAY 10. HE HAD WON PLATE APPEARANCE WITH L.A. AND HAS TAKEN OFF TAMPA BAY. — WITH TAMPA BAY. FEASTS ON LEFT-HANDED PITCHING, TOO. NOMAR: IT IS GREAT FOR TRAVIS, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY HE WAS OVER HERE WITH THE DODGERS, ONE PLATE APPEARANCE, BUT IT IS ALSO NICE. THE DODGERS HAVE INCREDIBLE DEPTH. I HAVE BEEN AROUND THE DODGERS ALL YEAR AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE TALK ABOUT ON A REGULAR BASIS, THE DEPTH THEY HAVE. NOT ONLY ON A BIG-LEAGUE LEVEL BUT IN THE MINOR LEAGUE LEVEL WHERE THESE GUYS COME UP AND PERFORM AND FILL IN WHENEVER A GUY IS INJURED OR NOT PERFORMING AS WELL. IT IS INCREDIBLE. TO GIVE TRAVIS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER THERE, THOUGH TO THE RAYS, HE MAY NOT HAVE GOTTEN SO MUCH PLAYING TIME WITH THE DODGERS, AND SEEING HIM SUCCEED, DEFINITELY HAPPY FOR HIM, FINDING A PLACE TO SHOW WHAT HE CAN DO. SCOTT: RUNNERS GOING. D’ARNAUD SENDS IT TO CENTER. RACING IN, BELLINGER, AND STOPS WITH PLENTY OF TIME TO HAUL THAT ONE IN. THERE ARE TWO GONE IN THE FIRST. THERE IS THE DODGER DEFENSE, THE GOLD GLOVE WINNER A.J. POLLOCK LAYING NEXT TO BELLINGER IN CENTER, HERNANDEZ IN RIGHT, INFIELD TAYLOR AND SEAGER LEFT SIDE, MUNCY AND FREESE RIGHT SIDE. FERGUSON PLAYING CATCH WITH WILL SMITH TONIGHT. THEY ARE HOPING FOR TWO INNINGS FROM FERGUSON, THEN ON TO ROSS STRIPLING. NOMAR: I LOVE THAT. IT IS ALWAYS HOPE. AT THE SAME TIME, IF YOU ARE FERGUSON, YOU ARE GOING, I AM GLAD THAT NOT ONLY AM I STARTING OVER HERE, VYING FOR A PLAYOFF SPOT, BUT YOU ARE FACING THE HEART OF A LINEUP. GOOD HITTERS, GOING OUT THERE SHOWING WHAT YOU CAN DO. SCOTT: HE HANDLES THIS LINEUP WELL, WORKS AROUND THE WALK TO MEADOWS. JI-MAN CHOI BOUNCES OUT TO FIRST AND WE ARE MOVING ON TO THE DODGERS HALF OF THE OPENING INNING. RAISE AND SCORELESS, MLB GAME OF THE WEEK. — THE RAYS AND DODGERS, SCORELESS IN THE FIRST. CODY BELLINGER FOR THE DODGERS, HITTING FOURTH TONIGHT, PLAYING CENTERFIELD. LAST YEAR YOU MENTIONED, NOMAR, THERE WERE ISSUES WITH HIM AGAINST LEFT-HANDED PITCHING. I THINK HE FIGURED IT OUT. NOMAR: THIS WAS SOMETHING HE ENDED UP WORKING ON IN THE OFF-SEASON. HE MADE IT A POINT TO COME INTO THIS SEASON AND PROVE HE IS AN EVERYDAY PLAYER, THAT HE IS A TEAM PLAYER FOR THIS DODGER ORGANIZATION. HE ALSO RECOGNIZED THE WAY DAVE ROBERTS, AND I MENTIONED THE DEPTH, THE WAY THEIR DEPTH IN THIS ORGANIZATION, YOU CAN HAVE GUYS THAT YOU CAN AFFORD TO PLATOON A GUY LIKE BELLINGER, WHO IS LIKE, NOT ON MY WATCH. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM AN EVERYDAY PLAYER AND I NEED TO PROVE IT TO DAVE ROBERTS AND THIS ORGANIZATION THAT I CAN HIT LEFTIES AS WELL AS RIGHTIES. HE WORKED HARD IN THE OFF-SEASON, MINDSET, MECHANICS, EVERYTHING, TO HAVE A DIFFERENT APPROACH AND IT PAID EVIDENCE. AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AN M.V.P. AT THE END OF THE SEASON, DEFINITELY IN THE RUNNING, AMONG THE TOP, ESPECIALLY WITH YELICH INJURED. SCOTT: BELLINGER, CLEANING UP BEFORE HIM. FREESE, POLLOCK, AND TAYLOR, THEN AFTER HIM, MUNCY, HERNANDEZ, SEAGER, SMITH AND MAYBE FERGUSON. SAME FOR BLAKE SNELL, WE WILL SEE IF HE HIT TONIGHT. WILL COME BACK, FIRST START SINCE JULY. THEY ARE HOPING FOR THREE INNINGS BUT TO WOULD BE FINE. B.J.: 2 WOULD BE GREAT, ESPECIALLY SCORELESS. LOOK AT HIS NUMBERS. HE HAS EXPLOSIVE STUFF. 136 STRIKEOUTS, ONLY 35 WALKS. THAT IS CY YOUNG MATERIAL. OBVIOUSLY, HE HAS BEEN RUSHED BACK A LITTLE BIT WITH THE MINOR LEAGUE, BUT I THINK YOU WILL BE READY TO GO. — HE WILL BE READY TO GO. SCOTT: FIRST IT IS FREESE, WHO DOES DAMAGE AGAINST SOUTHPAWS. FIRST PITCH FOR SNELL SINCE MID-JULY AND A MAJOR LEAGUE MOUND. IT IS A STRIKE, UP IN THE ZONE. DIDN’T GO AROUND, A BALL AND A STRIKE. NOMAR: IT WAS INTERESTING, WE GOT TO TALK TO KEVIN AND ASK THEM ABOUT BLAKE SNELL. WE ASKED, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? HOW LONG DO YOU EXPECT HIM TO GO? AND HE IS LIKE, WELL, ALMOST HOPEFULLY AN INNING, MAYBE 2, WE WILL WAIT AND SEE. I FOUND IT INTERESTING HOW HE SAID, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE ACTUALLY HAD A GUY COME IN WHERE HE DIDN’T HAVE AT LEAST 75 PITCHES OR BUILD UP TO 75 PITCHES IN THE MINOR LEAGUES BEFORE HE ACTUALLY COMES BACK AFTER REHAB OR INJURY TO PITCH AT THE BIG-LEAGUE LEVEL FOR THE TAMPA BAY RAYS. THEY DON’T HAVE THAT LUXURY. SCOTT: NO MORE GAMES TO PLAY IN THE MINOR LEAGUES. B.J.: MINOR LEAGUE SEASON IS OVER. NOMAR: TWO STARTS IN THE MINORS. THEY SAID THE SECOND ONE WAS A MUCH BETTER. A LITTLE, HE WAS SHARP ON SEPTEMBER 12. IT IS ONE THING TO MAKE SURE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR GUYS ARE READY, AND IT IS ANOTHER THING GOING, WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE THE POSTSEASON AND IT IS BLAKE SNELL. [LAUGHTER] I DON’T WANT TO WAIT FOR 75 PITCHES. I WANT HIM TO PITCH AT THIS LEVEL. SCOTT: THEY WILL TAKE TWO OR THREE GREAT INNINGS IF THEY CAN. B.J.: THE THING FROM THE START, IT IS RIGHT BACK TO WHERE HE WAS. HIS VELOCITY SEEMS TO BE THERE. SCOTT: THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR HE IS USING THE FASTBALL LESS AND THE CURVEBALL MORE. HIS CURVEBALL, STILL GREAT BUT NOT AS ELITE AS IT WAS LAST YEAR. GOT HIM ON THE 2-2. >> LEFT FIELD, NUMBER 11, A.J. POLLOCK. NOMAR: THE SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS. THEIR WORDS, NOT MINE. SCOTT: JUNE 4 THROUGH THE 25TH, E.R.A. CLOSE TO 12. THE REST OF THE STARTS, TWO EARNED RUNS OR LESS IN 13 OF THEM. A .269 MARK, STRIKE TO WALK RATIO, EXCEPTIONAL. THE NUMBER THAT STANDS OUT HIS AVERAGE ON BALLS IN PLAY. A BIT UNLUCKY. IN THE AIR, CHOI IN FOUL GROUND RETIRES POLLOCK. NOMAR: AT THE TOP IN THE OPEN, B.J., YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT ONE KEY IS HIM BEING ABLE TO ESTABLISH THE FASTBALL. YOU MENTIONED THE FASTBALL BUT IT REALLY DOESN’T MATTER WHERE IT IS. IF YOU ESTABLISH IT, IT SETS HIM UP FOR THE BREAKING BALL. B.J.: IF HE CAN ESTABLISH THAT 94-96 AND THROW THE BREAKING BALL OFF OF IT, IT WILL BE A TOUGH NIGHT FOR THE DODGERS. SCOTT: CHRIS TAYLOR. FILLING IN FOR JUSTIN TURNER. NOMAR: I ALSO THINK WHAT MAKES THEM SO GOOD, IT IS NOT MAX EFFORT. IT IS NICE AND EASY. IT LULLS YOU TO SLEEP, THEN IT IS ON TOP OF YOU. SCOTT: HE GETS AS MUCH SWING AND MISS HAS ANY PITCHER IN THE GAME. — AS ANY PITCHER IN THE GAME. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR GAME PLAN FOR HIM, B.J.? B.J.: THAT IS A TOUGH QUESTION, MAN. I HAVEN’T PLAYED IN A WHILE. [LAUGHTER] YOU KNOW WHAT? I MEAN, THAT IS PROBABLY A BETTER QUESTION FOR NOMAR. NOMAR: WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? I HAVEN’T PLAYED IN A LOT LONGER THAN YOU HAVE. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? WHAT YOU ARE TELLING ME IS, THERE’S NOT A GREAT GAME PLAN WHEN YOU HAVE THE HIGHEST SWING AND MISS RATE IN A SINGLE SEASON SINCE 2002 WHEN THEY BEGAN TRACKING THE NUMBER. B.J.: YOU HAVE TO LOOK FOR HIS FASTBALL, RIGHT? NOMAR: HE WANTS TO ESTABLISH HIS FASTBALL. YOU HAVE A PUT AWAY BREAKING BALL. I’M GOING, I DON’T WANT TO GET TO TWO STRIKES. I AM LOOKING EARLY. SOME PITCHERS, YOU SAY I AM GOING TO LOOK IN MY ZONE AND BE ABLE TO LOOK FOR IT, AND DO DAMAGE. OR AM I GOING TO GO OUT THERE AND TAKE A TWO STRIKE APPROACH RIGHT FROM STEPPING INTO THE BATTER’S BOX, BECAUSE I DON’T WANT TO GET TO TWO STRIKES. BLAKE SNELL IS ONE OF THEM. SCOTT: SO FAR THE GAME PLAN NOW WORKING. A COUPLE STRIKES OUT — STRIKEOUTS AND A POP-OUT, BLAKE SNELL IS BACK. TIME TO PLAY A GAME. SOME OF THE DODGERS PLAYERS WERE BLINDFOLDED AND ASKED, >> IN THE BOX? — WHAT’S IN THE BOX? >> THIS IS WHAT’S IN THE BOX.” WE BLINDFOLDED PLAYERS AND HAD THEM IDENTIFY WHAT WAS IN THE BOX. TAKE A LOOK AND SEE HOW THEY DID . >> IS THIS HEAVY MACHINERY? IS A CAT TOY? [BELL] >> IT IS ONE OF THOSE TOYS FOR LIKE, I DON’T KNOW, LIKE A CAT. [BELL] >> WHAT IS IT? >> CAT TOY. >> WHOA! OH! [BEEP] >> THAT KINKY. >> THANKS FOR WATCHING WHAT’S IN THE BOX.” SCOTT: KENTA MAEDA WAS GREAT. SO WAS JUSTIN TURNER. FOR MORE GREAT DODGER CONTENT, SUBSCRIBE TO THE DODGERS YOUTUBE CHANNEL AT YOUTUBE.COM/DODGERS. FOR IN-DEPTH PERSPECTIVE, CHECK OUT LIVE GAME COMMENTARY. THE RAYS AND DODGERS ACCOUNT, YOUTUBE CREATORS, MLB IS IN THERE, THEY WILL ADD TO OUR THOUGHTS DURING THE BROADCAST. YOU CAN DO THE COMMENTARY ON YOUR MOBILE PHONE, YOU’RE SMART TV, YOUR COMPUTER. WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON THE DISCUSSION DROP A NIGHT. MADE THE CUT GOES, THIS DODGER TEAM HAS VERSATILITY. THIN FOR THE WIN SAYS SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS. LOVE UPON. NOMAR: YOU SAID EARLIER. SCOTT: I GOT IT FROM THE GRAPHIC. I AM JUST THE MESSENGER. HERE IS MATT DUFFY, WHO MISSED THE FIRST FEW GAMES OF THE SEASON WITH A HAMSTRING STRAIN. AND MORE CALEB FERGUSON. FOR CALEB FERGUSON, LIKE BLAKE SNELL, IT IS REALLY ESTABLISHING THE FASTBALL AS WELL. B.J.: CALEB FERGUSON — NOMAR: CALEB FERGUSON HAD A ROUGH MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT WHERE HE GOT BEAT UP A LITTLE BIT. BUT HE GOT CALLED BACK UP AND CAME OUT OF THE BULLPEN. IT WAS A DIFFERENT CALEB FERGUSON. IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. THE WAY HE ATTACKED HITTERS. THE WAY HE ESTABLISH THAT AND HIS BREAKING STUFF SEEMED TO FALL OFF THE TABLE. HE WAS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE DAUGHTERS BULLPEN DOWN THE STRETCH AND INTO THE POSTSEASON. NOW THEY ARE LOOKING FOR THAT GUY TO COME BACK JUST LIKE THAT. YOU HAVE THE FASTBALL THEY ESTABLISHED EARLY AGAINST MATT DUFFY. HE HAS THAT PUT AWAY BREAKING BALL. THAT IS SOMETHING HONEYWELL TOLD HIM, TO ATTACK HITTERS. HE WAS HERE AT THE BIG-LEAGUE LEVEL. HE WAS NOT DOING THAT. IT WAS NOT THE SAME CALEB FERGUSON WE SAW LAST YEAR. DOWN THE STRETCH IDLING FOR THE POSTSEASON ROSTER, THIS IS WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO. SCOTT: 13 PASSED BALLS, EIGHT CURVEBALLS. >> ONE THING YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, ESTABLISHING THE FASTBALL FOR CALEB FERGUSON, SO IMPORTANT. ALSO THE SECONDARY PITCHES. ONE THING CALEB TOLD ME ABOUT THE CURVEBALL IN PARTICULAR WAS THE WAY IT SOUNDED. HE WORKED WITH CHARLIE HOUGH AT THE MINOR LEAGUE LEVEL ABOUT ADDING A WHIRL AS FAR AS THE WAY IT COMES OUT OF HIS HANDS AROUND HIS EAR LINE. HE SAID ONCE I HAD THE SOUND BACK OF THE CURVEBALL I KNEW MY MECHANICS AND DELIVERY WERE WHERE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE. SCOTT: I LOVE THAT. A BALL AND STRIKE TO JOEY WENDLE. USING HIS EARS TO IMPROVE HIS MECHANICS. NOMAR: EVERYBODY ALWAYS THINKS IT IS VISUAL. WHAT DO YOU SEE? THERE IS SEE AND THERE IS FEEL. YOU FORGET, WHAT DO YOU HEAR? B.J. YOU AND I BOTH KNOW WHEN YOU ARE IN THE BATTING CAGE IT IS NOT, HOW DO YOU FEEL? HOW DID IT SOUND? B.J.: EXACTLY. THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE SOUND OF THE BAT. YOU KNOW WHEN IT DOES NOT COME OFF RIGHT. I CAN UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT HE IS SAYING ABOUT THE PITCHING. NOMAR: I REMEMBER COMING OUT OF THE BATTING CAGE IN OUR MANAGER SAYING, HOW DID IT GO IN THE BATTING CAGE? DIDN’T YOU HEAR IT? [LAUGHTER] SCOTT: SPOTS THE FASTBALL TO JOEY WENDLE. THE COUNT IS FULL AFTER STRIKING OUT MATT DUFFY IN THE SECOND. B.J.: I USED TO ASK THE GUYS IN THE CAGE TO BRING THEIR EARPLUGS WITH THEM. NOMAR: I AM ABOUT TO MAKE A LOT OF NOISE. SCOTT: CONFIDENT BUNCH. B.J.: THAT WAS THE PLAN. I DID NOT ALWAYS MAKE A LOT OF NOISE. THE IDEA WAS TO GO IN AND MAKE A LOT OF NOISE. SCOTT: REYES IS GOING TO GET SOME WORK TONIGHT. PAYOFF TO WENDELL. GOT AWAY FROM HIM. SLIPS OUT OF THE HANDS ON THAT IS A ONE OUT WALK. WE TALKED TO DAVE ROBERTS BEFORE THE GAME AND ASKED ABOUT CALEB FERGUSON P HE SAYS I HOPE I AM GETTING TOO INNINGS. BUT AT THE SAME TIME I HAVE TO PREPARE THAT HE MAY NOT GO TWO INNINGS. I MIGHT HAVE TO GET A GUY TO BRIDGE THE GAP. I MIGHT HAVE TO BE READY FOR THAT. THERE ARE ALSO A FEW GUYS HE FEELS HE WANTS TO SEE COMING OUT OF THE BULLPEN TODAY. ROD STRIPLING WOULD BE ONE OF THEM. WE WILL SEE IF HE EITHER COMES IN EARLY OR LATER IN THE GAME. THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER GUYS HE MAY WANT TO SEE. B.J.: IF YOU ARE DAVE ROBERTS, YOU HAVE TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE COMING OUT OF THE STRETCH. I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE IN HIS POSITION. SCOTT: RUNNERS GOING AND HERE IS THE THROW TO SECOND. IT SAILS AWAY. GRABBED BY MUNCY. UNABLE TO SLAP ON THE TAG. A STOLEN BASE BY JOEY WENDLE. EIGHTH ON THE YEAR. NOMAR: THAT WAS AN IMPRESSIVE JUMP BY JOEY WENDLE. HE ACTUALLY WAITED. THERE WAS SOMETHING HE WAS ABLE TO READ OFF K BUT — CALEB FERGUSON. THAT TELLS YOU CALEB FERGUSON MIGHT HAVE A SLOWER MOVE. I COULD HAVE WAITED AND STILL HAD ENOUGH TIME. B.J.: A LOT OF THE TIME STEALING BASES PITCHERS WILL GIVE IT TO YOU. THEY ARE FOLLOWING REPETITION. IF YOU WATCH THEIR MOTIONS AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING, A LOT OF TIMES THEY WILL GIVE YOU THE BASE WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING IT. SCOTT: WENDLE STOLE 16 BAGS LAST YEAR. AN OUTSTANDING WORKING CAMPAIGN. INJURY SOPHOMORE SEASON. MENTIONED WENDLE HURT FOR A GOOD CHUNK OF THE YEAR. ADAMES ONE OF THE ONLY PLAYERS YOU HAVE SEEN CONSISTENTLY IN THE LINEUP ALL YEAR LONG FOR TAMPA BAY. B.J.: SPEAKING OF KEVIN CASH, HE WANTS TO BE OUT THERE EVERY DAY. SCOTT: THAT IS A BALK. WENDLE IS MOVING TO THIRD. B.J.: KEVIN CASH TOLD US EARLIER TODAY HE ALMOST HAD TO FORCE HIM TO TAKE DAYS OFF. NOMAR: DEFINITELY A BLOCK. NO ARGUMENT FROM CALEB FERGUSON. LOOK AT THE FRONT LEG. LIKE HE WAS STARTING AND THEN STEPPED OFF. PUTTING EVEN MORE PRESSURE ON HIMSELF. YOU HAVE A GUY AT THIRD BASE WITH LESS THAN TWO OUTS AND DAVE ROBERTS ELECTED TO GET THE PLAY FROM INFIELD IN. INTERESTING. YOU DO NOT OFTEN SEE THAT IN A SECOND INNING. LET’S GET THE INFIELD IN. DAVE ROBERTS MIGHT BE WANTING TO WORK. THE MENTALITY, WE TOUCHED ON IT BEFORE THE GAME. IT IS DIFFERENT FOR BOTH MANAGERS. ONE IS PREPARING FOR THE POSTSEASON AND THE OTHER IS TRYING TO GET TO THE POSTSEASON. DAVE ROBERTS SAYS HERE IS THE SITUATION, LET’S PUT HIM IN AND SEE HOW EVERYBODY HANDLES THIS. B.J.: ABSOLUTELY. IF YOU ARE GOING TO TRY THINGS, NOW IS THE TIME. YOU HAVE A NICE CUSHION. YOU ARE PROBABLY GOING TO GET THE ADVANTAGE. NOW IS THE TIME TO SEE WHAT YOU HAVE GOING INTO THIS. SCOTT: ADAMES TO RIGHT AND SAFE AT HOME. A SAC FLY FOR ADAMES. 1-0, TAMPA BAY. NOMAR: — B.J.: HECK OF A THROW BY KIKE HERNANDEZ. NOMAR: PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW KIKE HERNANDEZ HAS AN UNBELIEVABLE ARM IN THE OUTFIELD. DODGERS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE HAD THE LUXURY OF A RIGHT FIELDER, YASIEL PUIG. PUIG WAS OUT THERE QUITE A FEW YEARS FOR THE DODGERS. HIS ARM WAS INCREDIBLE. OBVIOUSLY GETS TRADED. IF YOU WOULD ASK, A LOT OF THE DODGERS AND STAFF, THE BEST OUTFIELD ARM, YASIEL PUIG? THEY WOULD ARGUE KIKE HERNANDEZ MESS — MAY BE THE BEST ARM. IT IS NOT KNOWN BECAUSE KIKE PLAY SO MANY TO SIT — SO MANY POSITIONS. THAT WAS A GREAT JUMP. IT WAS DEEP ENOUGH AND HE MADE IT CLOSE AT HOME. SCOTT: THE FIRST BALK OF CALEB FERGUSON’S CAREER. 1-0. THEY KNOCK OUT THE PITCHER. B.J.: KIKE CAN DRESS, TOO. SCOTT: HE HAS STYLE, AND ARM. OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE GOLD GLOVES AT DIFFERENT POSITIONS. WHY DON’T THEY GIVE A GOLD GLOVE A UTILITY PLAYER? THEY NEVER PUT THAT UP THERE. MY ARGUMENT IS IF THEY DID, KIKE HERNANDEZ WOULD WIN AN AWFUL LOT OF THEM. SCOTT: SIGN ME UP FOR THAT. I AM WITH YOU. OK, IT IS THE MLB GAME OF THE WEEK LIVE ON YOUTUBE. IF YOU ARE NEW TO THE PARTY THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO CATCH THE ACTION. YOU CAN WATCH ON YOUR MOBILE PHONE OR COMPUTER. YOU CAN ALSO STREAM GAMES USING THE YOUTUBE APP ON YOUR SMART TV, ROKU, APPLE TV, PLAYSTATION, XBOX OR CHROMECAST. PHONE, COMPUTER, WE ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE. IT IS STREAMING ALL NIGHT FOR YOU. 30 MINUTE POSTGAME SHOW AS WELL. THE RACE TO OCTOBER IS HERE. WATCH THE MLB POSTSEASON WITH YOUTUBE TV. OVER 70 CHANNELS OF LIVE TV INCLUDING EVERY POSTSEASON GAME. IT COMES WITH UNLIMITED CLOUD DVR STORAGE AND SIX INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE HOUSEHOLD AT NO EXTRA CHARGE. ADD YOUR FAVORITE TEAMS TO THE LIBRARY SO YOU DO NOT MISS A MOMENT OF THE ACTION. SET UP IS EASY. IT TAKES MINUTES. GET SET UP FOR THE POSTSEASON AND WATCH LIVE WITH YOUTUBE TV. TRY IT FREE NOW. GAME OF THE WEEK LIVE ON YOUTUBE. B.J.: WHAT I WAS GETTING AT, YOU HAVE TO ASK THEM ABOUT THE SHORT SET. WOULD YOU PLEASE ASK? I HAVE TO ASK, WHAT IS UP WITH THE SHORT OVERALLS? NOMAR: I HAVE NOT PICKED HIS BRAIN ABOUT THAT, EITHER. I TRIED TO BLOCK IT OUT OF MY MIND. B.J.: YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT. [LAUGHTER] SCOTT: URIAS MID TWOS E.R.A.. PITCHED AGAINST THE QUEENS. — AGAINST THE METS IN QUEENS. WAS ABLE TO BREAK THE SCORELESS GAME. DODGERS TOOK TWO OUT OF THREE FROM THE METS. AND REALLY HELPED TO BURY THEIR PLAYOFF HOPES. THE METS NEEDED TO SWEEP. THEY ARE TOO FAR OUT AT THIS POINT. KEVIN KIERMAIER DOWN THREE PITCHES. WELCOME TO THE GAME, JULIO URIAS . ONE FOR THE RAYS IN THE TOP OF THE SECOND. FIVE FROM WILLY ADAMES. WE WILL HEAD TO THE LAST OF THE SECOND INNING WITH THE RAYS UP BY A RUN IN LOS ANGELES. ONE MORE TO GO. NEXT WEEK ON WEDNESDAY CARDINALS, DIAMONDBACKS. PREGAME COVERAGE BEGINS 3:00 EASTERN AND AFTER ARIZONA. — OUT IN ARIZONA. SPECIAL GUEST ARE JOINING US, BRETT MCLAUGHLIN, A YOUTUBE CREATOR THAT HOSTS A SHOW. WATCH THIS. ♪ >> RIGHT OFF THE CLOACA. ♪ >> ♪ ITSY-BITSY SPIDER WENT UP THE WATER SPOUT ♪ >> NO, NO, NO. >> DID I PLAY WITH THIS AS A CHILD? >> I REALLY HOPE SO. SCOTT: FROM THE MOST-WATCHED DAILY SHOW ON YOUTUBE, GOOD MYTHICAL MORNING, PLEASE WELCOME RHETT AND LINK. GOOD TO SEE YOU. HOW ARE YOU DOING? >> GOOD, GREAT TO BE HERE. SCOTT: HOW WAS THE EXPERIENCE? >> NERVE-RACKING. WE EXECUTED OUR PLAN, THE OLD CRISSCROSS. THAT IS WHEN YOU THROW AT EACH OTHER’S CATCHER. >> WE WERE TRYING TO GET OUR BALLS TO HIT EACH OTHER, BOUNCE OFF AND GO. >> PLAN B WAS THAT THEY WOULD MISS AND GO A LITTLE BIT INTO THE DIRT. >> DID THE CATCHERS KNOW THAT YOU WOULD DO THAT? >> WE LET THEM KNOW. THAT IS WHAT THE POINT WAS. WE WERE NOT TRYING TO INTIMIDATE. SCOTT: MY QUESTION, OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE YOUR SHOW. EVERYBODY IS WATCHING. YOU DO NOT LOOK NERVOUS WHEN YOU ARE DOING YOUR SHOW. >> NO, WE ARE GOOD AT EATING WEIRD STUFF. >> THIS ON THE OTHER HAND IS NERVE-RACKING. >> LINK: WE DID NOT EVEN KNOW WHERE TO STAND TO TAKE A PICK SURE. I WAS THINKING IF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL COACH COULD SEE US NOW, MAN. THE ONLY WAY I GOT ON BASE WAS GETTING BEANED. I WOULD GET BEANED ON PURPOSE. SCOTT: I AM SURE THE THE COACH SAID, WOULD YOU HIT THIS GUY, PLEASE? [LAUGHTER] SCOTT: I DO NOT RECOMMEND NOT TO ANY MIDDLE SCHOOL COACH. THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS. THAT GUY AT THE PLATE TALKS TOO MUCH. DID YOU HEAR WHAT HE SAID BEFORE THE GAME ABOUT YOU? THAT WAS EXECUTED WELL BEFORE THE GAME. DID YOU PRACTICE THAT FIRST PITCH AS THE FIRST PITCH — A SECOND PITCH FROM CODY BELLINGER IS OUTSIDE? RHETT: NO PRACTICE. JUST A SHORT, INTENSE CONVERSATION. SCOTT: IS THAT USUALLY HOW IT IS ON YOUR SHOW? RHETT: YES, NO PRACTICE. JUST A SHORT, INTENSE CONVERSATION. LINK: WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS. SCOTT: WE DO THAT IN THE BOOTH, TOO. LINK: THAT IS HOW WE DO OUR SHOW, HONESTLY. IT OFTEN INVOLVES A TRASHCAN. RHETT: YOU HAVE A GOOD VIEW. WHAT DO THESE TICKETS COST? SCOTT: THESE COST PLAYING IN THE BIG LEAGUES IF YOU ARE NOMAR, PRACTICING AT HOME FOREVER IF YOU ARE ME. PRICELESS. A LIFETIME OF EFFORT IN FOOLING PEOPLE. JUST LIKE YOU GUYS. WELCOME TO THE SEATS. LINK: WE UNDERSTAND. SCOTT: WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION, SOME YOUTUBE CREATOR’S WILL TAKE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE FOR RHETT AND LINK. IT IS UPSTAIRS TO BELLINGER. TWO BALLS, TWO STRIKES. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE SHOW, “GOOD MYTHICAL MORNING.” DO YOU KNOW YOUR STATS LIKE A PLAYER WOULD KNOW HOW MANY HOME RUNS HE HAS? DO YOU KNOW YOUR YOUTUBE NUMBERS? RHETT: THEY ARE LESS SEXY THAN HOME RUNS. 55-45 SPLIT, MEN AND WOMEN, 60%, THAT KIND OF STUFF. IT IS ANALYTICS, DATA. SCOTT: THAT IS BASEBALL NOW. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. RHETT: MONEYBALL, BASICALLY. SCOTT: NOW YOU’RE BREAKING IT DOWN, HOW MANY CLICKS. LINK: WE ARE APPROACHING 16 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS, WHICH IS CRAZY. RHETT: AND IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR 16TH SEASON OF “GOOD MYTHICAL MORNING.” LINK: IN 35 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP. WE HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER SINCE FIRST GRADE. SCOTT: AND YOU ARE STILL GETTING ALONG. RHETT: AT THIS POINT IT IS A BUSINESS ARRANGEMENT. [LAUGHTER] SCOTT: LET’S GET FEW QUESTIONS AND, GIRAFFE NECK MARK — WHAT TEAMS DID YOU ROOT FOR GROWING UP? RHETT: THE CLOSEST TEAM FOR US, IT WAS EITHER THE BRAVES OR — I ROOTED FOR THE BRAVES GROWING UP. I WAS BORN IN MACON. BUT WHEN WE MOVED TO CAROLINA WE WERE CLOSER TO THE BRAVES THAN ANYBODY ELSE. SCOTT: THAT IS WHY YOU GET ALONG. IT IS THE BRAVES. LINK: LET ME PICK ANOTHER TEAM. I HAD THE KEN GRIFFEY CARD. THE MARINERS. SCOTT: TOO FAR? ALREADY ASLEEP BY THE TIME THEY WERE STILL PLAYING. RHETT: WE DID NOT KNOW WHERE SEATTLE WAS. SCOTT: 1-2 TO MUNCY. THERE IS A RUMOR FROM MADE THE CUT, RHETT HOLDS THE OLD BASKETBALL RECORD FOR THREES AT HIS HIGH SCHOOL IN NORTH CAROLINA. IS THAT TRUE? LINK: I THINK IT IS TRUE THAT HE IS TWEETING QUESTIONS TO PLANT THE STAT WHILE HE IS SITTING HERE. SCOTT: I DO THE SAME THING, GO AHEAD. RHETT: YOUR APPLEBEE’S GIFT CARD IS ON THE WAY. >> IN EIGHTH GRADE LINK WAS THE SCOREKEEPER FOR THE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL GAME. LINK: FAST-PACED GAME. IT IS TOUGH TO WRITE IT ALL DOWN. SCOTT: WERE YOU NOT THE GUY CATCHING IT WHEN? RHETT: THEY DO NOT KEEP UP WITH THAT. LINK: BACK IN THE 90’S THEY DID NOT KEEP UP WITH THAT. SCOTT: THEIR HIGH SCHOOL ANALYTICS DEPARTMENT IS MUCH BETTER NOW. LET’S SEE IF THIS PITCH FROM SNELL TO MUNCY. ANOTHER STRIKEOUT FOR SNELL. HE IS ON FIRE. FIVE BATTERS AND HE SPENT FOUR OF THEM. RHETT: THIS GUY IS ALMOST AS GOOD AS WE WERE. [LAUGHTER] RHETT: ALMOST. DO NOT WORRY ABOUT HIS HARDWARE AND HIS CY YOUNG AWARD. LINK: I AM NOT SURE HE COULD EXECUTE THE CRISSCROSS AS WELL AS WE DO. IT REQUIRES TWO PEOPLE. NOMAR: WATCHING THIS GUY PITCH, IF YOU THREW SOMETHING IN THE AIR AND TOLD HIM TO HIT IT, I THINK HE COULD. SCOTT: KIKE HERNANDEZ WITH TWO OUTS. YOU GUYS HAVE YOUR SHOW, DIFFERENT GUESTS AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE COME ON. YOUR FAVORITE GUEST? RHETT: I WOULD SAY POST-MELONE. POST MALONE CAME ON IN RAPPED WITH US. HE SAID HE WAS A FAN. WE SAID, HE IS JUST SAYING THAT. HE STARTED CALLING CREWMEMBERS BY THEIR NAME. LINK: THAT MADE US FEEL COOL. JACK BLACK CAME ON THE SHOW AND RIPPED THE HEAD OFF OF A TWO-DIMENSIONAL CARDBOARD CENTER BECAUSE WE HAD. IT WAS AN HONOR — CARDBOARD SANTA CLAUS WE HAD. IT WAS AN HONOR. SCOTT: THIS WAS AN HONOR. BLAKE SNELL DID THAT — DID SO MUCH WE DO NOT HAVE TIME. RHETT: THANKS FOR HAVING US. LINK: GOOD TO BE UP HERE. SCOTT: GREAT FIRST PITCH. YOU CANNOT BEAT THIS WEATHER. >> THIS IS WHY WE MOVED HERE. SCOTT: WATCHRHETT AND LINK ON “GOOD MYTHICAL MORNING” ON YOUTUBE. BLAKE SNELL DOING WHAT TYLER GLASNOW HAS DONE FOR THE TAMPA BAY RAYS. SINCE RETURNING TO THE SQUAD, TWO APPEARANCES AND THREE THE SECOND TIME AROUND. FIVE STRIKEOUTS APIECE. IN EACH APPEARANCE. AVERAGING OVER 98 MILES AN HOUR ON THE RADAR GONE. TOUCHING 100 MULTIPLE TIMES. TYLER GLASNOW IS OUR NEXT GUEST. WE ARE MOVING HERE. TYLER, THANK YOU FOR HOPPING ON. HOW ARE YOU DOING? TYLER: DOING GOOD. SCOTT: THOSE OUTINGS LOOKED ELECTRIC. DID YOU NOT MISS A BEAT? TYLER: I THINK THE ADRENALINE OF TRYING TO COME BACK AND CONTRIBUTE CAP THE ENERGY. IT IS NOT THE SAME AS TRIPLE-A. KIND OF FED OFF THE ENERGY. SCOTT: THAT IS FUNNY BECAUSE OFTEN TIMES I GET ASKED, REHAB, WHAT IS IT LIKE GETTING IN THAT ENVIRONMENT? I SAY YOU CANNOT SIMULATE A BIG LEAGUE GAME. TYLER: ABSOLUTELY. BEFORE THE GAME I HAVE MY ROUTINE. IT WAS MORE DIFFICULT OUT THERE WITH A TRIPLE. OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE TO GO OUT AND GET YOUR REHAB IN. IT WAS COOL TO GO AND PLAY WITH A TRIPLE A TEAM. IT WAS COOL TO GET FAMILIAR WITH THOSE DUDES. SCOTT: YOU KNOW WHO ELSE IS LOOKING GOOD IS YOUR TEAMMATE BLAKE SNELL. TYLER: HE IS. SO GOOD TO HAVE HIM BACK. THIS IS THE MOST PERFECT TIME. GETTING CHIRINOS BACK SOON, TOO. NOMAR: WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE IN THAT CLUBHOUSE WITH YOURSELF, SNELL, COMING BACK AND GOING, WE ARE IN THE HUNT, ESPECIALLY DOWN THE STRETCH? TYLER: IT HAS BEEN AMAZING. WHEN YOU HAVE GUYS OUT FOR SO LONG IT IS AN ADVANTAGE TO COME BACK. THE ENERGY OF THE TEAM IS COOL. WE ARE TOGETHER AND YOUNG AND CLOSE. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON DID NOT THINK WE WOULD DO MUCH. IT IS NICE TO PLAY WELL. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT TIME. B.J.: I WANT TO ASK YOU HOW MUCH EASIER DOES IT MAKE IT TO PLAY WHEN YOU KNOW THAT NOBODY IS REALLY EXPECTING YOU TO SUCCEED? TYLER: THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION. I DO NOT KNOW. I THINK YOU HAVE A STANDARD YOU SET FOR YOURSELF. EVEN IF YOU ARE AND A LOSING TEAM OR JUST AN OK TEAM, YOU ARE TRYING TO COMPETE AND SHOW WHAT YOU CAN DO. EVERY PLAYER IS TRYING TO PLAY AS LONG AS THEY CAN. I AM SURE IT IS DIFFERENT FOR WHOEVER YOU ASK. FOR ME AND GENERAL I AM TRYING TO COMPETE AS WELL AS I CAN REGARDLESS OF THE SCORE. SCOTT: MICHAEL BROSSEAU, THE PINCH HITTER. DID HIS JOB AND THEN SOME. NUMBER NINE HITTER. WE ARE TALKING TO TYLER GLASNOW. LET’S GET QUESTIONS FROM THOSE WATCHING ON YOUTUBE. HOW MANY DOORWAYS DO YOU BUMP YOUR HEAD ON? TYLER: I AM SIX FOOT EIGHT — ” 8″. 7’2″ IN HEELS. [LAUGHTER] IF I AM GETTING THE FOOTING OF THE TOE WITH THE PERFECT TIME — BUT MY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WALKING THROUGH DOORWAYS I AM GETTING GOOD AT IT. SCOTT: THE CROWD IS LIKING YOUR ANSWER. WHO IS HANGING OUT WITH YOU? TYLER: GOT WILLY ADAMES. B.J.: DO ME A FAVOR AND GO SMACK TOMMY PHAM IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD. TYLER: I WILL DO IT REALLY FAST. B.J.: TELL HIM I SAID >> UP. SCOTT: URIAS PICKS UP ANOTHER PUNCH OUT. NOMAR: I AM SURE AT 6’8″ HE DOES NOT HAVE TO REACH VERY FAR. SCOTT: WE’RE SHOWING THE TRADE THAT BROUGHT YOU HERE, COMING FROM THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES. CHRIS ARCHER MOVES TO THE STEEL CITY. YOU JOIN THE CLUB. STILL IN THE FARM SYSTEM FOR TAMPA BAY. WHAT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE FOR YOU AND HOW HAPPY ARE YOU TO BE A PART OF THIS TEAM? TYLER: IT WAS WEIRD. I FELT LIKE I GOT TRADED ON TWITTER. WHICH IS PRETTY STANDARD THESE DAYS. IT IS MIXED EMOTIONS. I WAS SUPER EXCITED TO HAVE A NEW OPPORTUNITY. I WAS IN THE BACK OF THE BULLPEN FOR PITTSBURGH. I GOT CALLED TO START AND I WAS EXTREMELY EXCITED. LEADING THOSE GUYS, GOOD FRIENDS OF MINE, I KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THEM. LIKE I SAID, MIXED EMOTIONS. IT WAS AWESOME JUST COMING OVER. THEY EMBRACED ME WITH OPEN ARMS. SUCH A GREAT DYNAMIC. JUST A FUN PLACE TO PLAY BASEBALL. ON THE HUNT RIGHT NOW, NOT SOMETHING I HAVE GONE THROUGH. IT IS THE MOST FUN I HAVE HAD LANG BASEBALL SO FAR. B.J.: YOU REMEMBER FACING ME IN MONTREAL? TYLER: I REMEMBER FACING YOU A FEW TIMES. B.J.: THAT IS THE ONLY ONE I REMEMBER BECAUSE I THINK IT IS THE ONLY HIT I GOT. TYLER: I MIGHT HAVE WALKED YOU A FEW TIMES. SCOTT: TOMMY PHAM FLIES OUT. AUSTIN MEADOWS COMING UP. BLAKE SNELL STAYS DONE. TYLER WE ARE SHOWING THE WORK YOU ACCOMPLISH THIS EVENING. FASTBALL LOOKED SHARP. VELOCITY IS THERE. DID YOU TALK BEFORE THIS ONE? TYLER: THROUGHOUT THE WEEK WE DEFINITELY TALKED. HE IS MY LOCKER BUDDY. LAST YEAR HE HELPED ME WITH A FEW THINGS. A GUY IN THE SAME POSITION AS ME IN THE MINOR LEAGUES COMING UP. JUST BOUNCING IDEAS OFF EACH OTHER HAS HELPED ME. WE TALK ALL THE TIME. HE HAS BEEN FEELING GOOD THE LAST REHAB OUTING. HE CAME IN WITH CONFIDENCE. AS YOU CAN SEE, IT PLAYED OUT. HE HAS GREAT STUFF. NOMAR: IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE YOU PICK THEIR BRAIN THAT HELPS YOU? TYLER: CHARLIE MORTON IS THE MAN, THE DUDE. I PLAYED WITH HIM IN PITTSBURGH. HE IS OLDER THAN ME. I REMEMBER HE WAS REHABBING WITH THE PIRATES. HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AWESOME. HE IS LOOKING AT ME NOW. SCOTT: ISN’T THAT FUN WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A TEAMMATE? TYLER: HE HAS BEEN UNBELIEVABLE. ANOTHER GUY, PROBABLY THE SMARTEST BASEBALL MIND, DUFFY. I LIVE WITH HIM NOW. HE IS AN AWESOME DUDE TO PICK HIS BRAIN. A LOT OF YOUNG GUYS LOOK TO HIM FOR STUFF. SO MANY DUDES ON THIS TEAM RIGHT NOW, I WILL LEAVE SOMEONE OUT. I FEEL BAD. BUT THEY WILL SURVIVE. NOMAR: DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT. WE WILL LET THEM KNOW WHEN THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR DINNER. B.J.: ASK KIKE WHY HE LOOKS SO MAD. [LAUGHTER] B.J.: RELAX, MAN. TYLER: THAT IS THE INTENSITY. HE IS ALWAYS LOCKED IN. SCOTT: TYLER, WHAT IS THE BIGGEST A JUDGE’S — ADJUSTMENT YOU HAVE MADE SINCE BEING TRADED? TYLER: I WOULD HAVE TO SAY A HUGE MENTALITY THING. EVERY BASEBALL PLAYER WHEN YOU LACK CONFIDENCE IT IS NOT A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS. I THINK IT WAS JUST NOT FINDING SUCCESS FOR A WHILE. I KIND OF PUT LIMITS ON MYSELF. GETTING TRADED OVER, A FRESH START. COMING OUT AND HAVING A STRONG COUPLE STARTS REMINDED ME OF HOW GOOD I CAN BE. EVER SINCE THEN MAKING THE MENTAL GAME A PRIORITY FOR ME COMING OVER HERE HAS HELPED. THAT IS SOMETHING I HAVE STUCK WITH. B.J.: THAT IS GOOD. I WENT THROUGH SOMETHING SIMILAR IN ATLANTA. I SCUFFLED THE FIRST TWO YEARS, ENDED UP GETTING TRADED TO SAN DIEGO, WHERE I HAD A FRESH START. I GOT A CHANCE TO START OVER AND BE MYSELF. TYLER: THAT IS A HUGE PART. I WAS YOUNG. KNOWING YOURSELF IS A HUGE PART OF BASEBALL, AND A HUMAN IN GENERAL. I DID NOT KNOW MYSELF THEN. IT TOOK ME THE STRUGGLE TO UNDERSTAND IT IS NOT LIFE-AND-DEATH. IT IS STILL A BASEBALL GAME. YOUR LIFE VALUE IS NOT BASED ON HOW WELL YOU DO IS A BASEBALL PLAYER. JUST TRYING TO KEEP IT RELAXED AND HAVE FUN. OUR TEAMMATES AND COACHES HELPED ME OUT SO MUCH. JUST TRYING TO RELAX AND HAVE FUN HAS BEEN HUGE. SCOTT: TYLER, THIS WAS AWESOME. A GLOBAL AUDIENCE WATCHING ON YOUTUBE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. HAS BEEN FUN TO WATCH. NOMAR: TYLER, YOU LOOK GREAT. B.J.: I WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK, BRO. STAY STRONG, MAN. TYLER: SEE YOU. SCOTT: TYLER GLASNOW WITH US. A PITCHING CHANGE. URIAS IS OUT. DYLAN FLORO COMING IN. AUSTIN MEADOWS MADE APPEARANCES TONIGHT. BUSY NIGHT SO FAR WITH THE GUESTS, WITH THE PITCHING CHANGES. YOU KEEPING UP? NOMAR: WITH WHAT? [LAUGHTER] SCOTT: EXACTLY. B.J.: WHOEVER SCORES THE MOST RUNS TONIGHT WILL WIN THE GAME. [LAUGHTER] SCOTT: DYLAN FLORO TRYING TO ELIMINATE THAT. I KNOW WHAT THEY ARE PLAYING FOR. THE CALENDAR TURNS AND ACTION RAMPS UP AS BASEBALL’S BRIGHTEST STARS TAKE STAGE. THEM ALL BE POSTSEASON BEGINS. GO TO AND WILL BE.COM/POSTSEASON FOR THE FULL SCHEDULE. THE DODGERS CLINCHING A SECOND CONSECUTIVE NATIONAL LEAGUE CROWN. AND WILD-CARD CONTENDERS FOR NOW. THEY HOLD A SPOT AS OF TODAY. THIS IS DYLAN FLORO. DAVE ROBERTS SAID HE WOULD LOVE HIM TO FACE A DIFFICULT PART OF THE LINE. NOMAR: NO QUESTION. YOU ARE FACING PART OF THE LINEUP FOR THE RAYS. YOU HAVE TRAVIS D’ARNAUD. HE HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING FOR THE RAYS, NUMBER THREE HITTER. YOU HAVE TROY BIND HIM. THEN AUSTIN MEADOWS AND TOMMY PHAM. WE TALK ABOUT A LOT OF GUYS. THIS IS THEIR AUDITION TO MAKE THE POSTSEASON ROSTER. DYLAN FLORO IS NO DIFFERENT. IT WAS INTERESTING AS WE MENTIONED, THE TIME HE CAME OUT THERE. WE THOUGHT HE WOULD FACE ONE HITTER. SAW HIM GO OUT AND FACE MORE HITTERS. TRYING TO FIND THE SPOT WE TOUCHED ON. RATHER THAN BRING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INNING HE IS GOING, URIAS , DYLAN FLORO. IT IS INTERESTING, THE MINDSET. IF THIS WAS A GAME THAT WAS REALLY ON THE LINE OR MIDSEASON, HE MIGHT NOT BE MAKING THESE DECISIONS. BUT AS HE MAKES OUT ROSTER HE IS PROBABLY DOING OK. I WANT TO SEE HOW THEY HANDLE CERTAIN SITUATIONS AND I NEED TO SEE IF THEY WILL SUCCEED. B.J.: WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND, JUST BECAUSE A GUY DOES NOT MAKE THE FIRST ROUND ROSTER DOES NOT MEAN HE WILL NOT MAKE THE SECOND ROUND. A LOT OF IT IS HOW YOUR TEAM SHAPES UP AGAINST THE OTHER TEAM. NOMAR: YOU ARE SO RIGHT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE DODGERS. THIS IS A TEAM WITH INCREDIBLE DEPTH. YOU CAN LOOK AT THE ROSTER DECISIONS THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW. HERE ARE THE OPTIONS. ALL OF THOSE GUYS ARE REAL GOOD OPTIONS. THEY HAVE ALL HAD SUCCESS. DAVE ROBERTS AND HIS STAFF AND ORGANIZATION DOES AN INCREDIBLE JOB AT COMMUNICATING. IT IS LETTING THESE GUYS KNOW JUST BECAUSE I MAY NOT MAKE THE DIVISION SERIES, THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU WILL MAKE THE NEXT SERIES OR WORLD SERIES. YOU STILL NEED TO BE SHARP. THEY MAKE EVERYONE A PART OF IT EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT ON THE ROSTER. THAT IS WHAT IS SO IMPRESSIVE. THERE ARE EVEN GUYS ON THE IL THINKING THE SAME THING. AM I GOING TO BE READY FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES. SCOTT: THE THROW SKIPS AWAY FROM MUNCY. B.J.: ANDREW FRIEDMAN HAS DONE A GREAT JOB WITH THAT, COMMUNICATING WITH GUYS, LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT THEIR ROLES ARE. DAVE ROBERTS WAS A ROLE PLAYER. HE UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION AND BEING ON THE SAME PAGE WITH YOUR PLAYERS. SCOTT: 12TH STOLEN BASE OF THE SEASON FOR AUSTIN MEADOWS. LET’S BRING IN ALANA. ALANA: HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH TRAVIS D’ARNAUD I JOKED HE DID NOT HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE, HE HAD A SIP OF COFFEE BEFORE BEING TRADED TO THE TAMPA BAY RAYS. HE HAD NOT SWUNG THE BAT FOR A YEAR PLUS AND SAID I WAS TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH TO IMPRESS MY NEW TEAM, FIT IN, TRYING TO GET A SPOT. WHEN HE WENT TO TAMPA BAY, EVEN THOUGH HE ONLY HAS SIX YEARS OF SERVICE TIME, HE IS ONE OF THE VETERANS ON THE CLUB. HE SAID MY SHOULDERS CAME DOWN FROM MY EARS. I WAS NOT AS STRESSED. OBVIOUSLY HITTING THE BALL WELL AS A TAMPA BAY RAYS. SCOTT: HITTING IN THE THREE SPOT IN THE ORDER. HE IS LOVING HIS TIME WITH TAMPA BAY. 16 R.B.I.’S IN HIS LAST 13 GAMES. GOES AFTER THE 2-2. FLORO WITH THE PUNCH OUT. 1-0 TAMPA BAY AS WE HEAD TO THE BOTTOM OF THE THIRD. DURING THEIR DOWNTIME ON A RECENT ROAD TRIP TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WILLY ADAMES AND GUILLERMO HEREDIA GOT TO KNOW SEATTLE. >> MY FAVORITE PART, YOU GET TO SEE THE CITIES AND GET TO KNOW THE CULTURE, THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU. YOU GET TO SEE A LOT OF COOL TEAMS LIKE THIS. WHAT A NICE VIEW AND NICE COMPANY. >> FANTASTIC, TERRIFIC. I AM SO EXCITED. I LIKE CHEESECAKE. ICE CREAM, TOO. >> PLAYS FOR THE TAMPA BAY RAYS. [LAUGHTER] >> MY MAN, MY TRANSLATOR, WILLY ADAMES. >> THE CITY IS COOL. I LIKE IT. >> THIS IS DISGUSTING. >> TOO MUCH. ♪ >> THANK YOU FOR HANGING OUT WITH ME AND G TODAY. SCOTT: NO, THANK YOU. TO SEE MORE BEHIND THE SCENES RAYS CONTENT INCLUDING THEIR ADVENTURES IN SEATTLE, SUBSCRIBE TO THEIR YOUTUBE CHANNEL. THEY HAVE NO FUN, AS YOU CAN TELL. NO HITS FOR EITHER SIDE. 8-15 HITS ARE STRIKEOUTS. MAX MUNCY ON THIS STOLEN BASE ATTEMPT. NOMAR: TRYING TO PICK IT HERE, LOOKS LIKE DESPITE CAUGHT HIS HAND. YOU CAN SEE THE GRIMACE WITH HIS ARM. WHERE HE KICKS HIS HAND, MIGHT HAVE BEEN HYPEREXTENSION OF THE ELBOW. MAYBE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF THE HAND. THEY ARE CHECKING ON IT TO MAKE SURE HE IS OK. YOU ARE FRUSTRATING YOU FELT PAIN AND FRUSTRATED YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO HOLD ONTO THE BALL. IF YOU DO, YOU GET THAT OUT. SCOTT: MUNCY JUST CAME BACK FRIDAY FROM A FRACTURED WRIST. BARELY MISSED ANYTIME. 13 GAMES, 16 DAYS, AND HE RETURNED TO THE LINEUP. OLIVER DRAKE STOP ON THE HILL FOR TAMPA BAY. B.J.: WHEN I MOVED FROM THE INFIELD, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS I DID NOT MISS. SCOTT: BLAKE SNELL GETTING MORE WORK. THEY ARE TRYING TO BUILD HIM BACK UP TO BE A FIVE OR SIX INNING PITCHER. THE TEAM IS TRYING TO COMPETE WHILE ALSO WORKING THERE STARTERS BACK. THAT MEANT A PINCH HITTER IN SPOT. — IN THERE — INTHEIR NINE SPOT. STRIKEOUT OF COREY SEAGER FOR OLIVER DRAKE. SPLITTER SPECIALIST. HE USES THE PITCH 60% OF THE TIME. B.J.: IT MOVES DIFFERENT EVERY SINGLE TIME. NOMAR: COREY SEAGER CHASING THE FAST — HIGH FASTBALL. YOU CAN SEE THE LOOK ON HIS FACE AFTER CHASING IT IN THE ZONE. SCOTT: HIS WORK AGAINST LEFT-HANDERS. RYAN PRESSLY BEST, THEN SECOND BEST IN OPPOSING O.P.S. AGAINST LEFTIES, OLIVER DRAKE. IT IS WILL SMITH, THEN ADMIN RIOS — EDMUND RIOS IN THE NINE SPOT. FOUR OUTFIELDERS FACING SMITH. AN EXTREME FLY BALL HITTER. NOMAR: SOMETHING WE HAVE SEEN ON OCCASION AGAINST CERTAIN HITTERS. ESPECIALLY A YOUNG HITTER SUCH AS WILL SMITH, YOU GET CALLED UP AND HAVE NOT HAD A LOT OF TIME IN THE BIG LEAGUES AND THEY ARE DOING THIS TO YOU ALREADY. THIS WOULD TELL ME SOMETHING. IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY SWING? NOT THAT I AM TRYING TO PUT THAT IN MY HEAD, BUT I SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPRAY THE BALL AROUND. IF THEY ARE DOING THIS TO ME EARLY IN MY CAREER, IS IT ME OR SOMETHING I HAVE TO SAY, MAYBE I SHOULD NOT WORRY? THEY ARE JUST GOING OUT AHEAD OF IT. I SHOULD NOT WORRY ABOUT IT. OR IS IT SOMETHING I HAVE TO LOOK AT ONCE AGAIN AND MAYBE ALTER SOME THINGS? B.J.: DO NOT DO LIKE ME AND GO INTO THE SHIFT. IS IT NOT FRUSTRATING? NOMAR: IT IS A BATTLE FOR YOU AS A HITTER WHEN YOU SEE IT. EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT USED TO SEEING IT AGAINST YOU. DO I GO THE OTHER WAY? DO I LET IT AFFECT ME? OR DO I SAY, FORGET ABOUT IT AND STAY WITH MY GAME PLAN? SCOTT: SOX INTO TO LEFT AND IT IS CAUGHT BY KEVIN KIERMAIER, THE GOLD GLOVER. B.J.: I REMEMBER TALKING TO JOE MADDON THIS AND DAVID ORTIZ. HIS WHOLE REASON BEHIND DOING IT IS TO RUN DAVID ORTIZ. DAVID ORTIZ PLAYED IN OUR HAND BECAUSE WE KNEW ANY TIME HE COULD LEAVE THE STADIUM. SCOTT: THEY PLAYED IMPERFECTLY. KIERMAIER GOING, THAT WAS AN EASY PLAY FOR ME. CHRISTOPHER TO GROWN — DEGROM GOING TO PINCH-HIT INSTEAD OF RIOS. PLENTY OF OPTIONS ON THAT BENCH FOR DAVE ROBERTS. NOMAR: I KNOW THEY HAD EDMUND RIOS. ESPECIALLY A RIGHTY ON THE MOUND. HE HAD SOME SERIOUS POWER. CAN HAVE MULTIPLE GUYS GOING WITH NEGRON. TRYING TO GET GUYS ON BASE. HOPEFULLY THE TOP OF THE LINEUP CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. SCOTT: FIRST AT-BAT SINCE SEPTEMBER 3. THAT WAS TWO WEEKS AGO. CAN YOU IMAGINE? B.J.: I HAVE DONE IT. THAT IS TOUGH TO DO, NOT HAVING AN AT-BAT IN TWO WEEKS. SCOTT: GO GET THEM, KID. IT IS 0-2. TRYING TO SIT DOWN THE BOTTOM THIRD OF THE ORDER FOR LOS ANGELES. B.J.: YOU EVER GONE TWO WEEKS WITHOUT? NOMAR: WHEN I WAS INJURED. SCOTT: TO CENTER. KIERMAIER UNDER IT. TWO INNINGS OF SNELL. ONE INNING OF BLAKE. THEY LEAD 1-0. WE WILL HEAR FROM DODGER MANAGER DAVE ROBERTSON IN A MOMENT. HE IS THE FIRST SKIPPER IN HISTORY TO LEAD HIS TEAM TO DIVISION TITLES IN EACH OF HIS FIRST FOUR YEARS AS MANAGER. LAST YEAR THE DODGERS WANT 98 GAMES, THE YEAR BEFORE, 104 WINS. HE REPLACED DON MATTINGLY NOVEMBER 2015. AND NOW MANAGER OF THE YEAR IN 2016. THE RUNNER UP IN 2017. HE IS WITH ALANNA. ALANNA: NOTHING GOING OFFENSIVELY FROM EITHER CLUB. I KNOW YOU ARE TRYING TO FIGURE THINGS OUT AS FAR AS THE BULLPEN. WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN FROM YOUR FIRST THREE GUYS? DAVE: I THOUGHT FERGIE WAS GOOD. GIVING UP A STOLEN BASE AND A BLOCK HURT US. JULIO, I THOUGHT HE THREW THE BALL WELL. AND FLO, NOW WE HAVE STRIPLING GOING THREE INNINGS. WE ARE IN A GOOD PLACE. IT WAS GOOD TO PUT EYES ON SNELL. HE WAS TOUGH TONIGHT. ALANNA: WE NO ONE WE PLAY THE TAMPA BAY RAYS IT WILL BE A BULLPEN GAME. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO GET ON THE BOARD? DAVE: SEEMS EVERY INNING YOU WILL SEE ANOTHER ARM. YOU HAVE TO TAKE AT-BATS. THERE WILL NOT BE A LOT OF FAMILIARITY. IT IS A DIFFERENT MODEL WHEN YOU PLAY THE RACE. ALANNA: YOU MENTIONED ROD STRIPLING WOULD PROBABLY GO THREE INNINGS. COMING OUT OF THE BULLPEN, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FROM ROSS? DAVE: THE NICE THING, HE MATCHES UP AGAINST LEFTIES AND RIGHTIES. LOCATING THE FASTBALL HE GETS LEFTIES AND RIGHTIES OUT EQUALLY. ALANNA: THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS GAME, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. SCOTT: THANK YOU. FOURTH PITCHER AND INNING NUMBER FOUR. LET’S GO OVER THE OPTIONS, THE POSTSEASON BULLPEN DECISION-MAKING DAVE ROBERTS HAS TO DO. THAT IS A LONG LIST. NOMAR: YOU LOOK AT THE HIGHLIGHTED ONES. A STARTER AND OPENER THIS SEASON. IT IS A LONG LIST THEY NEED TO NARROW DOWN. SCOTT: THE INTERESTING THING, JUST BECAUSE YOU MAY NOT BE ON THE PLAYOFF ROSTER FOR THE DIVISION SERIES, DOES NOT MEAN YOU MAY NOT BE ON THE ROSTER FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES WITH A WORLD SERIES. JULIO IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. HE WAS NOT ON THE ROSTER, YET HE WAS ON THE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES AND THE WORLD SERIES ROSTER. SCOTT: ROSS STRIPLING WAS AN ALL-STAR LAST YEAR. HE DELIVERS THE PITCH TO JI-MAN CHOI. HE WAS NOT ON THE POSTSEASON ROSTER FOR LOS ANGELES. NOMAR: CRAZY GAME, ISN’T IT? I KNOW WE SAID THIS TIRELESSLY, THE DEPTH OF THIS DODGERS TEAM. SHOWS THE DEPTH THAT THEY HAVE. WE HAVE SEEN IT FOLLOWING THE DODGERS ON A REGULAR BASIS. THEY COME IN AND HAVE CONTRIBUTED. GUYS WHO MAY BE HAD STINTS IN THE BIG LEAGUES. GUYS WHO WERE IN THE BIG LEAGUES FOR THE FIRST TIME. SCOTT: SHOWED STRIPLING BETTER AS A RELIEVER THAN A STARTER GOING BACK TO 2018. STRIKEOUTS AROUND THE SAME. BUT COMING OUT OF THE BULLPEN A .216 E.R.A. HE IS AUDITIONING AND THEY WILL SEE HOW THEY WILL USE HIM IN THE POSTSEASON. B.J.: DO YOU THINK SOME GUYS ARE BETTER IN THE BULLPEN? NOMAR: SOME GUYS HAVE DONE BETTER. SCOTT: HE STRIKES OUT. NOMAR: ONE GUY FOR EXAMPLE, MA EDA CAME OVER TO THE DODGERS, SIGNED AS A STARTER. SIGNED A CONTRACT THAT WAS VERY HEAVILY BASED ON HIS INNINGS PITCHED. AS WE SEE THIS GOOD FASTBALL BY ROSS STRIPLING. WE HAVE SEEN HIM GOING LATE IN THE SEASON AND IN THE POSTSEASON COMING OUT OF THE BULLPEN AND ABSOLUTELY LOOKS OUTSTANDING. THAT IS ONE OF THE LUXURIES THE DODGERS HAD. KENTA MAEDA, STARTER MAJORITY OF THE SEASON. GETTING READY IN THE POSTSEASON TO FIND HIMSELF BACK IN THE BULLPEN WHERE HE HAS SEEN INCREDIBLE SUCCESS IN THE PAST. ALSO, SOMETHING THEY THOUGHT ABOUT WHEN THEY THOUGHT ABOUT WHEN IT COME TO THE TRADE DEADLINE. EVERYONE KNEW THE DODGERS WERE LOOKING FOR BULLPEN HELP. THEY WERE NOT JUST GOING OUT TO SELL THE FARM. THEY KNEW IN THE BACK OF THEIR MIND THERE WAS POTENTIAL THEY CAN MOVE GUYS LIKE ROSS STRIPLING AND KENTA MAEDA IN THE BULLPEN. SCOTT: THE FIRST HIT OF THE NIGHT. MATT DUFFY CONNECTS TO LEFT. B.J.: I THINK WE BOTH CAN AGREE, THOSE TWO GUYS CAN PITCH IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS ROTATIONS. NOMAR: YOU ARE RIGHT. I HAVE TO GIVE THESE GUYS CREDIT. WHEN YOU HAVE THE TOP THREE STARTERS SUCH AS THE DODGERS HAVE, YOU HAVE KERSHAW, BUEHLER AND RYU. THAT IS NO PARTICULAR ORDER. IT IS GOING TO DEPEND ON THE MATCHUP AND HOW THEY SET UP THAT ROTATION. YOU ALSO HAVE GUYS WHO HAVE VERSATILITY, WILLINGNESS AND THE MINDSET TO GO OUT AND DO WHATEVER IS ASKED, SUCH AS ROSS STRIPLING, KENTA MAEDA. THEY HAVE AN INCREDIBLE MENTALITY AND DESIRE TO NOT ONLY WIN, BUT TO GO WHATEVER YOU NEED US TO DO, WE WILL DO FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE TEAM. B.J.: THAT IS A CULTURE CREATED WITHIN. RUNNERS, WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU DO ANYTHING TO GET THAT RING. THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE PREACHING IN THAT ORGANIZATION. THESE GUYS COME UP FROM TRIPLE-A. THEY KNOW WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THEM AND THEY FIT IN. SCOTT: TOP TWO E.R.A.’S IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. MAY BE ATTRIBUTING TO WHY WE ONLY HAVE ONE HIT TONIGHT AND A RUN. NOMAR: THE DODGERS ARE AN INCREDIBLE TEAM AS FAR AS PREPARATION, SECOND TO NONE. THEY PREPARE EVERY GUY ON A REGULAR BASIS. NOW FACING A TEAM LIKE THE RAYS. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THEY FACED THE RAYS THIS YEAR. I KNOW BLAKE SNELL IS A STARTER, BUT COMING OUT OF REHAB. BASICALLY AND OPENER GAME. YOU DO NOT NECESSARILY NEED TO PREPARE FOR A GUY TO FACE TWO TO THREE TIMES WHERE IT WILL BE A DIFFERENT LOOK. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GO OUT AND PREPARE YOUR AT BAT. CANNOT PREPARE WHO YOU WILL FACE. THAT IS SOMETHING THE DODGERS WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO, LOOK TO DO. THAT MAY BE A FORMULA IN THE POSTSEASON. NOT EVERY GAME, BUT THERE MIGHT BE CERTAIN GAMES WHERE THEY WILL LOOK AND SEE DIFFERENT GUYS COMING OUT OF THAT BULLPEN. SCOTT: THE DODGERS KNOW HOW TO DEVELOP THEIR TALENTS. LOOK AT THE ROOKIE CONTRIBUTIONS WHICH INCLUDE ALEX VERDUGO ON HIS BOBBLEHEAD NIGHT TONIGHT. HE IS SITTING OUT WITH AN INJURY. MATT BEATY, WILL SMITH, CASEY SADLER, TONY GONSOLIN. THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. THEY HAD AN EPIC 2016 DRAFT. ALL KEY CONTRIBUTORS TO 2019. THERE IS GONSOLIN. ALWAYS PICKING CLAYTON KERSHAW’S BRAIN. WE WILL SEE GONSOLIN STARTING TOMORROW FOR L.A. NOMAR: THESE ROOKIES HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB FOR THE DODGERS. RIOS, GARLICK, LUX, ALL OF THESE GUYS COMING UP. YOU MENTIONED THE EXPECTATION. THEY JUST PERFORMED. SCOTT: JOEY WENDLE UP THE MIDDLE. THAT IS A BASE HIT. BACK TO BACK FOR THE TAMPA BAY RAYS. NOMAR: ROSS STRIPLING GOING WITH THE OFF-SPEED PITCH. LOOKING FOR A BALL TO FALL OFF MORE OFF THE PLATE. CATCHES TOO MUCH THE MIDDLE OF THE PLATE. WENDLE DOING A GREAT JOB DRIVING IT BACK UP THE MIDDLE. B.J.: GOT TO LOVE THE SPLITTER UP IN THE ZONE. NOMAR: SOMETHING YOU CAN SEE EARLY ON. I SEE THE OFFICE SPEED, IT IS A SPLITTER AND IT IS UP? EASIER TO MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT. IT DOES NOT BREAK AS MUCH WHEN IT IS UP IN THE ZONE AS OPPOSED TO DOWN. SCOTT: ADAMES DROVE IN. THE ONLY RUN TONIGHT — DROVE IN THE ONLY RUN TONIGHT. BROUGHT IN WENDLE IN THE SECOND. I TRIED TO FIND OUT WHY WILLY ADAMES IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT HITTER AWAY FROM ST. PETERSBURG. I ASKED HIS MANAGER KEVIN CASH AND HE THREW UP HIS HANDS AND SAID, I HAVE NO IDEA. MOST HOME RUNS BY A SHORTSTOP IN A SEASON IN RAYS HISTORY. HE IS ONE BEHIND BRAD MILLER. B.J.: TROPICANA FIELD IS NOT AN EASY PLACE TO HIT. LIGHTING IS DIFFERENT. IT IS ARTIFICIAL. BACKDROP IS DIFFERENT. MAYBE IT IS NOT SUITABLE TO HIS EYE. ONCE HE IS ON THE ROAD, SEEMS TO BE DOING FINE. NOMAR, YOU KNOW THERE ARE CERTAIN STADIUMS YOU DO NOT SEE WELL IN. NOMAR: AND EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT. SOME PLACES YOU MAY SAY I FEEL GREAT HERE AND OTHERS MAY FEEL AWFUL. IT IS AMAZING. SCOTT: WEAK LEAD TO SHORT. A CHANCE FOR TWO TO L.A. DUFFY IS STAYING AT THIRD. KEVIN CASH WAITING ON WORD IF HE SHOULD CHALLENGE. THEY ARE CHALLENGING THE PLAY AT FIRST. IN SECOND IT WAS A CLEAN TURN. MAX MUNCY DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB TURNING THE BALL. THEY TRIED TO SEE IF HE MIGHT HAVE BEATEN THAT. IT IS REALLY CLOSE AT FIRST BASE. WHERE IS THAT BALL PRIOR TO THE FOOT GETTING THERE? B.J.: WAS IT SAFE? SCOTT: THEY MIGHT OVERTURN THIS ONE. WE SEE THE DODGERS ARE SLOWLY MAKING THEIR WAY BACK OUT TO THE FIELD THINKING, THAT MIGHT BE OVERTURNED. NOMAR: IT IS FUNNY BECAUSE ALANNA GOT ON ME A YEAR AGO BECAUSE OF THE WAY I DID MY SCOREKEEPING AND PENCIL. SHE WOULD DO IT ALL IN PEN. BUT NOW WITH INSTANT REPLAY YOU HAVE TO ERASE THINGS. SCOTT: I DO NOT WRITE ANYTHING UNTIL AFTER I KNOW THERE WILL BE NO CHALLENGE. SAFE AT FIRST IS ADAMES. IT IS FIELDER’S CHOICE TO ERASE WENDLE. WE HAVE RUNNERS ON THE CORNERS AND HERE COMES KEVIN KIERMAIER. THE CHALLENGE, SUCCESS FOR KEVIN CASH AND COMPANY. KIERMAIER STRUCK OUT FIRST TIME AROUND. VERY SERIOUS, AS YOU MENTIONED, ON THE BENCH. HE HAS BEEN FRUSTRATED HE RETURNED SATURDAY FROM A NECK STRAIN. IT HAS BEEN A NAGGING ISSUE FOR HIM THE LAST 21 GAMES. JUST .136 WITH FOUR EXTRA-BASE HITS. B.J.: TOUGH TO HIT WITH A NECK INJURY. BUT THAT ALSO SPEAKS TO WHAT TYPE OF GUY HE IS. SCUFFLING, TEAM NEEDS HIM. YOU NOTICE HOW VALUABLE HE IS DEFENSIVELY. SCOTT: ONE OF THE BEST IN CENTER FIELD IN THE SPORT. B.J.: HE HAS ALWAYS HAD IT. I REMEMBER BEING ON REHAB ASSIGNMENT IN PORT CHARLOTTE. HE WAS JUST AN A-BALL IN RIGHT FIELD. YOU CAN LOOK AT GUYS AND TELL WHEN THEY HAVE IT. HE WAS ONE OF THE GUYS. SCOTT: MOST TEAMS DID NOT KNOW HE HAD IT BECAUSE HE WAS DRAFTED IN THE 31ST ROUND, AND HE WILL NEVER FORGET IT. ROSS STRIPLING PULLS OFF THE PUNCH OUT. STRANDS TWO RUNNERS AND IT IS STILL 1-0, RAYS OVER THE DODGERS AS WE ENTER THE LAST OF THE FOURTH. KYLE SNYDER, THE RAYS PITCHING COACH COMING UP WITH ALANNA. HE HAS DONE QUITE A JOB. 2018, ONE OF THE TOP IN THE GAME. BETTER IN 2019. TOP AND STARTERS, SECOND IN BULLPEN E.R.A. SNYDER WAS NAMED PITCHING COACH AND HE IS STANDING BY WITH ALANNA. ALANNA: THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE >> REALLY ENCOURAGING CONSIDERING TWO REHAB ASSIGNMENTS TO COME OUT AND THROW THE BALL THAT HE DID. TWO INNINGS AFTER HAVING ARTHROSCOPIC SURGERY WAS CERTAINLY — ALANNA: HOW MUCH OF THIS FOR YOU WAS GETTING THROUGH THE OUTING HEALTH WISE VERSUS NECESSARILY THE RESULTS FOR HIM? >> I THINK THAT’S — THAT’S DEFINITELY THE BIGGER HURDLE, YOU KNOW? BUT CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN HE GOES OUT AND STRIKES OUT FOUR AND FACES A MINIMUM FOR TWO, HE’S GOT TO BE PRETTY ENCOURAGED BY THAT. AND THAT SHOULD CERTAINLY BUILD SOME CONFIDENCE FOR HIM. ALANNA: OLIVER DRAKE COMES IN AND DOES A NICE JOB AS WELL. SO FAR NO HITS GIVEN UP IN THIS ONE ALBEIT EARLY. WHAT HAS MADE THIS YOUNG RELIEVING CORPS SO SPECIAL FOR YOU GUYS? >> YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY’RE ALL DIFFERENT AND ALL PUSH ONE ANOTHER AND LOVE TO BE AROUND ONE ANOTHER. STAN BOROWSKI AND OUR BULLPEN COACH ARE FORTUNATE TO BE AROUND SUCH A GOOD GROUP. THEY’RE TALENTED. THEY’RE CURIOUS AND OPEN MINDED ABOUT DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THEY CAN IMPROVE. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY GO OUT THERE AND COMPETE PETCH FOR PITCH EVERY SINGLE NIGHT THEY GET AN OPPORTUNITY. ALANNA: YOUR MANAGER KEVIN CASH WAS SAYING A YOUNG GROUP OF GUYS THAT PULLS FOR ONE ANOTHER AND YOU’RE IN THE A.L. EAST ALMOST A COMPETITIVE PLAYOFF GAME EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU FACE THE YANKEES AND EVERY SIMILAR TIME YOU FACE THE BOSTON RED SOX. HOW MUCH HAS YOUR REGULAR SEASON PREPARED YOU FOR THIS FINAL PUSH AS YOU GUYS TRUE TO MAKE IT INTO THE POSTSEASON? >> I THINK THERE’S A LOT TO BE SAID FOR BEING RAISED IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST AND A LOT OF INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE THAT THESE GUYS HAVE GAINED THROUGH THE COURSE OF THIS YEAR. NOT JUST THIS YEAR AND SOME OF THE GUYS LAST YEAR. AND I THINK IT’S CERTAINLY GOING TO PAY OFF DOWN THE ROAD. ALANNA: BEST OF LUCK AND BEST OF HEALTH DOWN THE STRETCH, KYLE. THANK YOU. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME. SCOTT: THANKS, ALANA. PITCHING COACH OF THE TAMPA BAY RAYS KYLE SNYDER IN HIS SECOND SEASON. WHAT A YEAR IT’S BEEN FOR THE RAYS’ STAFF. MORE OLIVER DRAKE GOING UP HE STRUCK OUT TO START OFF THE DODGERS’ PORTION OF THE FIRST INNING. BETTER AGAINST RIGHT-HANDED PITCHING. BUT IN HIS CAREER BURNING LEFTIES. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? WHERE YOU’RE CRUSHING LEFTIES YOUR ENTIRE CAREER AND SUDDENLY HE’S BETTER AGAINST RIGHT-HANDED PITCHING? B.J.: FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE. THIS GAME IS HARD. [LAUGHTER] IT’S HARD, MAN. JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN WHAT YOU’RE SEEING IT COULD BE SOME OF THE ADJUSTMENTS YOU DECIDE TO DO THAT YEAR AND BECAUSE OF THOSE ADJUSTMENTS COULD BE THE WAY YOU’RE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE PITCHES OUT OF AN ARM SLOT. OF A PERSON PITCHER. B.J.: I ALWAYS FELT MORE COMFORTABLE AGAINST RIGHTIES. IT WAS THE LEFT-HANDED ARM SLOT THAT GOT ME. YOU KNOW, I JUST DIDN’T EVER REALLY GET A HOLD OF IT. BUT RIGHTIES, I REALLY HAD NO PROBLEM. I WOULD RATHER FACE A RIGHTY THAN A LEFTY MOST TIMES. SCOTT: MORE REPETITIONS AGAINST RIGHT-HANDED PITCHING. FREESE DOESN’T BITE. BUT IT’S A STRIKE. NOMAR: DAVID FREESE IS ALSO A GUY THAT ONCE HE GETS IT GOING IT DOESN’T MATTER WHETHER LEFTY OR RIGHTY. THE GUY KNOWS HOW TO HIT. HE’S A WINNER. HE’S CLUTCH. WE’VE SEEN HIM BE CLUTCH IN THE PAST. SCOTT: AND HE STRIKES OUT AGAIN. 10 UP, 10 DOWN FOR THE RAYS’ STAFF SO FAR TONIGHT. B.J.: NOMAR, IN TODAY’S GAME, DO YOU READ TOO MUCH INTO THE STRIKEOUT? NOMAR: I DO. BECAUSE I NEVER LIKE IT. I THINK THE ONE THING THAT THE DODGERS HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST — THEY CUT DOWN A LITTLE BIT ON THEIR STRIKEOUTS. CERTAIN HITTERS HAVE. ONE ACTUALLY WE WERE TALKING EARLIER, POSSIBLY BEING AN M.V.P. CODY BELLINGER HAS DEFINITELY CUT THAT OUT. I KNOW WITH PEOPLE LIKE STRIKEOUT IS OK, I NEVER THINK IT’S OK. I NEVER THINK IT’S EASY TO WALK BACK TO THE DUGOUT. AND I THINK NOW, PEOPLE ARE MORE AND MORE ARE STARTING TO SEE THAT. THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD START LOOKING AT THAT. GUYS WHO ACTUALLY PUT THE BALL IN PLAY. IS BETTER THAN GUYS WHO ARE JUST AN EASY OUT AND WALK INTO THE DUGOUT AND STRIKEOUTS ARE NOT OK. B.J.: I HATED THEM ALSO. BUT I KNEW I WAS GOING TO DO IT 140 TIMES A YEAR. [LAUGHTER] ONCE YOU WRAP YOUR MIND AROUND THAT, JUST — IT IS WHAT IT IS. SCOTT: A.J. POLLOCK BOUNCES OUT ON A COUPLE OF HOPS. AND A NICE STRETCH AT FIRST BY JI-MAN CHOI. B.J.: SHOWING THE FLEXIBILITY OVER THERE. SCOTT: TOUGH THROW FROM JOEY WENDLE. PLAYING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE BASE. AND THE SHIFT IS ON-FOR-CHRIS TAYLOR. — IS ON FOR CHRIS TAYLOR. THE DODGERS NOW HAVE THE EIGHTH LOWEST STRIKEOUT RATE IN BASEBALL. THE BEST CONTACT TEAM IN THE GAME THIS YEAR, HOUSTON. THEY HAVE THE LOWEST STRIKEOUT RATE OFFENSIVELY AND AS A PITCHING STAFF, THEY HAVE THE HIGHEST STRIKEOUT RATE. THAT’S A GOOD COMBINATION. NOMAR: YEAH, IT IS. WE LOOKED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO HOUSTON WAS RIGHT UP THERE AS WELL AS FAR AS STRIKING OUT RATES FROM AN OFFENSIVE SIDE. THEY WERE ONE OF THE LOWEST IN ALL OF BASEBALL. BOSTON RED SOX LAST YEAR, ALSO IN THE TOP IN THAT CATEGORY AS WELL. SCOTT: I THINK MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT AND MAYBE CHANGING THAT MINDSET THAT OH, WAIT A MINUTE HERE. THEY’RE NOT A GOOD THING. THASHE NOT — THEY’RE NOT OK. THAT PUTTING THE BALL IN PLAY GIVES YOU A GREATER CHANCE OF SOMETHING POSITIVE TO HAPPEN. ESPECIALLY IN THE PLAYOFFS WHEN YOU’RE FACING BETTER PITCHING. IT’S AMAZING. COME POSTSEASON. THE MOST IMPORTANT DISTANCE IS 90 FEET. EVERY 90 FEET MATTERS IN THE POSTSEASON. OVER 162 GAMES, NOT ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT JUST 90 FEET. YOU’RE THINKING BEYOND THAT OR PAST THAT. B.J.: EVERY PITCH. EVERY BASE. SCOTT: TAYLOR FLIES OUT TO RIGHT. B.J.: EVERY LINEOUT LIKE THAT SUSPECT LOOKING FOR A HIT AND TRYING TO GET A HIT IN THIS GAME AND PUT ON A GOOD SWING LIKE THAT, THIS GAME’S TOUGH BECAUSE HE DID EVERYTHING RIGHT. AND STILL HAD A NEGATIVE RESULT. B.J.: DON’T YOU FEEL THAT — SCOTT: SO THE SLEGS, THE RAYS AND THE INDIANS ALL REMAIN IN THE THICK OF THE A.L. WILD CARD CHASE. BUT WHO’S GOING TO ADVANCE TO OCTOBER? >> THE A’S ARE HOT. THEY HOLD ON TO THAT TOP WILD CARD SPOT. >> THE RAYS WIN THIS ONE. THE RAYS CONTINUE TO CHASE THE OAKLAND A’S. >> THE GUY THAT CAN HURT YOU EVERY TIME HE STEPS UP TO THE PLATE. >> IN TO SCORE ARRAEZ. ADRIANZA BEHIND HIM. THE THROW BY LIPPEDOR TO THE PLATE — LINDOR TO THE PLATE. OUT AT THE PLATE ON A HEAD FIRST SLIDE AND A TAG BY PLAWECKI. >> AND A FLY BALL HIT BACK INTO CENTER FIELD. LORENZO CAIN GOING BACK. AT THE WALL, IT IS GONE! AND IT’S OVER. MATT OLSON WITH A WALKOFF. >> THERE’S A LINE SHOT BASE HIT. PAST RUIZ INTO LEFT. AND WILL TRY TO CORE AND THROW NOT IN TIME. RAYS WIN IT ON THE WALKOFF. >> BASES LOADED, NOBODY OUT. SANTANA SOCKS ONE HIGH IN THE AIR. DEEP LEFT FIELD. THERE SHE GOES. IT’S A GRAND SLAM. >> THIS IS A VERY TIGHT RACE AS WE TALKED EARLIER. >> A SPECIAL MONTH. THAT’S WHAT WE ALL PLAY FOR AND WE DON’T PLAY FOR OCTOBER. AND WE’RE DOING THE CHASE. WE’RE CHASING. AND WE ALL ARE HAVING FUN AND EMBRACING EVERY MOMENT. >> IT’S GREAT. WE NEED THIS WINNING STREAK TO GET HOT FOR THE POSTSEASON AND PUT OURSELVES IN GOOD POSITION TO MAKE OUR SEASON FIRST OFF. >> WINS IT FOR THE ATHLETICS. >> CARLOS SANTANA WITH HIS 33RD OF THE YEAR. >> KIND OF IN A FIGHT HERE WITH SOME REALLY GOOD TEAMS THAT ARE PLAYING GOOD BASEBALL. SO THEY CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. >> FIFTH INNING. SCOTT: THREE TEAMS, TWO SPOTS REMAINING SCHEDULE FOR THE A’S, THE RAYS AND THE INDIANS. 10 GAMES LEFT FOR TAMPA BAY IN OAKLAND. CLEVELAND WITH 11 TO PLAY. AND OAKLAND DOES NOT FACE ANY MORE CONTENDING TEAMS. 10 CLUBS, OR EXCUSE ME 10 GAMES AGAINST CLUBS THAT ARE UNDER .500. THE RAYS HAVE THREE GAMES AGAINST TEAMS UNDER .500. AND THE YANKEES COMING SOON FOR TAMPA BAY. ALSO FOUR AGAINST BOSTON. THEY FINISH WITH THREE AT TORONTO. GO OVER THOSE SCHEDULES WITH OAKLAND TRAILING 1-0 RIGHT NOW. CLEVELAND VICTORIOUS TONIGHT. THIS IS KEAN WONG. COLTON’S BROTHER. PINCH HITTING FOR TAMPA BAY. HOW DO YOU THINK THIS THING IS GOING TO PLAY OUT? B.J.: I DON’T KNOW. I’LL TELL YOU WHAT, THE RAYS PROBABLY HAVE THE TOUGHEST STRETCH. AND I THINK ANY — ANY TEAM THAT’S CONTENDING FOR A PLAYOFF SPOT HATES PLAYING NONCONTENDERS. BECAUSE EVERYBODY — THEY’RE ALL PLAYING FOR A SPOT THAT NEXT YEAR. AND SOMETIMES THEY’RE THE MOST DANGEROUS TEAMS. SCOTT: WE’RE SEEING THAT TONIGHT. KANSAS CITY WINNING 1-0. 6-5 YESTERDAY OVER OAKLAND. TO COME BACK WIN AND A BLOWN SAVE FOR THE A’S. THEIR LEAGUE-LEADING 30TH, LIAM HENDRIKS COULD NOT GET THE JOB DONE. THAT’S AS TIGHT AS IT GETS FOR TWO PLAYOFF SPOTS. NOMAR: TO ME, IT’S INTERESTING. IT DEPENDS ON THE MENTALITY OF YOUR TEAM. I THINK THERE’S ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT IT. IN THE SENSE WHERE IF YOU’RE A TEAM THAT REALLY LIKES TO PROPOSE AND LIKES THE FAMILIARITY WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR OPPONENT, WELL, ONE IF YOU’RE THE RAYS YOU’RE GOING TO GET THAT. YOU’RE GOING TO GET THAT DOWN THE STRETCH FACING THE RED SOX AND THE YANKEES. YOU KNOW THESE GUYS ON A REGULAR BASIS AS FAR AS BEING IN YOUR DIVISION. AND YOU KNOW WHO’S GOING TO BE PLAYING. COMPARED TO A TEAM THAT’S OUT OF IT AND YOU MIGHT BE SEEING TRIPLE-A GUYS THAT ARE GOING OUT THERE AND THEY WANT TO SEE. SO YOU MIGHT NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THOSE GUYS. THAT’S ONE AND OTHER LOOKING FOR THAT EXTRA ADRENALIN AND EXTRA THING TO PULL YOU DOWN THE STRETCH AS YOU KNOW EVERY GAME IS IMPORTANT, THAT’S — AND YOU CAN ALSO FEED OFF THE ENVIRONMENT WHEN YOU’RE — PLAYING AGAINST A TEAM LIKE THE RED SOX AND YANKEES. SCOTT: WONG ROLLED THAT TO FIRST. ONE GONE IN THE FIFTH. AND THE YANKEES ARE IN A SIMILAR SPOT AS THE DODGERS. THEY’RE PUTTING TOGETHER THEIR POSTSEASON ROSTER. PUTTING PLAYERS IN AUDITION SPOTS TO SEE HOW THEY’LL PERFORM. WORKING PLAYERS BACK LIKE DELLIN BETANCES AND LUIS SEVERINO. SEVERINO STARTING TONIGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME. ALL YEAR. B.J.: IT’S A STRONG TEAM. AND LIKE YOU SAID, THEY’RE IN A SITUATION SIMILAR TO THE DODGERS. THEY’RE OBVIOUSLY THEY’RE GOING TO RUN AWAY WITH THE BEST RECORD. AND AARON BOONE KIND OF IN THE SAME POSITION AS DAVE ROBERTS. HE’S GOT SOME DECISIONS TO MAKE. I MEAN, WHEN IS THE LAST TIME WE SAW GIANCARLO STANTON? I MEAN, THAT’S — THAT’S A DECISION HE’S GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE. THOSE — THERE’S GUYS THAT HAVE BEEN INJURED THAT ARE BECOMING HEALTHY. AND GUYS THAT HAVE PERFORMED ALL YEAR. AND BEEN GREAT FOR THAT BALL CLUB. THAT HE’S GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS ON IN THE NEXT WEEK. SCOTT: KEVIN CASH HAS A DECISION TO MAKE IF BRANDON LOWE CAN RETURN FOR TAMPA BAY: AN ALL-STAR, ROOKIE OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE. HE’S BEEN OUT FOR A LONG TIME, THOUGH. 0-2 TO TOMMY PHAM. HE’S 0-2 TONIGHT. HE’S CUT HIS STRIKEOUTS DOWN THIS YEAR. AND TAKEN HIS GAME TO THE NEXT LEVEL. THIS IS WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT. GOOD LUCK GETTING HIM TO CHASE. LEADS BASEBALL WITH A CHASE RATE SHY OF 16%. HIS SWING PERCENTAGE BY ZONE. YOU WANT BLUE OUTSIDE OF THE STRIKE ZONE. SO IF YOU’RE GOING TO BEAT TOMMY PHAM IT HAS TO BE IN THE ZONE WHICH IS A GOOD THING FOR HIM. B.J.: ABSOLUTELY. OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN SEE BY THE SEASON THAT HE’S HAVING. IT WORKS. SCOTT: ALEX BREGMAN AND MIKE TROUT, YOUR M.V.P. CANDIDATES IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE. AND HE GIVES IT A RIDE TO LEFT CENTER. AND THAT’S CAUGHT. A.J. POLLOCK CENTER FIELDER PLAYING LEFT. AND RUNNING IT DOWN. B.J.: GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE TWO CENTER FIELDERS OUT THERE. NOMAR: YOU’RE RIGHT. FOR THE DODGERS REALLY GOOD TO SEE A.J. POLLOCK RUN THIS DOWN. THE REASON BEING IS HIS — HE’S BEEN DEALING WITH KIND OF A GROIN INJURY SINCE COMING OFF THE I.L. AND TWEAKED HIS GROIN RIGHT AFTER HE CAME OFF THE I.L. AND THEY MOVED HIM OVER TO LEFT AND SEE IF THAT WOULD ALSO TAKE SOME OF THE STRESS OFF HIS GROIN. NOT ONLY THAT, OBVIOUSLY WITH ALEX VERDUGO BEING ON THE I.L., IS THIS SOMETHING THAT THEY MIGHT SEE IN THE POSTSEASON WITH CODY BELLINGER KIND OF MANNING CENTER FIELD AND THEN GETTING HIM SOME REPUTATIONS OVER LEFT FIELD? ONE, HE MOVED ON THAT BALL REALLY WELL. GOOD READ ALSO. IN LEFT FIELD AS COMPARED TO CENTER FIELD. AND DEFINITELY GOOD POSITIVE SIGNS FOR THE DODGERS. B.J.: I’LL TELL YOU WHAT, WHEN I MADE THE TRANSITION FROM CENTER TO LEFT, IT WAS A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE. AND I THINK WE’VE SEEN A.J. POLLOCK’S CAREER, HE’S BEEN INJURY PLAGUED. AND I DON’T THINK MOVING HIM TO LEFT FIELD IS A BAD THING FOR HIM. SCOTT: WAS IT — HOW WAS IT FOR YOU GOING UP FROM CENTER AND THEN MOVING INTO THE CORNERS AND READING THE BALL OFF THE BAT? B.J.: THAT WAS THE BIGGEST ADJUSTMENT. CATCHING FLY BALLS FROM LEFTIES FROM OVER THERE. BEING BLIND TO THE RIGHTIES PULLING THE BALL. IT WAS — IT HONESTLY IT TOOK ME PROBABLY AT LEAST TWO MONTHS INTO THE SEASON TO GET REALLY COMFORTABLE WITH IT. I REMEMBER TELLING ANDY GREENE 100% I CAN DO IT. BUT BEAR WITH ME. YOU KNOW? AND IT’S NOT — IT’S NOT AS EASY OF A TRANSITION AS YOU THINK IT IS. BUT FOR A GUY THAT’S PLAYED CENTER FIELD, I THINK HE’LL DO JUST FINE OVER THERE. SCOTT: DID YOU HAVE TO GET USED TO YOURSELF? BECAUSE YOU HAD SUCH A HIGH STANDARD THAT OK, MY JUMP MAY NOT BE AS GOOD AS I USUALLY AM USED TO BECAUSE OF ALSO READING THE SWING AND ALREADY ANTICIPATING IT’S ALMOST REACTING AS COMPARED TO ALREADY ANTICIPATION BASED OFF THE SWING? B.J.: YOU KNOW, YOU CAN’T — IT’S TOUGH TO ANTICIPATE IN LEFT. YOU CAN ANTICIPATE IN CENTER. IT’S RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU TO SEE EVERY SWING. BUT TO ANTICIPATE IN LEFT, YOU’RE BLIND TO A LOT OF IT. AND EVEN OFF THE LEFTY’S BAT, IT DOESN’T ALWAYS LOOK LIKE IT’S COMING TO YOU. SCOTT: TAMPA BAY GOES DOWN IN ORDER IN THE FIFTH. THEY LEAD 1-0 OVER L.A. AT CHAVEZ RAVINE. CODY BELLINGER HASH AN M.V.P. CANDIDATE ALL SEASON LONG. AND HERE’S A GLIMPSE AT SOME OF HIS SIGNATURE MOMENTS. >> THE M.V.P. OF THE FIRST HALF. IN BOTH LEAGUES RIGHT HERE. >> AND BELLINGER SENDS ONE TO DEEP RIGHT CENTER FIELD. >> AN EXPLOSION ON OPENING DAY FOR THE DODGERS. >> CODY BELLINGER HAS THIS ONE A LONG WAY OUT. >> SECOND HOME RUN TO LEFT. >> BELLINGER SWINGS. HIGH DRIVE. >> HIT THE BALL. GRAND SLAM. CODY BELLINGER. >> FROM THE LEFT CENTER SLICING DEEP. OFF THE OF THE WALL. BELLINGER IS HEADED FOR THIRD. HE’S GOT A TRIPLE. HE’S ON HIS OWN PLANET RIGHT NOW. >> OH, MY GOODNESS! >> THE BEST SWING IN A — IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. >> SECOND TONIGHT FOR BELLINGER. >> BELLINGER HAMMERS THE BALL. IT’S BELLINGER’S TURN! >> I LIKE THE FACT THAT BELLINGER IS CORRECTING THE GAME WITH HIS BAT AND HIS GLOVE SO MUCH. >> AND AT THE WALL, BELLINGER BRINGS IT BACK. >> BELLINGER COMES ON AND PLAYS AT A BOUNCE. CRAWFORD HEADED FOR THIRD. BELLINGER’S THROW, HE DOES IT ALL! >> OPPOSITE FIELD BASE HIT. AND UNLESS HE CAN THROW HIM OUT. IN TIME! >> AND GOING TO THIRD AND OUT AT THIRD BASE! AN UNBELIEVABLE THROW BY BELLINGER. ON THE FLY TO THIRD. AND THEY GET HIM. >> BACK IT GOES, 100. GOODBYE. CODY BELLINGER WITH NUMBER 40. >> FIRST TO 40 IN THE BIG LEAGUES CODY BELLINGER. SCOTT: WHAT A YEAR FOR CODY BELLINGER. FLEPPING THE — FLIPPING THE SCRIPT IN HOLLYWOOD. LAST YEAR HE SAT IN WORLD SERIES GAMES. CAN YOU IMAGINE CODY BELLINGER SITTING IN A WORLD SERIES GAME? B.J.: NO, NOT THIS YEAR. NO CHANCE. SCOTT: NO WAY. O.P.S. NORTH OF 1.000 AND M.V.P. CANDIDATE IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE. IT LOOKS LIKE IT’S HIM AGAINST ANTHONY RENDON. WHO’S YOUR PICK? B.J.: I’M GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE ANTHONY RENDON PERSONALLY. THE BATTING AVERAGE. AND HONESTLY I THINK THAT HE’S DOING IT ON A LITTLE BIT LESS TALENTED TEAM. NOMAR: WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT GRAPHIC THE BIGGEST NUMBER THAT REALLY STOOD OUT YOU LOOK AT THE STRIKEOUT PERCENTAGE. THE FACT THAT IT HAS DECREASED, I THINK THAT HAS REALLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS THAT HE’S HAD THIS YEAR. SCOTT: HE’S FACING COLIN POCHE. THIRD PITCHER. NIGHT FOR TAMPA BAY. — THIRD PITCHER OF THE NIGHT FOR TAMPA BAY. 25-YEAR-OLD LEFT-HANDER. USES THE FASTBALL MORE THAN ANY OTHER PITCHER IN THE SPORT. OLD SCHOOL. 89% WITH THE HEATER. LAST TWO APPEARANCES THREE RUNS ACROSS ONE INNING. FOUR CONSECUTIVE MISSES TO BELLINGER. AND A LEADOFF BASE RUNNER FOR L.A. THEIR FIRST BASE RUNNER. NIGHT. — FIRST BASE RUNNER OF THE NIGHT. AND HERE COMES MUNCY. NOMAR: FOR CODY BELLINGER DESPITE LOOKING AT HIS NUMBERS, TAILED OFF FOR THE SECOND HALF, NOT QUITE AS EYE OPENING AS THEY WERE IN THE FIRST HALF. HE’S STILL TAKING HIS WALKS. AND OBVIOUSLY KEY FOR HIM HERE TO LEAD OFF THE INNING. SCOTT: MUNCY WASN’T FEELING THAT FIRST STRIKE. SHOULD IT BE 2-0 RIGHT NOW? B.J.: I MEAN, THAT SHOWS — NOMAR: I’LL TELL YOU D’ARNAUD DID AN EXCELLENT JOB THE WAY HE CAUGHT THAT BALL AND THE WAY HE BROUGHT THAT IN, GOT TO GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO HIM TO GET THAT STRIKE. SCOTT: RUNNER IS GOING. HERE’S THE THROW FROM D’ARNAUD. AND IT’S ON A HOP AND NOT IN TIME. A STOLEN BASE FOR BELLINGER. HIS 13TH SWIPE OF THE YEAR. NOMAR: GREAT JUMP BY BELLINGER. JUST GOING ON FIRST MOVE. THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. YOU NEED TO PUT SOME PRESSURE ON THIS DEFENSE. YOU HAVEN’T HAD ANY BASE RUNNERS ON OVER THE COURSE OF THIS GAME. YOU GET THE LEADOFF GUY ON. PUT SOME PRESSURE. THAT’S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO AND NOW IT CHANGES THIS AT-BAT FOR MAX MUNCY. B.J.: I FEEL LIKE THE STOLEN BASE IS A LOST ART. NOMAR: AND THE REASON BEING IS THE WAY THE BALLS ARE FLYING OUT OF THE BALLPARK. A LOT OF TIMES THEY’RE LIKE DON’T RISK GETTING THROWN OUT WHEN YOU’RE ALREADY IN SCORING POSITION. WHEN YOU’RE AT FIRST OR ACTUALLY WHEN YOU COME UP TO THE PLATE NOW. THAT’S KIND OF THE MENTALITY. SO YES, IT IS A LOST ART. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, OFTEN OVERLOOKED BECAUSE HERE’S A PERFECT EXAMPLE. MAX MUNCY NOW WHERE HE’S THINKING MAYBE A BALL I NEED TO DRIVE IN THE GAP AND NOW LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT HE CAN AT LEAST PULL TO THE RIGHT SIDE. B.J.: AND I’LL TELL YOU WHAT, BEING TRADED TO TORONTO FROM SAN DIEGO, WHEN I LEFT SAN DIEGO, I HAD ALREADY HAD 20 BAGS. I RUN. THAT’S WHAT I DID. I GOT TO TORONTO WITH ALL OF THOSE BOPPERS. AND STAYED IN PLACE. STAY WHERE YOU’RE AT. SCOTT: 1-13 SENSE COMING OFF THE INJURED LIST. SEVEN STRIKEOUTS. FINDING HIS TIMING AGAIN. DOWN 16 DAYS WITH THE WRIST INJURY. AND HIT. COLIN POTCH MIGHT NOT BE IN THIS GAME — POTCH MIGHT NOT BE IN THIS GAME FOR LONG. NOT MANY STRIKES AND NOW A HIT BATTER AFTER THE WALK TO BELLINGER. NOMAR: MUNCY AND THAT RIGHT TRICEP. AS HE’S GOING DOWN, HE’S — IT LOOKS LIKE HE’S JUST TRYING TO GET — MOVEMENT IN THERE. AND LET’S NOT FORGET HE ALSO KIND OF FELT THAT LEFT ARM. REMEMBER WHEN HE WAS GOING FOR THAT TAG AT SECOND BASE, AND HE LOOKED LIKE HE ALMOST HYPEREXTENDED HIS ELBOW A LITTLE BIT. AND NOW IT’S THE OTHER ARM THAT GETS HIT THERE. B.J.: DOUBLE ICE BAGS AFTER THE GAME. NOMAR: YEP. B.J.: NOW, LOOKING FORWARD, IS THIS THE BUNT SITUATION IN THE FIFTH INNING? W WELL, OLD SCHOOL YOU WOULD HAVE AS WE LOOKED BACK AT WHAT MUNCY ON THAT PLAY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHERE HE FELT A LITTLE BIT OF A TWINGE HERE AS HIS HAND GETS HIT THERE. THE BALL COMES IN. AND GRAB HIS ARM A LITTLE BIT. AND NOW HE’S GRABBING THE OTHER ARM. AND TO B.J., YEAH, I THINK IN THE — IT’S INTERESTING. YES. OLD SCHOOL BASEBALL YOU THINK ABSOLUTELY. HOW DO YOU NOT SQUARE AROUND TO BUNT SUSPECT MOVE HIM OVER AND ESPECIALLY IN A GAME LIKE THIS? HERE WE ARE IN THE FIFTH INNING. YOU’RE DOWN BY ONE RUN. IT’S INTERESTING. POSTSEASON, YEAH. YOU’RE — B.J.: 100%. NOMAR: RIGHT NOW IN THE SEASON WE’RE NOT SEEING THAT IN MODERN BASEBALL WHERE THEY’RE THINKING ABOUT SQUARING AROUND AND BUNT. YOU’RE NOT THINKING ABOUT MOVING HIM OVER. YOU’RE THINKING ABOUT HERE’S A POTENTIAL FOR A BIG INNING OR THIS GUY CAN DRIVE HIM IN. OR I’M GOING TO GIVE MYSELF AT LEAST THREE CHANCES TO KNOCK THE GUY IN FROM SECOND BASE. B.J.: ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, FOR ME COMING UP, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN AUTOMATIC. LIKE THE MANAGER DIDN’T HAVE TO TELL ME THIRD BASE COACH DIDN’T EVEN HAVE TO GIVE ME THE SIGN. I WENT TO THE PLATE AND KNEW WHAT MY JOB WAS. SCOTT: NO OUTS, TWO ON. KIKE HERNANDEZ. DODGERS SEARCHING FOR THEIR FIRST HIT. B.J.: THAT GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING WE JUST SAID. SCOTT: IT’S FUNNY. WHEN THE PITCHER STEPPED OFF YOU SAW KIKE SQUARE AROUND AND WAS ALMOST — I’M GOING TO ACT LIKE I’M GOING TO BUNT AND PUTTING IT IN YOUR MIND BUT I’M NOT BUNTING. I’M NOT GOING TO DO THIS. I’M GOING TO GO OUT THERE AND SWING. B.J.: ARE WE THE ONLY ONES THAT DIDN’T FALL FOR IT? NOMAR: I THINK EVERYBODY KNEW IT. HE’S SWINGING. SCOTT: ONE OF THE BEST WEAPONS IN THE SPORT RIGHT NOW IS NICK ANDERSON. WARMING UP FOR KEVIN CASH. WE SHOWED YOU THE NUMBERS FOR HERNANDEZ AGAINST LEFT-HANDED PITCHING. MUCH BETTER AGAINST SOUTHPAWS. YOU WONDER IF CASH SHOULD BE BRINGING IN NICK ANDERSON RIGHT NOW. WHO’S A RIGHT-HANDER AND HE’S BEEN ONE OF THE MOST DOMINANT RELIEVERS IN THE SPORT. NOMAR: THERE ARE TIMES WHERE WE’VE SEEN IF EVERYBODY IS THINKING HE MIGHT BE BUNTING, ALL RIGHT, I’LL LET YOU SWING ONCE. BECAUSE THEY’RE GOING TO THROW IT DOWN THE MIDDLE. BUT AFTER YOU GET THAT STRIKE ON YOU NOW I’M GOING TO GIVE YOU — NOW I’M GOING TO PUT ON THE BUNT AND DIDN’T SEE THAT THERE THEY’LL KEEP SWINGING. B.J.: I USED TO LOVE GOING TO THE PLATE IN A BUNT SITUATION AND JOE TELLING ME BEFORE I LEFT THE DUGOUT, TAKE A PASS. SCOTT: TAKE ONE. B.J.: TAKE A PASS AT ONE. NOMAR: LET IT GO. SCOTT: 1-2. DRIVEN TO LEFT. AND HOOKING FOUL. SCOTT: POCHE WALKS BELLINGER. MUNCY. AND HE’S AHEAD OF HERNANDEZ 1-2. A LITTLE CHECK SWING. GOING TO STAY FAIR. AND CHOI IS GOING TO STEP ON THE BAG. BUT HEY, JUST DOES — THE SAME TRICK AS A BUNT. B.J.: JUST AS GOOD AS A BUNT. SCOTT: BELLINGER TO THIRD. MUNCY IS UP TO SECOND. SCOTT: AND NOW COREY SEAGER WITH A CHANCE TO AT LEAST TIE THIS GAME IF NOT DO MORE. B.J.: YOU MIGHT GET THE INTENTIONAL RIGHT HERE. NOMAR: ON A LEFTY-LEFT YES MATCHUP? B.J.: IT IS LEFTY-LEFTY. SCOTT: SMITH ON DECK. SEAGER STRUCK OUT IN THE THIRD. HE LOVES THE FIRST PITCH. B.J.: I’LL TELL YOU WHAT, THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS HAVE BEEN REALLY AGGRESSIVE AT THE PLATE TONIGHT. A LOT OF GOOD PASSES ON BALLS. SCOTT: THEY PLAYED A TIGHT GAME ON SUNDAY AGAINST THE METS. LATE COMEBACK. AND THEY GOT TO THEIR BEST RELIEVER SETH LUGO IN THE NINTH INNING. INFIELD IN FOR SEAGER. B.J.: THIS PITCH OFF THE PLATE AND ONE AREA WHERE COREY SEAGER THIS SEASON, HAS HIM REALLY WELL AND THAT’S — WITH RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION AND B.J.: SMACKS IT LEFT. NOW BACKING UP IS PHAM. A DOUBLE WILL PLAY TWO, AND THE DODGERS SNATCH THE LEAD. SCOTT: THAT IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT IN THE FIELD. NOT BEING ABLE TO READ IT. B.J.: IT IS ALSO A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BUNTING AND MOVING GUYS OVER. HIS CHECK SWING ACTED LIKE A BUNT. COREY SEAGER NOW IS LOOKING FOR A BALL THAT HE CAN DRIVE IN THE AIR TO AT LEAST GET A SACRIFICE FLY. NOW, HE LAYS OFF THE BALL LOW, GETS A BALL UP IN THE ZONE AND IS ABLE TO DRIVE IT AND DRIVE IT OVER HIS HEAD. IT CHANGES THE ENTIRE AT-BAT AND ENDS UP BEING A POSITIVE. ONE AT THE VERY LEAST TWO IS GOING TO GET A SACRIFICE FLY. INSTEAD, HE GETS TO R.B.I.’S AND — TWO R.B.I.’S AND THAT WILL GET THE LEAD. SCOTT: 2-1. HOT START FOR WILL SMITH AND HITS — IN HIS FIRST 28 GAMES, SOMETHING IN HIS LAST 18. B.J.: THEY OFTEN HAD HIM HITTING THIRD OR FOURTH WHEN HE FIRST CAME UP. A ROOKIE CATCHER. HITTING IN AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE LINEUP FOR THE DODGERS, AND NOW, THEY HAVE MOVED HIM DOWN. JUST MISSED. B.J.: IT IS THE SAME THING FOR WILL SMITH. HE HAS THE SAME APPROACH NOW THAT COREY SEAGER HAS HAD. I DO NOT HAVE TO GO DOWN AT THAT PICTURE. I AM LOOKING FOR IT. I CAN SEPARATE THE ZONE. LET ME GET SOMETHING I CAN POSSIBLY DRIVE IN THE GAP. SCOTT: 2-2. WAITING ON DECK IS JEDD GYORKO AT AND AROUND THE TRADE DEADLINE, AND SUNDAY’S BIG MAN FOR L.A., CHRIS TAYLOR, SETS THE TABLE. PUNCHES ONE OFF THE WALL, AND UP ON SECOND. AND THEN JEDD GYORKO BRINGING THEM IN AND GIVING THE DAUGHTERS THE LEAD. 3-2 IN THE NINTH, — THE DODGERS THE LEAD, 3-2 IN THE NINTH. THAT IS A TEAM THAT SOME SQUADS ARE HAPPY NOT TO SEE COME OCTOBER. THE METS HAVE DEGROM. THEY HAVE SYNDERGAARD. THEY HAVE TALENT IN THAT ROTATION, AND THEY WILL NOT BE THERE. B.J.: THEY WILL NOT. I WAS REALLY KIND OF LOOKING FORWARD TO THE METS GETTING BACK TO THE PLAYOFFS. THAT’S HOW IT WAS GROWING UP. YOU KNEW THE METS WOULD BE AROUND. IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME. SCOTT: WASHINGTON HOLDS THE FIRST WILD-CARD. THE CUBS, SECOND. MILWAUKEE MAKING A PUSH WITHOUT CHRISTIAN YELICH. B.J.: I DON’T THINK MILWAUKEE IS GOING TO GET THERE. SCOTT: NO? WASHINGTON AND CHICAGO? EIGHTH PITCH OF THE AT-BAT COMING UP TO SMITH. SEGER ON SECOND AFTER BRINGING HOME TWO WITH THE GROUND RULE DOUBLE. AND YOU WONDER IF KEVIN CASH IS SECOND-GUESSING HIMSELF WITH NICK ANDERSON STILL IN THE BULLPEN. WAS THIS THE TIME, THE CRITICAL MOMENT IN THE GAME, TO BRING IN ONE OF YOUR BEST WEAPONS? B.J.: ONE TIME HE IS THINKING, OK, AM I GOING TO BRING IT IN FOR KIKE HERNANDEZ? I AM KEEPING THE LEFTY SO I CAN FACE COREY SEAGER SO I HAVE A LEFTY ON LEFTY. I ALSO HAVE TO TRUST THAT AT LEAST HE MAY BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE RIGHT. HE DID. I THINK HE HAD THE MATCHUP AGAINST COREY SEAGER. COREY SEAGER CAME THROUGH AND GOOD PITCH THERE AGAINST WILL SMITH. SCOTT: HE STRIKES OUT SMITH, AND NOW, TO DOWN FOR GYORKO. AND THEY WANTED THAT UP. THAT CORNER DOWN AND AWAY. HE MISSED THE SPOT, BUT THAT WAS A GOOD MISS. AND HERE COMES KEVIN CASH. SO NOW, IT IS AN ASSENT TO FACE GYORKO — AND TO FACE GYORKO WITH A RUNNER IN SCORING POSITION AND L.A. LEADING 2-1. THEY HOSTED THE DODGERS FANTASY FOOTBALL DRAFT PARTY. >> WE ARE DRAFTING — >> TROJAN. >> I AM NOT GOING TO THROW OUT ANY SHAME ON ANYONE. THAT IS NOT NEEDED, BUT I THINK IT IS PRETTY OBVIOUS I HAVE THE BEST DRAFT. I WAS THE MOST PREPARED. I GOT THE BEST PLAYERS. [APPLAUSE] >> TINA NOW IN — KEENAN ALLEN? >> HE HAD THE SECOND-WORST JOB, AND I THINK MY TEAM IS IN THE UPPER ECHELON. >>>> YOU KNOW WHO HAD A BAD DRAFT? WALKER BUEHLER. >> WHAT HAPPENED TO NOT THROWING YOUR TEAMMATES UNDER THE BUS? >> WELL DESERVED BY HIM. EVERYONE ELSE WAS GOOD. >> OOOH. HE IS GOOD AT FANTASY. >> ALL ME. [LAUGHTER] >> I THINK I HAD A GOOD DRAFT. I FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT. I FEEL LIKE EVERYONE DID WELL. BELLINGER REACHED FOR SOME PEOPLE IN CLASS AND — CLASSIC BELLINGER FORM. IT WILL BE ANOTHER COMPETITIVE YEAR. >> YOU LIKE IT? >> HONESTLY, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AS A PROFESSIONAL, AND PROBABLY LIKE THE MOST APT IN ALL OF THIS ROUNDTABLE, WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO WIN. ALL RIGHT. ♪ >> MANY G.M.’S ON THE DODGERS — CATCH NEW EPISODES OF BACKSTAGE DODGERS EVERY FRIDAY. SPORTSNET L.A. CATCH UP ON CONTENT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED ON THEIR YOUTUBE CHANNEL. DODGERS CHANNEL AT YOUTUBE.COM/DODGERS. MATT DALEY WILL BAT INSTEAD OF JEDD GYORKO TO FACE NICK ANDERSON — MAKE THAT CHAZ ROE. E.R.A. A FEW SHADES UNDER 4.00. A COUPLE UPDATES COMING IN. WE SPOKE ABOUT THE YANKEES WORKING SOME OF THEIR PITCHERS BACK. DEVASTATING NEWS. A PARTIAL TEAR OF HIS LEFT ACHILLES TENDON. JUST GOT BACK FROM THE INJURED LIST. AND HE IS DOWN FOR THE YEAR. AND THAT IS A STRIKE FROM ROE. ALSO AN UPDATE TO THE N.L. WILD-CARD STANDINGS. MILWAUKEE VICTORIOUS TONIGHT SO THEY ARE NOW EVEN WITH THE CUBS. 82 UP, 69 DOWN, AND THE NATIONALS AT 83 HAVE BEEN 67, WITH 1.5 GAMES EDGE. THAT IS A GOOD RACE. B.J.: YEAH, BUT WHEN YOU ARE MISSING YOUR M.V.P., IT IS KIND OF HARD TO FINISH THE JOB. AND JOE MADDON HAS A WAY OF RALLYING THE TROOPS AND GETTING GOING FOR GAMES LIKE THAT. SCOTT: MADDON IS MISSING JAVY BAEZ AND ANTHONY RIZZO IS OUT FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER WEEK. IT IS A WEIRD TIME OF YEAR WITH ALL THE INJURIES WE HAVE SEEN IN THE GAME. B.J.: IF I WAS A BETTING MAN, I THINK HE WILL BE BACK BEFORE THEN. SCOTT: 0-2 TO BAILEY. JUST INTO THE GAME. TWO RUNS COME ACROSS FOR L.A.. BELLINGER AND MUNCY COME HOME. COREY SEAGER’S TO R.B.I. — TWO R.B.I. GROUND RULE DOUBLE. MLB GAME OF THE WEEK, LIVE ON YOUTUBE. THERE IS CODY. AND MUNCY BEHIND HIM. COREY SEAGER WITH THE DODGERS FIRST PITCH OF THE NIGHT. OH SO TIMELY. >> MIGHT HAVE TO HELP AT THE END, OK? — WHERE THE BASEBALL IS THAT. — IS AT. SCOTT: FOR IN-DEPTH PERSPECTIVES ON THE GAME, DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT YOUTUBE’S LIVE GAME COMMENTARY WITH A SELECT GROUP OF CREATORS TO ADD TO OUR THOUGHTS DURING THE BROADCAST WITH A UNIQUE VIEWING EXPERIENCE THAT YOU CAN CATCH ON YOUR MOBILE PHONE, COMPUTER, AND ALSO IN THE LIVING ROOM ON YOUR SMART TV. WE WILL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON THE DISCUSSION THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT, COMMENTS FLYING IN. SEGER IS A CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL HITTER. AND THE DODGERS ACCOUNT IN THE COMMENT SECTION, SAYING NOT BAD FOR A TEAM-LEADING 40TH A TEAM-LEADING 40TH DOUBLE OF THE YEAR. SPORTS GAMING UNIVERSE SAYS 200,000 PEOPLE WITNESSING THE FIRST DODGERS HIT. COME ON BACK FOR WEDNESDAY’S MATCH UP WITH THE CARDINALS AND THE DIAMONDBACKS, OUR FINAL GAME OF THE REGULAR SEASON, EXCLUSIVELY ON YOUTUBE. PREGAME COVERAGE BEGINS AT 3:00 EASTERN, NEW PACIFIC. THE CARDINALS LEADING THE NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL WITH A REALLY STRONG SECOND HALF AND THE DIAMONDBACKS MADE A SURPRISING PUSH AFTER TRADING AWAY ZACK GREINKE. PEDRO BAEZ, TIME FOR DAVE ROBERT SEND THE DODGERS. THE 31-YEAR-OLD — ROBERTS AND THE DODGERS. THE 31-YEAR-OLD HAS DOUBLED HIS USAGE THIS YEAR. B.J.: I MEAN, PEDRO BAEZ DEFINITELY RECOGNIZED HE HAS REALLY WORKED ON IT AND IT HAS BEEN HIS GOATEE PITCH. HE HAS HAD THE CONFIDENCE OF THROWING THAT. WHAT WE HAVE SEEN THIS YEAR FOR PEDRO BIAS IS HIM ACTUALLY — PEDRO BAEZ SHAKING IT OUT. HERE COMES A FASTBALL. THAT IS WHAT HE RELIED ON. YOU CAN NO LONGER DO THAT AS A HITTER, AND THAT IS WHAT MADE PEDRO BAEZ SO EFFECTIVE. >> FACING HIM, IT WAS NEVER REALLY AN EASY A.B., BUT HE WAS A TWO PITCH PICTURE BANK HAD YOU CAN ELIMINATE A PITCH, THAT MAKES THE AT-BAT THAT MUCH EASIER FOR YOU. NOW THAT HE HAS ADDED THE THIRD PITCH AND HE IS USING IT MORE, IT JUST OPENS UP MORE DOORS FOR HIM. SCOTT: HE IS ON A GOOD GROOVE RIGHT NOW. THIRD LOWEST O.P.S. AGAINST HIM THIS YEAR. SEVEN STRAIGHT SCORELESS APPEARANCES. MOST RECENTLY SAW HIM ON SUNDAY. A15 PITCH, 1-2-3 INNING — A 15 -PITCH 1-2-3 INNING AGAINST THE METS. >> FOR DAVE ROBERTS, LOOKING FOR THE GUYS IN THE BULLPEN THAT HE WOULD GO TO THE HIGH LEVERAGE SITUATIONS, IT WOULD BE PEDRO BAEZ, JOE KELLY, AND HE HAS NO PROBLEM GOING TO, DOESN’T MATTER READY OR LEFTY GOING TO THE — RIGHTY OR LEFTY GOING TO THE PLATE. SCOTT: THE PRESIDENT OF BASEBALL OPERATIONS, ANDREW FRIEDMAN, IS JOINING US AFTER THIS HALF INNING. >> PEOPLE SAY, I DON’T KNOW. IT IS A LOT. [LAUGHTER] SCOTT: WE HAVE 1.5 WEEKS TO FINISH IT OUT. >> KNOWING ANDREW FRIEDMAN, HE HAS PROBABLY ALREADY GOT IT MAPPED OUT. [LAUGHTER] SCOTT: THESE TWO TEAMS MET UP BACK IN MAY IN ST. PETERSBURG AND SPLIT A TWO-GAME SERIES. IT IS THE ANDREW FRIEDMAN SERIES. FORMER G.M. OF TAMPA BAY. >> YES, I WAS FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH HIM FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. OBVIOUSLY, HE TOOK OVER THE JOB WHEN WE MADE OUR BIG RUN, AND VERY, VERY HANDS-ON WITH THE PLAYERS. HE LIKES TO GET TO KNOW HIS PLAYERS. HE SAW THE FANTASY FOOTBALL REAL RIGHT THERE — REEL RIGHT THERE. HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE HIS PLAYERS ARE HAPPY. SCOTT:SCOTT: IS THERE EXTRA PRESSURE ON THE ACTUAL PRESIDENT OF BASEBALL OPERATIONS, THE GUY THAT IS RUNNING THE ROSTER TO WIN A FANTASY LEAGUE LIKE? NOMAR: — LIKE THAT? NOMAR: EVERYBODY IS COMING FOR HIM. [LAUGHTER] SCOTT: IN THE AIR, LEFT SIDE. TAYLOR MAKING THE CALL. FLOATS IN AND MAKES THE CATCH. FOR OUT NUMBER ONE. THIS COPYRIGHTED TELECAST IS PRESENTED BY AUTHORITY OF THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF BASEBALL AND MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED OR RETRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM AND ACCOUNTS AND DISCUSSIONS OF THIS GAME MAY NOT BE DISSEMINATED WITHOUT EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT. UP TO JI-MAN CHOI. THE KNOCK, FROM A FAN PERSPECTIVE, ON PEDRO BAEZ, IS HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR HIM TO DELIVER A PITCH. B.J.:B.J.: THAT IS THE KNOCK ON WITH HITTERS, TOO. SCOTT: LULLS YOU TO SLEEP. OVER 30 SECONDS BETWEEN PITCHES, WHICH IS ACTUALLY NOT THE LONGEST IN BASEBALL. THAT IS NUMBER TWO. NUMBER ONE BELONGS TO A PLAYER ON THE OPPOSING SIDE. EMILIO PAGAN, 31 POINT FOUR SECONDS BETWEEN PITCHES. NOMAR: THAT IS HOW YOUR DEFENSE FALLS ASLEEP. SCOTT: AT LEAST THE OUTINGS LATELY FOR BAEZ HAVE BEEN QUICK. MANY OF THEM, 1-2-3. [LAUGHTER] SCOTT: THEY TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THAT. THEY HAVE OVER THE TIME TRIED TO SPEED HIM UP AND TOLD THEM ABOUT TRYING TO GET TO OVER THEM. IT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE IT, BUT THAT CHANGEUP HAS HELPED, TO BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU, BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF DOUBT THAT HE HAD WHEN HE WAS OUT THERE, SO SHAKING OFF A LOT, LOOKING AT THE PITCHES, WONDERING IF THAT IS THE RIGHT PITCH, AND NOW THAT HE HAS ANOTHER PITCH THAT HE IS CONFIDENT IN OUTSIDE OF THE FASTBALL, IT HAS ALLOWED HIM TO GO, YUP, THAT IS THE GO TO. I HAD CONFIDENCE IN IT OR I WILL DO IT, TO TRY TO SPEEDED UP TO SOME DEGREE. NOMAR: SPEAKING OF CATCHERS AND TALKING TO CATCHERS, THERE IS NOT A BETTER FEELING THAN BEING BEHIND THE PLATE AND KNOWING YOU CAN PUT DOWN ANYTHING YOU WANT. SCOTT: CHOI GOES WRONG, AND THE RAYS EVEN THE GAME — LONG, AND THE RAYS EVEN THE GAME. NOMAR: AM I SUPPOSED TO BE NEUTRAL? SCOTT: AS A COMMENTATOR? NOMAR: YES. B.J.: YES, YOU CAN SAY HE GOT LUCKY. [LAUGHTER] >> I AM JUST KIDDING. SCOTT: HE PUTS A GOOD SWING OVER THERE. THAT’S A MISTAKE BY PEDRO BAEZ. LOOK AT THIS BALL. HE WANTS IT DOWN AND AWAY. YOU CANNOT GET MORE CENTER CUT THAN THAT PITCH RIGHT THERE. BIG-LEAGUE HITTERS ARE GOING TO MAKE YOU PAY. NOMAR: WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT OFF-SPEED PITCH UP. SCOTT: WHEN IT IS UP, IT DOES NOT BREAK AS MUCH. AND GET OUT OF THE WAY. MISSED. BELLINGER AND BAEZ BUMPED INTO EACH OTHER. THE BALL HITS THE GRASS. MATT DUFFY REACHES. NOMAR: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THAT IS WHY POSITION PLAYERS YELL AT PICTURES RIGHT — PITCHERS, RIGHT THERE. B.J.: I DON’T KNOW IF THERE’S ALSO FRUSTRATION AFTER YOU GIVE UP A HOME RUN, SAY, OK, I AM GOING TO GET THIS. YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. YOU HAVE TO ALLOW THE POSITION PLAYER TO MAKE THE PLAY. THE ONLY TIME REALLY IS WHEN IT IS MAYBE JUST A SOFT LITTLE LINER RIGHT AT YOU AT THE PICTURES MOUND AND — PITCHER’S MOUND. YOU LET YOUR POSITION PLAYERS MAKE THE PLAY. NOMAR: IT IS EITHER MOVE OR STAY WHERE YOU ARE AT. B.J.: YUP. SCOTT: THE ERROR AGAINST THE PITCHER. FREESE KNOCKS IN TO HIM. ALMOST HAD WENDELL OR DUFFY, THAT IS. THE FOCAL SIXTH FOR BAEZ — DIFFICULT SIXTH FOR BAEZ SO FAR. STARTED OUT NICELY WITH THE POP-OUT. CHOI DELIVERING HIS THIRD HOME RUN IN THE LAST FIVE GAMES. DUFFY ONBOARD ON THE ERROR. A WALK, A STOLEN BASE, AND A SINGLE FOR WENDELL, WHO SCORED THE FIRST RUN FOR TAMPA BAY IN THE SECOND. B.J.:B.J.: THE CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW FOR A PITCHER. GAVE UP A HOME RUN, AND THEN YOU JUST GIVE UP AN ERROR. AFTER YOU GIVE UP A HOME RUN, YOU MAKE YOUR PITCH, AND NOW, YOU HAVE AN OUT, AND YOU KNOW YOU MAKE A MISTAKE THERE, AND YOU ARE TRYING TO MAKE UP FOR BOTH OF THOSE. YOU ARE TRYING TO ATONE FOR THEM. NOW, YOU ARE TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH. IT IS A BATTLE IN YOURSELF TO GO OUT THERE AND NOW FOCUS ON THOSE QUALITY PITCHES AND TRY TO GET OUT IN THIS INNING. SCOTT: THE HOME RUN HE SERVED UP WAS THE FIRST OFF HIS CHANGEUP THIS YEAR. B.J.: THAT IS HOW EFFECTIVE IT HAS BEEN. WE JUST TALKED ABOUT HOW CONFIDENT HE HAS BEEN DURING THAT CHANGEUP. THE FACT THAT THAT WAS THE FIRST ONE, AND YOU COULD SEE THAT WAS A HANGING CHANGEUP AT THE FIRST PART OF THE PLATE. NOMAR: GO BACK TO WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HE GIVES UP THE HOME RUN, HE MAKES THE ERROR, AND NOW, HE IS TRYING TOO HARD. ONCE IT HAPPENS, IT IS ALREADY DONE. AND YOU CANNOT GET IT BACK. YOU KNOW, THE ONLY THING YOU REALLY DO IS FOCUS ON WHAT YOU HAVE RIGHT THEN AND THERE, AND RIGHT NOW, HE IS IN A LITTLE BIT OF A DOGFIGHT. BUT I ALSO THINK THESE ARE THE PRESSURE SITUATIONS DAVE ROBERTSON WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER THAT HE WANTS TO SEE GUYS IN. SCOTT: RUNNER GOING. AND WE WILL DO THE 3-2 AGAIN. TIGHT GAME AGAINST THE CONTENDER. IT COULD MEAN AN APPEARANCE FOR KENLEY JANSEN TONIGHT. WENDELL UP THE MIDDLE. THAT IS AS EASY AS IT GETS. BUT WE ARE TIED ON THIS JI-MAN CHOI SOLO SHOT. NUMBER 16 ON THE YEAR. RAYS 2, DODGERS 2, IN LOS ANGELES. THE MLB GAME OF THE WEEK, LIVE YOUTUBE. HERE IS A LOOK AT THE RAYS IMPROBABLE RUN TO THE AMERICAN LEAGUE IN 2008. >> HERE, TRULY, THE CROWD IS THE 10TH PLAYER ON THE FIELD FOR THE TAMPA BAY RAYS. THE RAYS WITH A FIVE-RUN LEAD, NEED ONE OUT. >> DOWN THE LEFT-FIELD LINE. LONGORIA ON THE RUN. GOING TO THE POSTSEASON. 2008, NINE DOLLARS EQUALLY. THE RATE WIN — THE RAYS WIN. >> YOU KNOW WHAT, IF WE BATTLE AND KEEP BATTLING AND BATTLING, WE ARE GOING TO DO IT. >> THE SOX DOWN TO THEIR LAST STRIKE. >> THE RAYS ARE GOING TO THE AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE TAMPA BAY RAYS HAVE WON THE AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES. >> EXPERIENCE VERSUS EXUBERANCE. >> BREAKING BALL POPPED UP. RIGHT FIELD. >> PEREZ AT THIRD, TAGS. HERE COMES THE THIRD, JUMPED THE LINE, AND THE RAYS HAVE TIED THE SERIES. >> UPTON HIT IT JUST DEEP ENOUGH. >> TWO HITS TO THE DEFENDING WORLD CHAMPIONS. HE LEAVES WITH THE TIP OF THE CAP. >> WE GET READY FOR THE UNITED AND WHO IS ON THE MOUND BUT YOUNG DAVID PRICE. >> SWING AND A MISS. STRIKE THREE. THE RAYS ARE ONE OUT AWAY. >> HOW DOES A 22-YEAR-OLD STAY WITHIN HIMSELF IN THIS MOMENT? >> THIS SHOULD DO IT. TAKES IT TO SECOND. THIS INCREDIBLE SEASON HAS ANOTHER CHAPTER TO IT. THE RAYS ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES. THE RAYS WIN. RAYS WIN. RAYS WIN. SCOTT: ANDREW FRIEDMAN, THE RAYS DIRECTOR OF BASEBALL DEVELOPMENT IN 2004 AND 2005, AND THEN NINE SEASONS AS THE EXECUTIVE THE P OF BASEBALL OPERATIONS FOR POSTSEASON APPEARANCE — THE VP OF BASEBALL OPERATIONS. AND PRESIDENT OF BASEBALL OPERATIONS SINCE OCTOBER OF 2014, LEADING A SQUAD THAT KEEPS ON WINNING DIVISION TITLES, AND HE IS JOINING US IN THE BOOTH FOR THIS BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH, WHICH FEATURES GAVIN LUX, A.J. POLLOCK, AND CHRIS TAYLOR. THAT HEADSET ON AND JUST A SECOND. THE ROOKIE WITH THE PINCH-HIT APPEARANCE. IT IS 2-0. AND WE ARE READY TO GO. ANDREW FRIEDMAN JOINING US RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR THIS HALF. HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY, ANDREW? ANDREW: I AM DOING WELL. THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON. SCOTT: LET’S START WITH THE MAN WE ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW. GAVIN LUX REPLACES DAVID FREESE AT THE TOP OF THE LINEUP FOR THE DODGERS. SWING THROUGH. IT IS 2-1. WHAT WENT INTO THE DECISION TO BRING HIM UP AND HOW GOOD DOES HE LOOK? ANDREW: TO GAVIN’S CREDIT, HE FORCED OUR HAND, JUST THE WAY HE PLAYED DOUBLE-A AND TRIPLE-A THIS YEAR. HE DID EVERYTHING HE COULD TO PUT HIMSELF IN POSITION FOR THIS, SO WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME DEBATING IT. FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, IF WE WERE GOING TO BRING HIM UP, IT WAS GOING TO BE TO PLAY. AND IT WAS NOT CLEAR HOW THAT WAS GOING TO PLAY OUT. WE HAD SOME INJURIES AND THINGS THAT OPENED UP AND MATERIALIZED FOR HIM TO GET THIS SHOT. B.J.:B.J.: WHAT HAS IMPRESSED YOU SO FAR IN HIS SHORT STINT HERE AT THIS LEVEL? ANDREW: THE THING THAT WE — SCOTT: AND HE RIPS ONE TO RIGHT BUT THAT IS FOULED OFF. ANDREW: THE THING WE EXPECTED WAS JUST THE QUALITY OF THE BAT. THERE IS A QUALITY TO WHAT HE DOES IN THE BATTER’S BOX AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT ALL THROUGH THE MINOR LEAGUES. HE HAS GOTTEN MORE PHYSICAL AND ADDED MORE POWER TO HIS GAME. HIS ABILITY TO CONDUCT AN AT-BAT IS UNIQUE. HE HAS BEEN — ELITE. DEFENSIVELY, HE HAS BEEN GREAT AS WELL. REALLY, REALLY GOOD ATHLETE. AND IT HAS SHOWN IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACETS OF THE GAME. SCOTT: IF MUNCY DOES NOT GET HURT, IS HE ON THE DODGERS? ANDREW: THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION. IT HAPPENED LIKE FOUR DAYS BEFORE WE HAD TO FIGURE IT OUT AND WE WERE KIND OF STILL DEBATING IT. MY GUESS IS YES, BUT IT IS STILL GOING. SCOTT: THERE’S MAX. COMING BACK FROM THE BROKEN WRIST. HE CAME BACK VERY QUICKLY FROM IT. ANDREW: HE DID. HE WAS CHOMPING AT THE BIT. SCOTT: THAT IS BALL FOR TARA — FOUR TO LUX. B.J.: RIGHT THERE MIGHT BE THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. ANDREW: IT REMINDS ME OF A YOUNG B.J. UPTON. [LAUGHTER] NOMAR:NOMAR: WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT ME STRIKING OUT, SO THAT WAS NOT ME. [LAUGHTER] SCOTT: WHAT WAS A YOUNG B.J. UPTON LIKE? ANDREW: AS TALENTED AS IT GETS. JUST HIS ABILITY TO TAKE TO THE OUTFIELD IMMEDIATELY, YOU KNOW, JUST WALK IT OVER. I SAW SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2008, AND I WILL NEVER FORGET DJ IN FENWAY — B.J. IN FENWAY. HE WAS A HUGE PART OF IT. >> FUN TIMES, MAN. FUN TIMES. SCOTT: WHAT WAS AND JULY DURING THAT — ANDREW LIKE DURING THAT? B.J.: ANDREW WAS NOT MUCH OLDER THAN ALL OF US SO IT WAS KIND OF A WEIRD SITUATION, ALMOST LIKE HE WAS ON THE TEAM, SO. [LAUGHTER] ANDREW: THAT’S GOOD. SCOTT: LOOKS LIKE WE MIGHT HAVE A PITCHING CHANGE HERE FOR KEVIN CASH AND COMPANY. THROUGH THESE GAMES HOLD SPECIAL MEANING TO YOU ON A PERSONAL LEVEL BECAUSE IT IS A FRANCHISE YOU SPEND SO MUCH TIME WITH? ANDREW: YES. OBVIOUSLY, I STILL WATCH HIM WITH THE TIME ZONE ADVANTAGE. I WILL BE IN MY OFFICE AT 4:00 AND KIND OF TURN ON THE RAYS GAME. A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FRIENDS OF MINE, I AM ROOTING FOR THEM AND GETTING A CHANCE TO SEE A BUNCH OF FAMILIAR FACES TODAY. WE ALSO HAD A WEIRD TO GAMER WITH THEM EARLIER — TWO-GAMER EARLIER IN THE APPEARED IT WAS STRANGE GOING TO TROPICANA FIELD AND WALKING BY THE HOME CLUBHOUSE ON THE WAY TO THE VISITING SIDE, BUT A LOT OF REALLY SPECIAL MEMORIES AND GREAT PEOPLE. IT’S A VERY MEANINGFUL PART OF MY LIFE. SCOTT: HERE COMES NICK ANDERSON, THE 29-YEAR-OLD. SO WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THE CULTURE? I KNOW A BIG PART OF WHAT WE DID WAS INTERNAL, AND WE ALL BELIEVED EACH OTHER. WE CREATED A CULTURE THAT I FEEL LIKE IS STILL KIND OF CARRIED OVER NOW. ANDREW: IT IS INTERESTING. YOU KNOW, COMING IN IN 2006, MY FIRST YEAR AS TM, I DON’T THINK I FULLY APPRECIATED THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT DYNAMIC IN THE CLUBHOUSE. SOME OF THE MOVES WE MADE AFTER 2007, WATCHING IT TAKE HOLD IN 2008 AND ALMOST BEING A TENSE MAN. THE WAY THE GUYS CAME TOGETHER AND HOW THEY HELPED TO FUEL US IN SEATTLE, I WAS TALKING TO RON PORTERFIELD EARLIER ABOUT THIS. CRAWFORD AND LONGORIA GO DOWN THE SAME WEEKEND IN SEATTLE AND IF WE DID NOT HAVE THAT, MY STRONG BELIEF IS WE WOULD HAVE FOLDED UP AND GOT EXACTLY WHERE PEOPLE EXPECTED US TO, WHICH WAS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PACK IN THE A.L. EAST. COMING OVER HERE, MY FIRST OFF-SEASON, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THE PHONE, AND TALKING TO PEOPLE THAT HAD BEEN HERE, THAT WERE HERE, AND TO A MAN, EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS FOR THE CULTURE TO IMPROVE. SO THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER ONE THING ON OUR TO DO LIST. AND AS YOU GUYS KNOW, IT IS NOT SOMETHING WHERE YOU FLIP A SWITCH. IT TAKES TIME. IT IS ORGANIC. WE MADE SOME CHANGES AND CONTINUED TO NURTURE IT. WHEN WE GOT CHASE UTLEY IN AUGUST OF 2015, I THINK THAT WAS THE FIRST REAL STEP TOWARDS THAT. OBVIOUSLY, DAVE ROBERTS COMING ON BE OR 2016 — BEFORE 2016. THE WHOLE CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT CHANGED AND IT BECAME ABOUT JUST RELENTLESS COMPETITION AND GUYS FEEDING OFF EACH OTHER. I THINK IT HAS GOTTEN BETTER AND BETTER EACH YEAR, BUT I ALSO DON’T THINK IT IS ANYTHING WE TAKE FOR GRANTED. WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO NURTURE IT AND GROW IT AND JUST APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF IT. SCOTT: AND IT IS WORKING. WE SHOWED SEVEN CONSECUTIVE DIVISION TITLES. NUMBER SEVEN COMING ABOUT ONE WEEK AGO. THAT WAS THE CELEBRATION. IS IT STILL JUST AS SWEET? ANDREW: THEY ARE REALLY GOOD CELEBRATOR’S. SCOTT: THEY HAVE HAD GOOD PRACTICE. ANDREW: IT IS IMPORTANT. THIS IS THE ULTIMATE OF WHAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH IN THE REGULAR SEASON. YOU CELEBRATE IT, YOU ENJOY IT, IT DOES NOT CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT OUR FOCUS IS AFTER THAT. DURING IT, EVERYONE KEPT SAYING THREE MORE CELEBRATIONS. TO A MAN, I THINK THE FOCUS AND INTENT ON WINNING A CHAMPIONSHIP IS AS HIGH AS I HAVE EVER SEEN. SCOTT: LUX WALKS. POLLOCK IS 0-2. SWINGS THROUGH THE FIRST NICK ANDERSON PITCH. HAVE YOU SEEN WHAT HE’S BEEN DOING? ANDREW: ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. B.J.: WHO IS STILL IN THIS ORGANIZATION THAT YOU DRAFTED? ANDREW: THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION. THEY HAVE TURNED OVER QUITE A BIT. SNELL, UM, A DRAMA THAT — ADAMA HAS BEEN TRADED FOR. KIERMAIER. THAT IS IT IN THE STARTING LINEUP. THEY HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB. SCOTT: THAT BUNT POPPED UP. D’ARNAUD HAS THE FIRST OUT. B.J.: I PLAYED WITH HALF OF THE COACHING STAFF. ANDREW: [LAUGHTER] >> CHRIS TAYLOR. >> I MEAN, THIS TEAM HAS HAD MORE TURNOVERS THAN ANY IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. 68% OF THE THREE MAN ROSTER ACQUIRED FROM OTHER SQUADS. BUT KEEP THE FRONT OFFICE PRETTY BUSY AND TAMPA BAY. IT HAS BEEN WORKING. THIS CLUB WON 90 GAMES LAUGHTER AND THEY ARE AT 89 THIS YEAR, AND A GREAT TEST FOR YOUR TEAM IN THESE GAMES. ANDREW: NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. THEY CAN REALLY PITCH. THOSE GUYS, WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS INCREDIBLE. IT IS NOT SURPRISING AT ALL. JUST THE WAY THEY SET THIS ORGANIZATION UP FOR THE CURRENT AND THE FUTURE, IT REALLY SPEAKS TO HOW DIALED IN THAT WHOLE GROUP IS. SCOTT: HE FLIES NOT TO CENTER. AND RETREATING TO FIRST IS LUX. NOMAR: YOU WERE TOUCHING ON HOW GOOD THIS TEAM IS AND YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE RELENTLESS COMPETITION THE DODGERS HAVE. THERE IS STILL COMPETITION GOING ON, TRYING TO MAKE THAT PLAYOFF RUN. HOW GOOD IS IT? AS FAR AS TAMPA, WHEN IT COMES FOR DECISIONS YOU MAY HAVE TO MAKE, WHEN IT COMES TO THE POSTSEASON? ANDREW: I THINK YOU NAILED IT. THE METS WEEKEND SERIES PLAYED A LOT LIKE A PLAYOFF ENVIRONMENT. THE METS PLAYING FOR THE PLAYOFF LIVES. THERE WAS AN INTENSITY TO IT, PLAYING ANOTHER GREAT TEAM. I THINK IT DEFINITELY HELPS. IT IS SOMETHING FOR US THAT WE ARE TRYING TO FIND THAT PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN — OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT TO WIN AS MANY GAMES AS WE CAN. WE WANT TO TRY TO GO FOR HOME FIELD. AT THE SAME TIME, NOT REDLINE OUR GUYS AND HAVE IT BE AT THE COST OF SOME REST AND MIXING IT IN. I GUESS THAT IS A BENEFIT OF HAVING SOME TALENTED PLAYERS WHERE WE CAN GIVE A GUY A DAY AND PLUG-IN SOMEONE LIKE A MATT BEATY OR OTHER GUYS WHO HAVE STEPPED UP AND BEEN SUCH A BIG PART OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE THIS YEAR, SO I THINK ALL OF OUR GUYS ARE SO FOCUSED ON DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO COMPETE PITCH TO PITCH AND DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO GET ON THAT PLAYOFF ROSTER. >> THIS GUY IS HAVING A YEAR, ISN’T HE? ANDREW: NOT BAD. NOT BAD. IT’S UNBELIEVABLE. HE IS OUT ATHLETE-ING THE GAME AND SO MANY WAYS AND WATCHING HIM CUT LOOSE AND OUT IN THE OUTFIELD THIS YEAR, HE HAS DONE IT OFF AND ON HERE AND THERE, BUT TO WATCH HIM DO IT BASICALLY FULL-TIME, AND JUST THE INSTINCT FOR THE BALL OUT THERE ARE INCREDIBLE. >>>> RIGHT NOW, ARE YOU MORE COMFORTABLE WITH HIM PLAYING SINGLE FIELD THEN A.J. POLLOCK? ANDREW: HE IS OUR MOST GIFTED DEFENDER. ANYWHERE YOU WANT TO PUT HIM, HE HAS A REAL NOSE FOR THE BALL. YOU NOTICED A.J. COMING BACK FROM THE INJURIES, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE JUST KIND OF FEELING IT OUT RIGHT NOW. IT IS REALLY A TESTAMENT TO HIM. JUMPS, ROUTES, FOOT SPEED, TOP OF THE CHARTS. SCOTT: HE STARRED IN SOME WORLD SERIES LAST YEAR. HE STRUGGLED AGAINST LEFTIES DOWN THE STRETCH. HOW MUCH DID HE USE THAT AS MOTIVATION? ANDREW: FOR SURE. HE WAS DISAPPOINTED NOT TO BE IN THERE. WE HAD A REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION IN THE OFF-SEASON AND HE REALLY TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO REALLY LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS SWING, LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS APPROACH AND TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING ELSE. HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH BRENT BROWN AND ROBERT EVENTS. ROBERT SAT DOWN WITH HIM AND SAID WE WANT YOU TO MEET OUR TEAM AND PLATE APPEARANCES SO WE KNOW YOU CAN HIT LEFTIES. YOU JUST GOT INTO A COUPLE BAD HABITS LAST YEAR THAT WAS HARD TO FIX ON THE FLY. YOU HAD THIS OFF-SEASON, YOU COMMITTED YOURSELF TO THIS. >> 300 POINTS BETTER WITH THE O.P.S. AGAINST LEFTIES COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. I WOULD SAY THAT IS AN IMPROVEMENT. ANDREW: IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WHEN WE GOT INTO MIDDLE-LATE AUGUST AND HE WAS SCUFFLING AGAINST LEFTIES, WE HAD A DECISION TO MAKE. DO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO RUN IT OUT AND THAT ON HIM TO GET BETTER RIGHT NOW OR DO WE WANT TO GET OUT AND GET DAVID FREESE AND JUST TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT LATER? IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT IF WE HAD HAD A BIG LEAD, WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE DONE THE SCENARIO OF LETTING HIM RUN IT OUT, BUT WE WERE THREE OR GAMES BACK AND BATTLING EVERY DAY, SO IT WAS SOMETHING WE DECIDED TO GO WITH FREESE, AND NOW, BELLY IS DOING WHAT HE’S DOING. SCOTT: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE VISIT AND GOOD LUCK DOWN THE STRETCH. WE WILL BE WATCHING. ANDREW: THANK YOU, GUYS. I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME ON. SCOTT: WITH US. — ANDREW FRIEDMAN WITH US. THE DOMINANCE IN THE WEST HAS BEEN SOMETHING TOMORROW AT. >> BALL, LEFT FIELD. HE IS THERE. HE HAS GOT IT. >> THE DODGERS HAVE WON THE NATIONAL LEAGUE WESTERN DIVISION TITLE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2009. >> GROUND BALL, RIGHT SIDE, DIVING STOP, THROWS HIM OUT, AND THE DODGERS HAVE WON THE NATIONAL LEAGUE WESTERN DIVISION TITLE. >> THE DODGERS BEAT THE GIANTS. LONGTIME ARCH RIVALS. THE DODGERS HAVE WON THE NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST, AND THE CELEBRATION BEGINS. >> CHOPPER A SHORT. SEAGER. AND THAT IS HOW THE WEST WAS WON. THE DODGERS, FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR, LEAD THE TITLE. THAT IS SOMETHING THIS FRANCHISE HAS NEVER DONE BEFORE. >> BY THE WAY, IN THE LAST HOME BROADCAST FOR VIN SCULLY — >> YOU HAVE GIVEN ME ENTHUSIASM. YOU HAVE GIVEN ME — KEPT ME YOUNG AT HEART. BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL YOU, I NEEDED YOU FAR MORE THAN YOU NEEDED ME. >> THIS FRANCHISE, TO GO BACK TO BACK TO BACK TO BACK, WE ARE ONE-OF-A-KIND. >> 1-2 ON THE WAY. GOT HIM LOOKING, STRIKE THREE, AND THE CELEBRATION BEGINS ON THE FIELD. >> FOR THE FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, THE DODGERS ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST. >> 0-2. >> SWUNG ON AND MISSED. STRIKE THREE. >> THE CELEBRATION IS ON FOR THE SIXTH STRAIGHT YEAR. >> STRIKE THREE. THE DODGERS WIN. >>>> A SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE DIVISION TITLE. SCOTT: ANDREW FRIEDMAN SAID IT, B.J., THIS TEAM KNOWS HOW TO PARTY, BECAUSE THEY DO IT EVERY SINGLE YEAR. SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE DIVISION TITLE. THERE WOULD LONGEST RUN WE HAVE SEEN. B.J.: IF I HAD SEVEN STRAIGHT, I WOULD KNOW HOW TO PARTY, TOO. [LAUGHTER] >> IT IS ALL ABOUT REPS, ISN’T IT? B.J.: YES. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. SCOTT: MORE BAEZ AND THE SEVENTH. 7, 8, AND NINE FOR TAMPA BAY. STARTS FOR WILLY ADAMES. DROVE IN THE FIRST RUN FOR TAMPA BAY. AND THEN HIT INTO A FIELDER’S CHOICE FOURTH. TO CENTER. RACING IN, BELLINGER FOR OUT NUMBER ONE. MOST CONSECUTIVE DIVISION TITLES SINCE 1969. THE BRAVES HAD AN EPIC RUN FROM 1991 TO 2005. THE YANKEES, NINE YEARS IN A ROW UP UNTIL 2006. THE DODGERS FROM 2013 TO 2019, AND THEY ARE MISSING SOMETHING AT THE BOTTOM. A WORLD SERIES RAIN. — REIGN. LAST TIME THEY WON, 1988. B.J.: EVERYONE WANTS ONE OF THOSE. IT IS THE ONLY REASON THEY ARE PLAYING. ISN’T IT AMAZING THAT SOME GUYS GO THEIR WHOLE ENTIRE CAREER AND NEVER GET A CHANCE TO PLAY IN THE PLAYOFFS? NOMAR: THAT IS WHY, WHEN PEOPLE ARE KIND OF KNOCKING THE DODGERS, WHEN THEY WON THE DIVISION, THEY WERE LIKE, THIS IS THE SEVENTH IN A ROW. WHY ARE THEY CELEBRATING? OBVIOUSLY, WORLD SERIES. NOT JUST WORLD SERIES, WIN THE WORLD SERIES. THEY UNDERSTAND THAT. WHY ARE YOU CELEBRATING? YOU ALWAYS CELEBRATE AND NEVER TAKE IT FOR GRANTED BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN — THIS IS THEIR ONLY CHANCE NOW. YOU NEVER TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED. SCOTT: MLB.TV IS NOW AVAILABLE AT A LOWER PRICE, FOR $26.99. WATCH IT LIVE OR ON-DEMAND AND RECEIVE ACCESS TO MLB PREMIUM. VISIT MLB.TV FOR DETAILS. ONE OUT RECORDED BY BIAS — BAEZ . HE IS IN THE HOUSE. HE LED THE DODGERS TO THEIR 88TH TITLE. >> NUMBER 56. SCOTT: AND I KNOW, EVEN AFTER THEY WON IT, AFTER THEY CLINCHED THE DIVISION AGAIN, THEY TOLD DAVE ROBERTS, YOU HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING YET. I KNOW. I KNOW. [LAUGHTER] [LAUGHTER] SCOTT: WAITING FOR THE NEXT ONE. AND WE DO HAVE AN UPDATE. THE A’S WIN. THEY COME BACK AGAINST KANSAS CITY AND IMPROVED TO 91-61 ON THE YEAR. THAT PUTS THE RAYS 1.5 GAMES BACK AS OF RIGHT NOW. AND THE INDIANS TRAIL THE A’S BUYING 2.5. CLEVELAND DOWN A GAME TO TAMPA BAY. THE INDIANS VICTORIOUS EARLIER TODAY. ADAM CHOLERIC AGAINST KIERMAIER. COMES OVER FROM TAMPA BAY. ONE RUN ALLOWED WITH THE DODGERS SPANNING 21 APPEARANCES. HE FACED ONE BATTER IN 11 OF THOSE 21 APPEARANCES. GREAT YEAR BETWEEN TAMPA BAY AND LOS ANGELES. NOMAR: ANOTHER GUY IN THE BULLPEN THAT HAS COME OVER. PREDOMINANTLY USED AS A LEFT-HANDED SPECIALIST. BUT HE IS ALSO ONE OF THOSE GUYS LIKE, WHATEVER YOU ASKED ME TO DO. GO OUT THERE, GRABS ABOUT EACH AND EVERY TIME, AND HE HAS SAID IT WAS SUCH AN EASY TRANSITION COMING OVER HERE TO LOS ANGELES. YOU HAVE A TEAM GOING OUT THERE THAT HAS WON SIX STRAIGHT DIVISION TITLES AND NOW SEVEN SINCE HE HAS COME OVER AND BEEN PART OF THAT, AND OBVIOUSLY, IT IS WORLD SERIES WIN OR BEST AND THAT — BUST AND THAT TYPE OF PRESSURE. THESE GUYS WERE SO WELCOMING AND MADE THE TRANSITION SO EASY FOR ME, AND HE IS TRULY THRIVING IN THAT UNIFORM. AND HE STRIKES OUT KIERMAIER. B.J.: LIKE YOU SAID, WHEN YOU GET TRADED, THERE’S GOING TO BE THOSE NERVES AND UNCERTAINTY, AND YOU ARE GOING TO WONDER HOWARD GOING TO FIT IN. OBVIOUSLY, — WONDER HOW YOU ARE GOING TO FIT IN. THE GUYS YOU HAVE BEEN GRINDING WITH FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS, YOU ARE LEAVING THOSE GUYS I’M GOING TO A NEW TEAM, AND ANYTIME YOU CAN WALK IN AND IMMEDIATELY FEEL AT HOME, AND EVERYBODY WELCOMES YOU, IT DOES MAKE IT THAT MUCH EASIER. SCOTT: WELL, THE USUAL. ONE BATTER FOR CLERIC. — ADAM KOLAREK. >> THIS IS NOT JUST A PITCHING CHANGE. THIS IS A DOUBLE SWITCH BUT IT MIGHT BE LIKE A TRIPLE SWITCH. JOC PEDERSON GOING OUT THERE, MAX MUNCY GRABBING A DIFFERENT GLOVE. DIFFERENT GUYS TRYING TO GRAB DIFFERENT GLOVES. YOU MIGHT SEE BELLINGER GOING FROM THE OUTFIELD MAY OVER INTO THE INFIELD SO THERE’S GOING TO BE SOME MOVEMENT. SCOTT: WHILE WE FIGURE IT OUT, LET’S LOOK BACK FOR THE DODGERS. THEY APPEARED IN THE FALL CLASSIC. THEY HAVE NOT WON AT ALL SINCE 1988, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT. THAT’S REVISIT THAT MAGICAL 1988 RUN. >> BLUE SKIES, BRIGHT SUNSHINE, AND THE WORLD SERIES. THE BASES LOADED, AND JOSE CANSECO. A DRIVE TO CENTER. INTO THE WALL. IT IS GONE. GRAND SLAM HOME RUN, AND LOOK WHO IS COMING UP. YOU TALK ABOUT A ROLL OF THE DICE. INTO RIGHT FIELD. SHE IS GONE. THE IMPOSSIBLE HAS HAPPENED. >> 0-2. HIGH FLY BALL INTO DEEP LEFT FIELD. BACK GOES PARKER ON THE TRACK. AT THE WALL. GONE. ONE OUT AWAY FROM A COMPLETE-GAME WITH SHUTOUT VICTORIES. GOT IT. >> ONE OUT IN THE NINTH. A 1-1 TIED. >> HIGH DRIVE. LEFT CENTER FIELD. AND THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE GONE. HOME RUN MAGUIRE. TWO OUT IN THE NINTH. A TYING RUN AT FIRST. DAVE PARKER WILL BE COMING UP. HIGH POP FOUL. HE HAS GOT IT. AND THE DODGERS HANG ON AND BEAT THE A’S, 4-3. DODGERS 4, A’S1. THE BALL IS — A’S 1. IT IS AGAINST THE WALL. DAVIS WILL SCORE. HE WILL STOP AT SECOND WITH A DOUBLE. >> 3-2. >>. HIM. MAY HAVE DONE IT. — GOT HIM. THEY HAVE DONE IT. IT IS THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM REVISITED. SCOTT: 88 CHAMPS. DO YOU KNOW WHO HAS THAT KIRK GIBSON HOME RUN BASEBALL? NOMAR: I DO NOT. NOBODY DOES. DID YOU KNOW THAT? SCOTT: NO. NOMAR: NOBODY KNOWS WHERE THAT BASEBALL IS. NO ONE HAS EVER CLAIMED IT. THAT IS WORD ON THE STREET. B.J.: YOU KNOW SOMEBODY HAS GOT IT. >> SOMEBODY HAS IT. MAYBE THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THE BASEBALL IS. B.J.: I MEAN, THEY MIGHT WANT TO GO — SCOTT: IF YOU ARE WATCHING NOW ON YOUTUBE, LET US KNOW. B.J.: GO SELL THAT. SCOTT: YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE EVERYBODY TELLING YOU, “I GOT IT, I GOT IT.” B.J.: GO SELL THAT. SCOTT:SCOTT: TOO LATE TO EYE CENTER CAP — SCOTT: TOO LATE TO CENTER KATE. MY ETA — TO AUTHENTICATE. HIS VELOCITY OUT OF THE BULLPEN, HE HAS BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE FOR THE DODGERS THE LAST FEW SEASONS. DEFENSIVE CHANGES WE WILL DOCUMENT IN A MOMENT. IN THE AIR, SHALLOW LEFT CENTER. AND THAT IS A.J. POLLOCK. BELLINGER AT FIRST, MUNCY AT THIRD. HERNANDEZ TO CENTER. THAT COULD CHANGE AGAIN BY THE TIME WE GET TO THE NEXT INNING. SO NATE LOWE FLIES OUT. WE HAVE A 2-2 CONTEST. YOUR GAME SUMMARY BEGINS WITH CALEB FERGUSON GETTING INTO SOME TROUBLE EARLY AND LEAVING TO TAMPA BAY’S FIRST RUN. EVENTUALLY, IT WOULD BE WENDLE SCORING ON THE SAC FLY FROM WILLY ADAMES. NOMAR: HE GIVES UP A STOLEN BASE. HE DEFINITELY STOLE MONTY LOVE FULLER SEND — CALEB FERGUSON FOR THAT. SACRIFICE FLY. KIND OF A MENTAL RELAPSE THERE AS FAR AS THAT IS CONCERNED. I ENDED UP COSTING HIM. SCOTT: BLAKE SNELL IS COSTING HIM, B.J. B.J.: HE IS BACK. ONE OF THE RELIEVING THINGS WE SAW TONIGHT, HE DID NOT GO TO HIS WHOLE ARSENAL. HE WAS STRICTLY FASTBALL, CURVEBALL. HE DID NOT DIP INTO THE REST OF THIS. SCOTT: ALL FOUR OF HIS STRIKEOUTS OFF OF THAT FASTBALL. B.J.:B.J.: IF HE CAN ESTABLISH THAT FASTBALL, WE WOULD SEE THAT THE CY YOUNG BLAKE SNELL THAT WE WERE USED TO — HE WAS ABLE TO DO THAT. SCOTT: TWO PERFECT INNINGS FOR SNELL. THE BULLPEN NOT HELPING HIM OUT. COREY SEAGER WITH BELLINGER AND MUNCY IN SCORING POSITION. HE DOES MORE THAN JUST A SAC FLY. THAT IS A GROUND DOUBLE TO BRING HOME TWO AND GIVE THE DODGERS A 2-1 EDGE. NOMAR: THE DODGERS FINALLY GETTING A RUNNER ON BASE. CODY BELLINGER. AND THEN YOU GET THE HIT BY PITCH OVER THERE FOR MAX MUNCY. JUST THE SECOND AT-BAT. RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION. COREY SEAGER COMING THROUGH. JAVY BAEZ WITH THE MISTAKE. SCOTT: FIRST HOMER OFF THE CHANGEUP FOR BAEZ ALL YEAR. AND WE ARE TIED AT2-2. FIRST START — AT 2-2. FIRST START FOR BLAKE SNELL SINCE JULY 31, MAKING HIS WAY BACK FROM THE INJURED LIST AND AS SHARP AS CAN BE, AND IT IS A 2-2 CONTEST. THE DODGERS, 1-19 TONIGHT. THAT ONE HIT WAS MEANINGFUL. B.J.: SOMETIMES, THAT IS ALL IT TAKES. SCOTT: PETER FAIRBANKS, NEXT MAN ON THE MOUND FOR KEVIN CASH AND COMPANY, AND NATE LOWE STAYS IN THE GAME. HE REPLACES MATT DUFFY. LOWE IS OVER AT THIRD. THE INNING STARTS WITH MUNCY, AND A STRIKE. B.J.: IF YOU ARE A HITTER LOOKING AT THIS SHIFT RIGHT NOW, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? NOMAR: I HAVE UP THE MIDDLE ALSO OPEN FOR ME. I AM THINKING I CAN GET A PAYCHECK AND HANDLE AND TAKE IT RIGHT THERE. SCOTT: FOUR OUTFIELDERS. B.J.: ESPECIALLY AS A LEADOFF GUY. NOMAR: YEAH. >> LEADING OFF THE INNING? THANK YOU. IN A 2-2 GAME. ARE THEY DARING HIM? NOMAR: I DON’T KNOW. I THINK THIS IS JUST GOING, OK, THIS IS WHAT WE ARE PLAYING. SOMETIMES, I DO SCRATCH MY HEAD, AND NOT SO MUCH ALWAYS JUST THE SHIFTS, BUT THE TIMING OF THOSE. B.J.: ESPECIALLY IN A SITUATION WHERE I WANT OUT NUMBER ONE RIGHT IN A GAME, NOT COMFORTABLE GIVING UP THAT MUCH. SCOTT: IT CHANGES WITH TWO STRIKES. NATE LOWE IS LIKE WHERE DO I GO? NOMAR: HE ALMOST WAS TRYING TO GO THE OTHER WAY, RIGHT? STAYING ON IT. THE PITS WAS AWAY. SOMETIMES, YOU JUST DON’T HAVE TO FORCE IT. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETIMES IS SHORTEN UP. HIT THAT TO STRIKE APPROACH. — TWO-STRIKE APPROACH. SOMETHING YOU CAN JUST HANDLE THE BAT. B.J.: I MEAN, IF HE PLAYS THAT DOWN THE LEFT-FIELD LINE, THERE’S A POSSIBILITY THAT’S A DOUBLE. SCOTT: YOU ARE RIGHT. IT’S VERY LONELY ON THE LEFT SIDE. NOMAR: HE PULLS IT. SCOTT: STRIKES. B.J.: OH MY. SCOTT: WELL, HE HAS ON THAT SPACE. HE DOES PULL IT. HE DOES NOT START HUSTLING DOWN THAT LINE, NOT JUST ASSUMING ANYTHING, AND BECAUSE OF THAT HUSTLE, HE ENDS UP GETTING ON BASE. SECOND TIME IN THIS GAME THAT THE DODGERS WERE ABLE TO GET THE LEADOFF THAT ARE ON BASE THE FIRST TIME. HE WAS ABLE TO COME AROUND AND SCORE. SECOND ERROR WE HAVE SEEN TONIGHT ON A PITCHER. FAIRBANKS IT DOES NOT HAVE IT. MUNCY IS ON FOR HERNANDEZ. IT’S 2-0. WE HAVE ONLY SEEN FOUR HITS TONIGHT. AND THAT IS HIT NUMBER TWO. AND KIKE IS DOING DAMAGE. A STANDUP DOUBLE. MUNCY HALTED AT THIRD. TWO IN SCORING POSITION. NOBODY DOWN IN THE SEVENTH. NOMAR: KIKE DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB ON THIS PITCH. THIS BALL IS RIDING AND ON HIS HANDS, AND HE DOES AND EXCELLENT JOB STAYING INSIDE THE BALL AND DRIVING IT TO RIGHT CENTER AND HITTING THAT GAP. THAT IS A BALL, USUALLY, YOU SPIN OFF OF IT, YOU ROLLOVER, AND YOU TRY TO PULL THAT. INSTEAD, HE STAYS INSIDE. GREAT JOB BY KIKE HERNANDEZ. THE DODGERS ONCE AGAIN IN EXCELLENT DECISION. THE MAN WHO ALREADY HAS THE TWO R.B.I.’S SO FAR FOR THE DODGERS THIS GAME. SCOTT: PETER FAIRBANKS, ACQUIRED BY THE RAYS ON JULY 13, FOR PROSPECT NICK SOLAK, WHO HAS LOOKED GOOD WITH THE TEXAS RANGERS ON THE BIG-LEAGUE SQUAD. SAME SITUATION AS LAST AT-BAT FOR COREY SEAGER IN THE FIFTH. LESS THAN TWO OUTS. TWO IN SCORING POSITION. TIGHT GAME. IN THE POSTSEASON CHASE, EVERY PLAY MATTERS. THE MLB APP DELIVERS. PITCH TRACKING, VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS, UP TO THE MOMENT STANDINGS, AND MUCH MORE. DOWNLOAD MLB AT-BAT TODAY. THAT GUY IS FEELING IT. NOMAR: HE IS A RAIDERS FAN, TOO. SCOTT: WE LOVE THE MUSIC HERE THOUGH. B.J.: OH, YES. ALWAYS GREAT MUSIC HERE. SCOTT: NOW, YOU HAVE A RIGHTY/ LEFTY MATCHUP. FIRST BASE INFIELD IN FOR TAMPA BAY. — FIRST BASE IS OPEN. INFIELD IN FOR TAMPA BAY. SEGER WITH SMITH ON DECK. SEAGER WITH A LOT OF SPACE TO WORK WITH ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE INFIELD. AND HE COMES THROUGH. THAT IS GOING TO SCORE TWO FOR THE DODGERS. MUNCY AND HERNANDEZ, CROSS. IT IS COREY SEAGER NIGHT IN L.A.. 4-2! NOMAR: VARIETY VERSUS LEFTY MATCHUP. PITCHING AROUND. A MAN WHO HAS ALREADY COME THROUGH INTO THE NIGHT COMES THROUGH ONCE AGAIN, STAYS ON THE BREAKING BALL, DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB JUST STAYING ON IT. TALK ABOUT HOW WHEN YOU HAVE A MAN ON THIRD BASE, AND IT CHANGES YOUR MENTALITY AS A HITTER. YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A BALL YOU CAN HANDLE. IT IS SOMETHING YOU CAN GET OUT IN THE AIR, GET IN THE OUTFIELD. COREY SEAGER STAYS ON THAT BALL, GETS REWARDED. SCOTT: STRIKE ONE TO SMITH TRYING TO SNEAK A BUNT DOWN. COREY SEAGER WITH TWO OF THE TEAM’S THREE HEADS AND ALL FOUR R.B.I.’S. — THREE HITS AND ALL FOUR R.B.I.’S. SCOTT: EASY TO LOOK BACK NOW, BUT WOULD YOU HAVE GIVEN SEAGER FIRST WITH SMITH STRUGGLING ON THAT? B.J.: I THOUGHT IT WAS AUTOMATIC. SEVENTH INNING, THIS LATE IN THE GAME, GET YOU A FORCE-OUT AT EVERY BASE. I THOUGHT IT WAS AUTOMATIC. SCOTT: COREY SEAGER HAS BEEN SWINGING THE BAT REALLY WELL. HE WAS BATTING NEARLY .300 ON THE ROAD TRIP FOR THE DODGERS. SEAGER HAS DRIVEN IN 18 RUNS IN HIS LAST 13 GAMES. SCOTT: RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION HAS BEEN A STRENGTH FOR THE DODGERS THIS YEAR, BUT ESSENTIALLY THIS — ESPECIALLY THIS MONTH. SUNDAY AGAINST THE METS WAS AN ANOMALY. NOT COMING THROUGH QUITE OFTEN WITH RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION. I BELIEVE THEY STRUCK OUT NINE TIMES IN THOSE SPOTS, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE BODY OF WORK DURING THE SEASON, IT IS FAVORABLE COME PLAYOFF TIME. B.J.: THAT IS ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES WHEN I LOOK FOR THE DODGERS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WORLD SERIES, I THINK THE HOUSTON ASTROS DID A GOOD JOB, I THINK THE BOSTON RED SOX DID A GOOD JOB AGAINST THE DODGERS IN THE LAST WORLD SERIES. 90 FEET MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE. HERE’S ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE. YES, YOU JUST TOOK THE LEAD 4-2. IT’S NOT NECESSARILY A BIG LEAD, BUT YOU STILL HAVE A MAN AT SECOND BASE AND NOBODY OUT RIGHT HERE FOR WILL SMITH. PUT THE BALL IN PLAY, GO AHEAD, MOVE OVER TO THIRD, TACK ON TO THAT LEAD. SCOTT: EIGHTH PITCH OF THE AT-BAT DRIVEN TO LEFT. THAT’S A FOUL BALL. SCOTT: THE DODGERS SINCE SEPTEMBER 1, SECOND BEST IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE, CLOSE TO .300 WITH RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION. IN TIGHT TO SMITH AND HE’S GOT A BASE. SCOTT: JOC PEDERSON IN THE NINTH SPOT, GETTING HIS FIRST — TO THE PLATE TONIGHT. SCOTT: JOC MUCH BETTER AGAINST LEFT-HANDED PITCHING. HE DOES NOT START AGAINST — MAYBE THAT’S SOMETHING DAVE ROBERTS WANTS TO SEE MORE. . DOWN THE STRETCH B.J.: THIS IS KIND OF WHAT JOC PEDERSON HAS DONE ALL SEASON LONG. DAVE ROBERTS HAS PRIMARILY PUT HIM AGAINST RIGHTIES. EVEN WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE OPENERS, WHERE DAVID FREESE MAY START THE GAME LIKE HE DOES IN THE LEADOFF SPOT, THEN HE GETS ONE AT-BAT, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY BRING UP A RIGHTY, AND JOC PEDERSON IS UP FOR THEM. THIS IS SOMETHING THE DODGERS HAVE DONE ALL SEASON LONG. JOC IS READY FOR IT. HE MAY COME IN AT ANY TIME TO FACE A RIGHTY. SCOTT: A HOT SEPTEMBER, FIVE HOMERS IN 12 GAMES. TURNS ON ONE TO FIRST. HOT SHOT. CHOI HAS GOT IT. THIS TIME, THEY COMPLETE THE PLAY AT FIRST. SEAGER TO THIRD, SMITH. TO SECOND. TOUGH FIRST OUT TO RECORD. >> SECOND BASEMAN, NUMBER 48, GAVIN LUX! >> CHOI DOES A GOOD JOB STAYING ON THIS BALL BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT AN EASY HOP. THAT WAS KIND OF ONE OF THOSE IN BETWEEN HOPS. IF YOU STAY ON YOUR FEET AND CATCH IT SMOOTHLY, HE MIGHT GET THAT FORCE OUT AT SECOND BASE. HE FELL BACK AND THAT WAS REALLY HIS ONLY PLAY AT FIRST BASE. DESPITE BEING AN OUT, TALK ABOUT PRODUCTIVE OUTS, THAT WAS A PRODUCTIVE OUT FOR JOC PEDERSON. SCOTT: BACK TO LUX. NOMAR: HERE WE ARE WITH ANOTHER BASE OPEN. HIGH FIGURE WE WANT A GROUNDBALL, MAY BE OUT OF THE INNING HERE — I FIGURE WE OUT OF THE INNING HERE — FIGURE WE WANT A GROUNDBALL, MAYBE OUT OF THE INNING HERE. SCOTT: WE HAVE A FORCE-OUT AT HOME. SCOTT: THE CLEVELAND INDIANS WON EARLIER TONIGHT. IF YOU ARE AN INDIANS FAN ARE PART OF THE ORGANIZATION, IT NOW BECOMES — OR PART OF THE ORGANIZATION, AND NOW BECOMES A TWO TEAM EXPERIENCE. YOU WATCH THE INDIANS GAME, AND THEN YOU WATCH THIS ONE, BECAUSE IF THE RAYS FALL, THAN THEY ARE JUST A HALF GAME AWAY. LUX UP THE MIDDLE. THAT GETS THROUGH! SEAGER SCORES. IT’S 5-2. SCOTT: THIS IS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT, ANDREW FRIEDMAN. THE AT-BAT QUALITY BY GAVIN LUX. WE ALSO TALKED TO DAVE ROBERTS BEFORE THE GAME ABOUT GAVIN LUX AND HE SAID THE SAME THING, CALM, STAYS WITHIN HIMSELF, AND TAKES IT RIGHT BACK UP THE MIDDLE. NOMAR: LET’S NOT FORGET SWAGGER. SCOTT: THE WRECK HE HAS REACHED BASE IN SIX OF HIS LAST 12 PLATE APPEARANCES — THE ROOKIE HAS REACHED BASE IN SIX OF HIS LAST 12 PLATE APPEARANCES. THAT’S THE WORD ROBERTS USED TO DESCRIBE LUX, CONFIDENT, NOT COCKY, BUT SHOWING THAT HE BELONGS. ON THIS BAIT — DATE IN BASEBALL HISTORY, A DODGER PITCHER TOSSED A NO-HITTER IN THE MOST UNLIKELY OF PLACES. >> WITH NOMO, IT’S A CASE OF WHERE HIS PITCHING, WHAT HE DOES AT DODGER STADIUM AND THE NECK COORS FIELD. LOOK AT THOSE SCORES AT COORS FIELD. LOSING HIS BAT AND STRIKING OUT AT THE SAME TIME. >> THANKS FOR BEING WITH US DURING THE TWO HOUR RAIN DELAY. >> STRIKE THREE. TAPPED RIGHT BACK TO HIDEO. >> DOWN GOES BICHETTE AS NOMO STRIKES HIM OUT THREE TIMES. HIGH FLY BALL. KIRBY SAYS HE HAS IT. ALL RIGHT, NOW IT’S SERIOUS. WE HAVE A LONG WAY BEFORE THIS GAME IS OVER BUT HE DAYO NOMO — HIDEO NOMO’S NAME IS IN CAPITAL LETTERS. IT IS 4:30 AM IN TOKYO AND YOU CAN IMAGINE THE TREMENDOUS INTEREST IN WHAT LIES AHEAD. DOWN BALL TO DESHIELDS. HE IS ONE OUT AWAY. COULD THIS POSSIBLY AS GOOD A GAME AS EVER PITCHED IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAME AT COORS FIELD IN DENVER, NOT TO ALLOW A HIT? >> HIDOE NOMO HAS DONE WHAT THEY SAID CANNOT BE DONE — COULD NOT BE DONE, NOT AT COORS FIELD IN DENVER AND THANK GOODNESS THEY SAW IT IN JAPAN. >> COORS FIELD IS NOT AN EASY PLACE TO PITCH IN, BUT NOMO DID NOT GET THE MESSAGE THAT NIGHT. WOW! >> THAT’S SO IMPRESSIVE. THAT MIGHT BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE NO-HITTERS IN BASEBALL BECAUSE IT IS AT COORS FIELD. SCOTT: THIS IS COLE SULSER’S SIXTH PLATE APPEARANCE. >> SAFETY SQUEEZE. SCOTT: THAT’S RIGHT, SMITH ON THIRD AFTER THE LUX R.B.I. HIT TO KNOCK HOME SEAGER AND MAKE IT 5-2, AND KNOCK OUT THE PITCHER. SEVENTH ARM TONIGHT FOR KEVIN CASH. AND THAT’S RIPPED TO LEFT. IT IS 6-2. SMITH SCORES ON THE R.B.I. SINGLE. THE HITTING IS CONTAGIOUS. SCOTT: B.J.: AND THEY HAVE — B.J.: AND THEY HAVE FOUND THE BUG, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. I THINK IT ALL STARTED WITH THAT AIR, MAX MUNCY. IT IS CONTAGIOUS BECAUSE MAX MUNCY CUTS ONE TO CREATE THAT AIR AND GET ON BASE. KIKI HERNANDEZ WITH A GREAT AT-BAT, STAYING INSIDE THE FAST MINE HITTING THAT DOUBLE IN THE RIGHT CENTER GAP, AND THEN IT STARTED ROLLING FROM THERE, QUALITY AT-BAT AFTER QUALITY AT-BAT. THIS IS WHAT DODGER FANS HAVE BEEN SEEING ALL GAME LONG, ESPECIALLY LATE GAME. WHEN IT’S A CLOSE GAME IN THE END, IT’S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE DODGERS START TO GET THINGS GOING. SCOTT: TIME FOR KENTA MAEDA TO PRACTICE HIS BUNTING GAME. THIS IS THE THREE SPOT IN THE LINEUP FOR L.A. SOME DOUBLE SWITCHING GOING ON. WE WILL SEE MAEDA IN THE TOP OF THE EIGHTH. THAT’S IN THE AIR FOR DARNELL. THAT’S NOT GOING TO GET THE JOB DONE. OUT NUMBER TWO AND BATTER NUMBER NINE OF THE INNING STEPPING UP IN CODY BELLINGER. >> CODY BELLINGER! ♪ SCOTT: LUX ON SECOND, POLLOCK ON FIRST. 4 IN THIS INNING FOR THE DODGERS. SCOTT: AND A STRIKE TO BELLINGER. COREY SEAGER DROVE IN THE FIRST 4 RUNS FOR L.A. TONIGHT. LUX AND POLLOCK ALSO WITH R.B.I. HITS. I MEAN, COREY SEAGER IS THE SEVEN HITTER FOR THE DODGERS. NOMAR: THAT’S A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE. B.J.: NO QUESTION. YOU’VE GOT COREY SEAGER, IF HE STARTS SWINGING THE BAT THE WAY HE IS CAPABLE OF DOING, WHEN HE’S ON, HE CAN BAT ANYWHERE IN THE LINEUP. HE’S A MIDDLE OF THE LINEUP TYPE OF PLAYER BUT IT ALSO SPEAKS TO THE DEPTH OF THIS LINEUP. SCOTT: THE LEISURE RIPS ONE TO RIGHT AND THE DODGERS — BELLINGER RIPS ONE TO RIGHT AND THE DODGERS ARE IN BUSINESS AGAIN. GAVIN LUX COMES ON DOWN. IT IS 7-2. B.J.: THIS IS A CHANGEUP DOWN IN THE ZONE. CODY BELLINGER DOES A GOOD JOB STAYING ON THIS. HEAD STAYS DOWN ON THE SUBALTERN DRIVER TO RIGHT FIELD — ON THIS BALL TO DRIVE IT TO RIGHT FIELD. SCOTT: THAT ONE, HE STAYED ON IT AND DROVE TO RIGHT. MUNCY GOES AFTER THE FIRST PAGE. FRUSTRATED — PITCH. FRUSTRATED. IT’S NOT THE ONES THAT NECESSARILY GET YOU OUT, IT’S NOT THOSE THAT FRUSTRATE YOU, IT’S THOSE THAT FOUL OUT, SUCH AS THAT ONE FOR MAX MUNCY. NOMAR: I COMPLETELY AGREE. THERE IS NOT A WORSE FEELING THAN MISSING A PITCH YOU FEEL LIKE YOU SHOULD HAVE HIT. SCOTT: POLLOCK IS AT THIRD. BELLINGER OFF OF SECOND. SCOTT: MUNCY REACHED ON THE MIS-PLAY OVER AT FIRST BASE. PETER FAIRBANKS COVERING THE BAG ON THE FAIR BALL BUT DID NOT SQUEEZE THE BASEBALL. B.J.: I THINK THEY FIXED THEIR HITTING WOES. BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. SCOTT: A COMMON THEME FOR THIS CLUB. NOMAR: I ALWAYS HEARD IT’S NOT HOW YOU START, IT’S HOW YOU FINISH. SCOTT: A COMMON THEME FOR THE TOP TWO TEAMS IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE IS A LATE OFFENSE THAT THEY CREATE, THE DODGERS AND THE BRAVES. WITH THE WALKOFF WINS, COMEBACK KINGS. BRAVES MANAGER A COUPLE MONTHS AGO SAID, SOMETIMES OUR BALLCLUB IS LIKE WATCHING AN NBA GAME IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. YOU CAN WAIT UP UNTIL THE END AND THEN WE DECIDE TO TURN IT ON. NOMAR: BRIAN SNITKER, SUCH A GREAT BASEBALL MIND. SO LAID-BACK, LET’S HIS PLAYERS BE THEMSELVES. VERY, VERY HAPPY FOR HIM THAT HE’S HAVING SUCCESS IN ATLANTA AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A COACH. A GREAT GUY. SCOTT: HE’S IN THE ORGANIZATION FOR 43 YEARS NOW. NOMAR: WELL-DESERVED. PUT IN HIS TIME, EVEN LEFT AND WENT TO AAA TO MANAGE, CAME BACK SHORTLY THEREAFTER, AND YOU HAVE SEEN THE SUCCESS THAT HE’S HAD. SCOTT: MUNCY FLIES OUT TO LEFT AND THAT PUTS AN END TO A VERY SUCCESSFUL SEVENTH INNING FOR THE DODGERS. THEY’VE PLAYED FIVE — THEY PLATE FIVE. COREY SEAGER THE SPARK AGAIN, 4 R.B.I.’S TONIGHT. THEN GAVIN LUX CATCHES THE BUG, AND SO DOES POLLOCK. FINALLY CODY BELLINGER AND IT’S 7-2 DODGERS OFF OF SIX HITS TONIGHT. THE MLB GAME OF THE WEEK LIVE ON YOUTUBE. ALANA RESULT WITH MORE ON THE DODGERS CATCHING SITUATION. >> ONE OF THE QUESTIONS GOING INTO THIS POSTSEASON FOR THE DODGERS IS A COUPLE OF THE RELIEVERS AS FAR AS THE ARMS THAT ARE ON THE BUBBLE AS TO WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE THAT 25 MAN PLAYOFF ROSTER. ANOTHER QUESTION GOING INTO THE POSTSEASON IS, WHO ARE THE THREE CATCHERS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO CARRY INTO THE POSTSEASON? IF YOU LOOK AT EACH OF THE CATCHERS, THEY EACH HAVE THEIR OWN QUALIFICATIONS. RUSSELL MARTIN, A VETERAN PLAYER WITH PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE. I BELIEVE HE HAS GOT TO THE POSTSEASON NINE OF HIS 12 YEARS AT THE BIG-LEAGUE LEVEL. THEN YOU HAVE AUSTIN BARNES, A GUY AUCTIONED DO TRIPLE-A OKLAHOMA CITY BECAUSE HE WAS NOT GETTING THE JOB DONE ON OFFENSE BUT HE HAS EXPERIENCE IN THE POSTSEASON AND HAS HELPED THIS TEAM GET TO WHERE THEY WANT TO GO THE LAST THREE YEARS IN THE PLAYOFFS. THEN YOU’VE GOT WILL SMITH, WHO WAS ON FIRE OFFENSIVELY AND IS KNOWN AS A TREMENDOUS DEFENSIVE CATCHER. HE WAS ALREADY IN THE GOLD GLOVE CONVERSATION AT THE CATCHER POSITION. AS OF LATE, HAS NOT BEEN HITTING AS MUCH. THEY DO HAVE THREE VERY QUALIFIED AND CAPABLE CATCHERS TO TAKE INTO THE POSTSEASON BUT ONE OF THE MAIN QUESTION MARKS GOING INTO THE PLAYOFFS FOR THIS CLUB. SCOTT: HOW DO YOU SEE PLAYING OUT, NOMAR — IT PLAYING OUT, NOMAR? NOMAR: ONCE AGAIN, IT’S ALL ABOUT MATCHUPS. I THINK THEY WILL GO MORE WITH TWO CATCHERS. I THINK THEY HAVE OTHER GUYS ALSO THAT THEY MAY FEEL THAT CAN COME IN AND PINCH-HIT SITUATIONS. B.J.: REALISTICALLY, IT’S GOING TO BE WHO THEY FACE. I THINK THAT’S HOW THEY ARE GOING TO SET THE ROTATION THE SAME WAY AND WHO ARE THEY GOING TO PUT IN THE BULLPEN. AND ALSO WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE POSITION PLAYERS AND GUYS THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMING OFF THE BENCH. I THOUGHT B.J. MADE A GREAT POINT EARLIER. JUST BECAUSE YOU DID NOT MAKE THE DIVISION SERIES DOES NOT MEAN YOU WILL NOT MAKE THE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES A WORLD SERIES ROSTER, SO EVERYBODY HAS TO BE READY. NOMAR: I THINK FOR ME, I’M LEANING MORE TOWARDS A GUY LIKE RUSSELL MARTIN. I THINK WHAT ALANNA TOUCHED ON, HE’S BEEN TO THE PLAYOFFS NINE OF HIS 12 SEASONS. FOR ME, I HAVE TO HAVE A VETERAN ON THE PLAYOFF ROSTER LIKE THAT. SCOTT: I THINK HE’S PROBABLY ONE OF THE THREE DODGERS THAT ARE DEFINITELY FOR SURE. THE QUESTION IS THE OTHER TWO. I THINK THAT FACT IS HUGE AND ALSO BEING A VETERAN, NOT ONLY FROM AN OFFENSE OF SIDE — OFFENSIVE SIDE, BUT HANDLING THE PITCHING STAFF. A PERFECT EXAMPLE IS HYUN-JIN RYU HAS HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH RUSSELL MARTIN CATCHING. NOMAR: WITH A GUY LIKE RUSSELL MARTIN, HE’S HANDLED SOME BIG-TIME PITCHERS HE’S HANDLED. THE UPPER ECHELONS, THE NUMBER ONES AND NUMBER OF TIMES BEING WITH THE YANKEES, BEING WITH THE BLUE JAYS. I WANT HIM TO HANDLE CLAYTON KERSHAW. I WANT HIM TO HANDLE WALKER BUEHLER. I WANT HIM TO HANDLE ALL THOSE GUYS BECAUSE I AM COMFORTABLE DEFENSIVELY. I DON’T CARE WHAT HE DOES OFFENSIVELY, BUT DEFENSIVELY IN THE PLAYOFFS, WE ALL KNOW PITCHING AND DEFENSE WINS. A GOES BACK TO THE 90 FEET RULE — IT GOES BACK TO THE 90 FEET RULE. SCOTT: WE JUST SHOWED ALL OF THE RECORD-BREAKING THAT THE DODGERS ARE DOING THIS YEAR. DOWN TO AUSTIN MEADOWS, IT’S 1-1. THEY CLINCHED THE DIVISION IN GAME 146. . THEY CLINCHED A DIVISION TITLE AND SEGMENT — IN SEVEN CONSECUTIVE YEARS NOW. OUT OF THOSE SEVEN, IS THIS THE BEST THEY’VE HAD TO OFFER? 104 WINS A COUPLE YEARS AGO, LOST IN GAME SEVEN TO A POWERFUL HOUSTON ASTROS TEAM. IT SEEMS LIKE ROBERTS HAS MORE WEAPONS THAN EVER. NOMAR: I STILL CAN’T CALL IT THE BEST TEAM. JUST BEING IN THE DIVISION WITH THEM FACING THEM NUMEROUS TIMES, I THINK THIS IS THE MOST WELL-ROUNDED TEAM BASEBALL WISE. SCOTT: LISTEN, YOU’RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE — SAY THE BEST TEAM UNTIL THEY WIN IT. UNTIL THEY WIN IT ALL, YOU CAN’T SAY THAT NOW. THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING IN THAT POSITION. IT’S WINNING THE WORLD SERIES OR BUST. SCOTT: LONGEST HITTING STREAK IN BASEBALL ON THE LINE RIGHT NOW, 14 GAMES FOR AUSTIN MEADOWS. HE’S WALKED TWICE AND STRUCK OUT. .423 IN THOSE 14 AND 18 R.B.I.’S, VIDEOGAME-ISH IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. POLLOCK BACKING UP. ITS OVER HIS HEAD AND THE HITTING STREAK CONTINUES. ET CETERA 15 AND IT’S A DOUBLE FOR — IT’S AT 15 AND IT’S A DOUBLE FOR MEADOWS. B.J.: THAT’S GOT TO BE A RAISE RECORD, — RAYS RECORD, HUH? SCOTT: STAY TUNED. I WILL GET YOU THAT IN A SECOND. SCOTT: JASON BARTLETT HAS THE FRANCHISE RECORD, 19 GAMES. MEADOWS HAS A SHOT. ANOTHER HOT WEEK. THE MISS TO D’ARNAUD. OVER 48,000 TONIGHT IN DODGER STADIUM. THERE IS NO ONE THERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THAT’S GOING TO BRING IN A RUN. MEADOWS SCORES ON THE R.B.I. SINGLE BY D’ARNAUD AND IT’S 7 -3. B.J.: I KNOW THAT’S TOUGH FOR ANY PITCHER. YES, YOU GIVE UP THAT DOUBLE AND NOW YOU ARE GOING OK, I NEED TO MAKE MY PITCH. I MADE THAT PITCH, WEAK CONTACT, BREAKS THE BAT, AND YOU HAVE NOBODY OVER THERE BECAUSE OF THE SHIFT. ENDS UP BEING AN R.B.I. SINGLE. SCOTT: MOST R.B.I.’S BY A CATCHER SINCE MAY 11, WHEN HE MADE HIS DEBUT WITH THE TEAM. SCOTT: IT ALSO TOOK HIM A COUPLE WEEKS TO HEAT UP. CHOI WITH THE HOME RUN IN THE SIXTH. BELLINGER TO RECOVERING MAEDA AND THAT’S OUT NUMBER TWO. WE HEARD ANDREW FREEMAN EARLIER TALKING ABOUT THE DEFENSIVE PROWESS OF CODY BELLINGER. WHEREVER YOU PUT HIM, HIS ATHLETICISM AND WHAT HE’S ABLE TO DO, RIGHT FIELD, CENTER FIELD, FIRST BASE. THIS IS NOT AN EASY PLAY. EVEN WITH THE HESITATION AND THEN HAVING TO MAKE A GREAT THROW AS YOUR PITCHER IS ON THE MOVE. A BALL THAT HE CAN HANDLE AND HE THROWS IT PERFECTLY, RIGHT AT HIS CHEST AT FIRST BASE. NOMAR: I TELL YOU WHAT, SOME GUYS ARE BASEBALL PLAYERS AND THEN SOME GUYS ARE JUST ATHLETES. BELLINGER FALLS IN THE ATLEE CATEGORY. LIKE YOU SAID — ATHLETE CATEGORY. LIKE YOU SAID, ANYWHERE YOU PUT HIM ON THE FIELD, HE DOES IT WELL, AND HE NEVER LOOKS OVERWHELMED. SCOTT: WELL, WE’VE HAD QUITE A FEW PITCHING CHANGES TONIGHT. MANY OF THE SWITCHES OCCURRING IN THE MIDDLE OF A FRAME. THAT CAN EXTEND THE GAME. CODY BELLINGER KNOWS WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT. [LAUGHTER] YOU KNOW WHAT? NOMAR: I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I’VE HAD THAT SAME EXACT EXPRESSION. I PLAYED FOR JOE MADDON AND TRUST ME, STANDING IN CENTER FIELD, HE COMES OUT THE FIRST TIME, YOU’RE LIKE OK. HEADER GOES BY, HE COMES BACK OUT — HADER GOES BY — HITTER GOES BY, HE COMES BACK OUT. ON MIKE, COME ON. DO YOU KNOW — I’M LIKE, COME ON. DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO HIT? SCOTT: FORGET ABOUT THAT DINNER RESERVATION. NOMAR: NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. LOOKS LIKE ROOM SERVICE. SCOTT: JESUS AGUILAR. FIRST AT-BAT TONIGHT, MAEDA STARTS HIM WITH A STRIKE. MOVED FROM THE BREWERS TO THE RAYS, BREAKOUT 2018. MUCH QUIETER THIS YEAR. DRIVES IT TO RIGHT CENTER AND THAT’S GONE! MUSCLES UP — AGUILAR MUSCLES UP FOR TWO AND IT’S 7-5! NOMAR: YOU JUST TOUCHED ON HIS BREAKOUT 2018. SOMETIMES THE LEAGUE KIND OF GETS THE BOOK ON YOU AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. B.J.: WELL, NOT MUCH ADJUSTMENT WHEN THEY THROW THAT BALL DOWN THE MIDDLE. THEY WANT THAT BALL IN THE OUTER HALF AND THAT’S RIGHT AT THE HEART OF THE PLATE, MAEDA MAKES A MISTAKE, JUST LIKE WE SAW EARLIER WITH THE HOME RUN AGAINST BAEZ. THAT WAS A MISTAKE OVER THE HEART OF THE PLATE BOTH TIMES. OUT OF THE BALLPARK. NOMAR: THAT’S WHERE YOU SET UP THE TE IN THE CAGE RIGHT THEREE. SCOTT: AGUILAR IT’S KENLEY JANSEN TIME — >> MIKE CARP COMING ON. THE HIT AGAINST ROBERTO HERNANDEZ. >> BASES FILLED WITH RED SOX WITH ONE OUT IN THE 10TH INNING. >> SHOT TO CENTER FIELD. THAT ONE IS GONE. A GRAND SLAM AND IT IS 7-3. WHAT A WIN FOR THE RED SOX. THEY NOW LEAD BY 9.5 OVER TAMPA BAY. >> A INTO RIGHT FIELD FOR JENNINGS — A BASE HIT INTO RIGHT FIELD FOR JENNINGS. THERE IS A LINE DRIVE BASE HIT INTO CENTER. THROW BY JONES. 18 INNINGS AND THE RAYS WIN IT. >> THAT BALL HIT DEEP TO RIGHT FIELD, WAY BACK, AND GOODBYE, HOME RUN! A WALKOFF HOME RUN PINCH-HIT! >> A TIEBREAKER IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE TO SEE WHO GOES INTO THE POSTSEASON. >> THE RAYS ON OUR AWAY — AN OUT AWAY. >> THE BRAVES ARE IN THE POSTSEASON! DAVID PRICE GOES THE DISTANCE. >> THE RAYS, THE INDIANS, THE WINNER HEADED TO BOSTON. >> A BIG FLY TO LEFT AND SHE IS WAY GONE. A HARD-HIT BALL. DOWN THE LINE, TWO OUT R.B.I. DOUBLE FOR DESMOND JENNINGS. THE TAMPA BAY RAYS ARE MOVING ON. THEY WIN THE WILD-CARD GAME. SCOTT: THAT WAS TECHNICALLY NOT A PLAYOFF GAME FOR DAVID PRICE, GAME 163 AND HE HAD THE M.O. OF NOT SHOWING UP IN BIG GAMES. HE PITCHED WELL AND THAT ONE FOR TAMPA BAY — IN THAT ONE FOR TAMPA BAY. YOU LOOK AT THE POSTSEASON RESULTS IN FRANCHISE HISTORY. 2008, LOST IN THE WORLD SERIES. 2013, WILD-CARD WINNERS. NOMAR: LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, 2009 WE WO 90 GAMESN — WON 90 GAMES AND FINISHED 15 GAMES BACK OF THE YANKEES. B.J.: THAT’S LIFE IN THE NL EAST. SCOTT: SAME SITUATION FOR KENLEY JANSEN. MAYBE HE GOES FOUR OUTS HERE AS HE GETS READY FOR THE POSTSEASON. HE LOOKED PHENOMENAL ON SUNDAY, REINVIGORATED AGAINST THE METS IN QUEENS. 10 PITCHES, VELOCITY WAS UP. HE’S BEEN A REWORKING HIS REPERTOIRE — HE’S BEEN REWORKING HIS REPERTOIRE. B.J.: NOMAR, DO YOU READ TOO MUCH INTO A CLOSER’S E.R.A.? NOMAR: I DON’T LOOK AT THEIR E.R.A. IT’S DIFFERENT IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR E.R.A. IN ACTUAL SAVE SITUATIONS. SCOTT: SMOKED AND IT EATS UP BELLINGER. JOEY WENDLE IS ON BOARD. NOMAR: JUST PLAYING WITH A GUY LIKE CRAIG KIMBREL, SOMETIMES HE WOULD LOOK AT HIS E.R.A. AND IT WOULD BE A 3.0, MAYBE A LOW 4, BUT AT THE SAME TIME HE HAS FOUR SAVES. B.J.: KIND OF A MISCUE, SOMETHING WE DON’T SEE OFTEN FROM CODY BELLINGER. HE HAS BEEN SO ROCKSOLID IN EVERY POSITION HE HAS PLAYED ALL SEASON LONG. SCOTT: AS HE CALLED FROM STANDING — IS HEAT COLD — IS HE COLD FROM STANDING AROUND SO MUCH? B.J.: FRUSTRATED, YOU KNOW YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE THAT PLAY, HELP YOUR PITCHER OUT, AND THEY HAVE TO REGROUP, STILL MAKE QUALITY PITCHES. SCOTT: IT’S WILLY ADAMES. NOMAR: YEAH, I WAS IN THE INFIELD. MY PITCHERS WERE ALWAYS IN THETCHERS WERE ALWAYS IN THE HOLE. B.J.: NOMAR SAW ME AS A YOUNG INFIELDER. SCOTT: DID YOU? B.J.: IS TRYING TO CREATE SOME — DAVE ROBERTS IS TRYING TO CREATE SOME POSTSEASON SCENARIOS AND THE RAYS ARE HELPING HIM OUT TONIGHT. THREE RUNS IN THE EIGHTH. HE TOLD US BEFORE THE GAME IT WOULD BE GREAT TO GET KENLEY IN, BUT IT’S GOT TO BE A SITUATION LIKE THIS. B.J.: CALLIE LOOKS GOOD — KENLEY LOOKS GOOD. NOMAR: STANDARD KENLEY JANSEN RIGHT THERE, GETS STRIKE ONE, WILL CONTINUE TO CLIMB THE LADDER. SCOTT: PITCHING WITH SOME EXTRA UMPH IN THE PAST WEEK. LET’S GO BACK TO AGUILAR. FOR TWO OFF OF MAEDA TWO CAP OFF A THREE RUN FRAME FOR TAMPA BAY — TO CAP OFF A THREE RUN FRAME FOR TAMPA BAY. DODGERS SIDE OF THE INNING COMING UP. THE MLB GAME OF THE WEEK LIVE ON YOUTUBE. ♪ SCOTT: DUE UP FOR LOS ANGELES, HERNANDEZ, SEAGER, AND SMITH. SCOTT: THE BRAVES TO OCTOBER IS ON. WATCH THE SCOTT: — THE RACE — SCOTT: THE RACE TO OCTOBER IS ON. YOU CAN ADD YOUR FAVORITE TEAMS TO THE LIBRARY SO YOU DON’T MISS A MOMENT OF THE ACTION. GET READY FOR THE POSTSEASON AND WATCH LIVE FROM YOUTUBE TO BE — YOUTUBE TV. TRY IT NOW. THE MLB BALLPARK APP. DOWNLOAD THE MLB BALLPARK APP TODAY. BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH STARTS WITH KIKE HERNANDEZ. ONE OF THE BIGGEST QUESTION MARKS FOR THE DODGERS COME OCTOBER IS WHAT VERSION OF KENLEY JANSEN WE ARE GOING TO SEE AS ANDREW KITTREDGE ENTERS FOR TAMPA BAY. VERY POSITIVE SIGNS OVER THE PAST WEEK. NOMAR: NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. IN NEW YORK, HE WAS ABLE TO TOUCH 96. VELOCITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A QUESTION. THE DIFFERENCE — THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING THE VELOCITY AND HAVING THAT LATE BREAK AND SHARPNESS TO THE CUTTER. THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE REALLY HOPING TO SEE. IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT THE SEASON MAY HAVE BEEN. THAT’S ALL YOU’RE HOPING FOR TO CARRY INTO THE POSTSEASON. SCOTT: A BALL AND A STRIKE TO HERNANDEZ. A WEEK AGO WHEN THE DODGERS WERE POPPING CHAMPAGNE, KENLEY SAID MY SEASON STARTS IN OCTOBER. HE’S BEEN USED IN SOME LOW LEVERAGE SPOTS LATELY FOR L.A. IN FACT, FOUR OF HIS LAST SIX APPEARANCES ENTERING TONIGHT HAVE BEEN SAVE SITUATIONS. SO DAVE ROBERTS BRINGING HIM IN TO SOME LOWER LEVERAGE SPOTS AND ALSO MAKING SURE HE GETS SOMEWHAT REGULAR WORK. NOMAR: ROBERTS TOUCHED ON A FEW WEEKS AGO SAYING THAT. KENLEY JANSEN WAS HAVING STRUGGLES. HE SAYS, HE LIKES TO WORK, I AM GOING TO BE PUTTING HIM IN, NOT NECESSARILY IN A SAVE SITUATION SO WE CAN GET THAT WORK, HE CAN WORK ON HIS MECHANICS. I THINK THAT HELPS. THERE MIGHT BE A SITUATION IN THE POSTSEASON WHERE HE MAY HAVE TO FACE THAT LINEUP. MAY BE THEY NEED SOMEBODY TO COME OUT AND CLOSE IT. HE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT HIS OPTIONS ARE GOING INTO THE POSTSEASON, WHO HE CAN COUNT ON. SCOTT: TO CENTER AND KIERMAIER IS THERE. HERNANDEZ FLIES OUT AND HERE COMES SEAGER. WE SHOWED YOU SUNDAY, KENLEY PITCHING IN THE EIGHTH. KENTA MAEDA FINISHED THE JOB FOR THE DODGERS. SCOTT: 16 DOUBLES FOR SEAGER SINCE AUGUST 5, TIED FOR THE MOST IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE WITH NICK CASTELLANOS. HE’S BEEN SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR THE CUBS. WHAT A ADDITIONN FOR CHICAGO COMING FROM DETROIT. HE SAID WHEN HE HEARD ABOUT THE TRADE, IT FELT LIKE HE WAS BEING CALLED UP TO THE BIG LEAGUES AGAIN. AND LITTLE BIT OF A SHOT AT HIS FORMER TEAM BUT DETROIT IS NOT PLAYING PLAYOFF BASEBALL THIS YEAR. NOMAR: THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PLAYING PLAYOFF BASEBALL FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. COMING UP WITH A TEAM THAT WAS KNOWN FOR LOSING, IT IS KIND OF TOUGH WAKING UP EVERY DAY GOING TO THE PARK KNOWING THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE. FOR A GUY WHERE HE’S AT IN HIS CAREER, HE WANTS TO WIN. I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND HOW HE FELT. I DON’T KNOW THAT I WOULD HAVE SAID THAT, BUT I CAN 100% UNDERSTAND HOW HE FEELS. SCOTT: 1-2 TO SEAGER, FOULED BACK. UPDATED WILD-CARD STANDINGS IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE. NATIONALS WOULD HOST THAT GAME AGAINST EITHER THE CUBS OR BREWERS IF THE REGULAR SEASON ENDED TODAY. THEY WOULD HAVE TO PLAY A GAME TO FIGURE OUT WHO GETS THAT WILD-CARD MATCH UP THE NATIONALS. THREE TEAM RACE IN THE NL AND AL. A SPRINT AT THIS POINT. OVER TO LEFT AND SEAGER IS GOING TO FLY OUT IN THE CORNER. PHAM WITH A LITTLE LEAP TO HAUL IT IN. >> NUMBER 16, WILL SMITH. ♪ SCOTT: HIS FIRST DOUBLE ENDED UP BEING A GROUND RULE DOUBLE TO LEFT FIELD AND BOUNCING OVER THE LEFT-FIELD WALL. THIS ONE, TRIES TO DO IT AGAIN. PHAM STAYS WITH IT, MAKES A NICE CATCH. B.J.: YOU KNOW WHEN YOU START DRIVING THE BALL TO THE OPPOSITE FIELD THE WAY HE HAS TONIGHT, THAT’S ALWAYS A GOOD SIGN. YOUR COMING DOWN THE STRETCH TO TAKE YOU TO THE PLAYOFFS, YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO SEE THAT. NOMAR: YOU’RE ARE SO RIGHT, ESPECIALLY FOR COREY SEAGER — YOU ARE SO RIGHT, ESPECIALLY FOR COREY SEAGER. THAT BALL HAS A TENDENCY TO BE STRAIGHTER OVER THERE AFTER ONE THAT IS SPINNING AWAY. THAT’S WHEN YOU KNOW YOUR TIMING IS RIGHT AND YOU HAVE THE SWING THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE. SCOTT: OFF THE BAT OF WILL SMITH. LOWE STICKS WITH IT. THREE BALLS IN THE AIR ALL PRODUCE OUTS. WE ARE MOVING ONTO THE NINTH AND MORE KENLEY JANSEN. SO THE LAST TWO YEARS FOR THE DODGERS, THEY HAVE MADE IT TO THE FALL CLASSIC AND FALLEN JUST SHORT. CAN THEY GET BACK THERE AND FINALLY GET OVER THE HUMP? >> NINTH INNING BEGINS RIGHT NOW. 3-2 DODGERS TRYING TO GO UP 2-0. GONZALEZ HITS ON THE AIR TO LEFT CENTER FIELD. BACK AT THE WALL. IT IS GONE. TIE GAME. >> KENLEY JANSEN SUFFERS HIS FIRST POSTSEASON BLOWN SAVE. >> TWO ON, TWO OUT 10TH INNING. THAT’S IN THE AIR TO LEFT. >> IT WAS GOING TO BE A GREAT WIN FOR ONE TEAM AND A CRUSHER FOR THE OTHER. >> FOR THE DODGERS, IT TAKES A LOT OF AIR OUT OF THEM. >> TO THE RIGHT SIDE. DARVISH HAS TO GET OVER. TOUGH PLAY. WILD THROW AND INTO THE DUGOUT. AND IN A BLINK, HOUSTON ON TOP 1-0. THE HOUSTON ASTROS ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS! >> AND THE DODGERS ARE DOWNCAST. PARTY IS OVER, SEASON IS GONE. >> AS ALEX WOOD TAKES OVER. NUNEZ TAKES OVER AT THE PLATE. >> THAT IS HAMMERED INTO LEFT. IT IS GONE! THE RED SOX OPEN UP GAME ONE. >> HERE WE GO. PUT YOUR SEATBELT ON, WE HAVE TWO INNINGS, ONE RUN GAME. >> THE GAME IS TIED, STEVE PEARCE. >> JANSEN GIVES UP ANOTHER HOME RUN. >> DODGERS ARE DOWN TO THEIR FINAL STRIKE. >> THE RED SOX WON THE WORLD SERIES! >> THE DODGERS SEASON HAS COME TO AN END AS THE RED SOX BEAT THEM HERE AT DODGER STADIUM 5-1. SCOTT: TAKE THREE, 2019, A DODGER TEAM AGAIN FAVORED TO MAKE IT TO THE WORLD SERIES. A LOT OF THAT WILL DEPEND ON THIS MAN, KENLEY JANSEN. >> IF THEY MAKE IT TO THE WORLD SERIES, WHO DO THEY PLAY ON THE OTHER SIDE? SCOTT: A POWERHOUSE CLUB LIKE HOUSTON OR THE YANKEES. THE STRIKE FROM KENLEY AGAINST KIERMAIER. I TELL YOU, THOSE ARE THE TWO FAVORITE ONES ON THAT SIDE. >> I DON’T KNOW THAT I’M SOLD ON HOUSTON. I FEEL LIKE AT HOME, THEY RELY ON THAT SHORT PORCH IN LEFT TO MUCH. NOT ENOUGH SMALL BALL. SCOTT: NICE PICKSCOTT: OVER AT THIRD AND KIERMAIER IS RETIRED. COREY SEAGER BY HIMSELF. >> NICE PICK AT THIRD BY THE SHORTSTOP, COREY SEAGER. [LAUGHTER] >> OVER THERE, INSIDE. WE HAVE THE INFIELD SHIFT. KEEP THE SHORTSTOP ON THAT SIDE BUT HE’S PLAYING IN JUST IN CASE HE WANTS TO LEAD IT DOWN. STAYS WITH IT NICELY. SCOTT: LONGEST CURRENT DROUGHTS SINCE THEIR LONGEST WORLD SERIES TITLE. DODGERS MAKE THE LIST. THE INDIANS BY FAR THE LONGEST AT THIS POINT, SINCE 1948. NATE LOWE IN THE NINTH SPOT. SAME SET UP FOR THE DODGERS DEFENSIVELY. >> THIS IS ALSO BIG FOR KENLEY JANSEN, TRYING TO CLOSE THIS GAME OUT. TALK ABOUT HIM WORKING ON MECHANICS, WE TALKED ABOUT HIS OUTING IN NEW YORK. THIS WOULD BE A HUGE BOOST FOR THE CONFIDENCE IF HE IS ABLE TO CLOSE THIS ONE OUT. SCOTT: JUST THREE SAVES OF MORE THAN AN INNING THIS YEAR IN FOUR OPPORTUNITIES. SCOTT: IT’S POSTSEASON PREP MODE FOR DAVE ROBERTS. ROBERTS. — WAS BACK ON JULY 14. IT’S BEEN A WHILE. SCOTT: KENLEY BROUGHT THE GOOD STUFF TONIGHT! >> SHOWING A LITTLE DIFFERENT LOOK WITH THE LEFT. HE’S NOT AS CUTTER HEAVY, STAYED WITH THE FOUR-SEAM THERE. >> THAT’S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DAVE TALKED ABOUT KENLEY JANSEN, NEEDS TO REALLY CHANGE UP HIS LOOKS. WHEN HE WAS HAVING HIS STRUGGLES, EVERYBODY WAS JUST LOOKING FOR THAT CUTTER. IF HE CAN PUT SOMETHING ELSE IN THEIR MIND, NOT ONLY FROM THAT FOUR-SEAMER, BUT ALSO WILLING TO GO TO THE SLIDER AS WELL. SCOTT: LAST CHANCE, TOMMY PHAM. >> FOR A WHILE, THE CUTTER WAS BASICALLY ALL HE NEEDED. >> YEAH. HE WAS A GUY THAT YOU WENT UP THERE LOOKING FOR CUTTER. YOU KNEW THAT’S WHERE HE WAS GOING TO THROW IT, MIDDLE IN. YOU KNEW HE WAS GOING TO OTHER BAIT. A LOT OF TIMES, THE ONE AWAY WAS — ELEVATE. A LOT OF TIMES, THE ONE AWAY WAS — HE WILL THROW ABOUT IT TO MAKE YOU THINK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE. HE USES HIS FOUR-SEAM A LOT MORE, SO — SCOTT: TOMMY PHAM IS HITLESS TONIGHT IN FOUR TRIPS TO THE PLATE. IF THIS AT-BAT DOES NOT GO WELL FOR HIM, HE’S PROBABLY GOING TO LOOK AT STRIKE ONE AGAIN IN THE CLUBHOUSE. >> OH YEAH. OH YEAH. AND NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY AFTER HE LOOKS AT IT. SCOTT: HAS MANAGER SAYS HE’S THE MOST INTENSE INDIVIDUAL YOU WILL EVER MEET — HIS MANAGER SAYS HE’S THE MOST INTENSE INDIVIDUAL YOU WILL EVER MEET, BUT HE DOES NOT CHASE. >> JUST PUTS IT DOWN ALL OF A SUDDEN IN HIS HEAD THAT ESPECIALLY 2-1, GOOD TIME TO GO WITH IT. EVEN IF HE MAKES CONTACT, NOT EASY TO HIT. NOW HE SETS THEM UP FOR ANY PITCH YOU WOULD LIKE TO THROW HERE — HIM UP FOR ANY PITCH HE WOULD LIKE TO THROW HERE. SCOTT: SHOT TO THE LEFT SIDE. GAME OVER! JANSEN BLOCKS IT DOWN. DODGERS — LOCKS IT DOWN. DODGERS TAKE IT 7-5. WIN NUMBER 98 FOR L.A. THE RAYS FALL TO 89-63. LET’S START THE POSTGAME SHOW LIVE ON YOUTUBE. THE MLB GAME OF THE WEEK LIVE ON YOUTUBE. POSTGAME SHOW STARTS RIGHT NOW. SCOTT BRAUN, B.J. UPTON, NOMAR GARCIAPARRA. MULTIPLE INTERVIEWS, WE WILL TALK TO THE MANAGERS. COREY SEAGER CONTRIBUTED THE FIRST FOUR RUNS BATTED IN FOR L.A. HE IS GOING TO JOIN US AND JUST A MOMENT. WHAT A NIGHT FOR THE DODGERS SHORTSTOP FROM THE SEVENTH SPOT. >> GOOD JOB BY COREY SEAGER COMING THROUGH. ALSO, GOOD JOB BY THAT MAN RIGHT THERE, KENLEY JANSEN GETTING A FOUR OUT SAVE. SCOTT: HEADSET IS ON. COREY SEAGER IN JUST A MOMENT. >> CAN YOU TURN IT UP A LITTLE BIT? SCOTT: LET’S TURN UP THE VOLUME. HOW IS THE VOLUME? YOU GOT US? WHAT A GAME. CONGRATULATIONS ON THE W AND KNOCKING IN THE FIRST FOUR RUN’S. TALK US THROUGH THOSE TWO BIG AT-BATS. >> KIKE PUTS A GOOD SWING ON THE BALL, TAKE A WALK, TAKE A GOOD PITCH. JUST TAKE YOUR SINGLE, TRYING SCORE ONE. >> WERE YOU IN LITTLE BIT SURPRISED THAT THEY PITCHED TO YOU AT THAT MOMENT? DID YOU THINK THEY WOULD TRY TO PITCH AROUND YOU, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAD A BASE OPEN AND A RIGHTY ON DECK? >> YEAH, YOU ARE A LITTLE SKEPTICAL. I TOOK THE FIRST WANT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AND THE FIRST ONE WAS HIGHER, TOOK A GOOD SWING AT THE BALL. >> SEAGER WITH FOUR R.B.I.’S TONIGHT AND HITTING IN THE SEVENTH SPOT. HOW DEEP IS THIS LINEUP AND HOW SPECIAL IS IT FOR YOU TO BE A PART OF? >> YEAH, MAN, WE ARE PRETTY GOOD. IT’S ALWAYS THE NEXT MAN MENTALITY. NO ONE IS TRYING TO BE THE GUY THAT NIGHT. YOU’RE ALWAYS TRYING TO PASS THE BATON AND JUST DO WHAT YOU CAN. >> HOW GOOD DOES IT FEEL TO DRIVE THE BALL THE OTHER WAY? ME AND NOMAR WERE TALKING. AS HITTERS, THAT’S WHAT YOU WORK ON. YOU KNOW WHEN YOU START TO DO THAT, YOU ARE GETTING CLOSER TO BEING LOCKED IN. >> ABSOLUTELY. YOU NEVER WANT TO BE QUICK. WHEN THE BALL STARTS GOING THE OTHER WAY, YOU FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE, MORE CONFIDENT, THINGS START ROLLING FOR YOU. >> I KNOW YOU DID NOT GET TO FACE HIM, BUT WHAT DID YOU THINK OF BLAKE SNELL TONIGHT? >> HE’S PRETTY GOOD. KIND OF LUCKED OUT NOT FACING HIM. ELECTRIC STUFF. STILL COMING OFF OF INJURY AND STILL HAVING THE STUFF LIKE THAT. >> HOW IMPORTANT IS A GAME LIKE THE TAMPA BAY RAYS TONIGHT? IT’S A TEAM YOU DON’T GET TO SEE OFTEN. >> KIND OF PLAY IT LIKE A POSTSEASON GAME CAMINO. >> ONCE AGAIN — GAME, YOU KNOW. >> ONCE AGAIN, THERE WAS REALLY NO PANIC IN THAT DUGOUT. >> ABSOLUTELY. YOU NEVER PANIC. IT’S TOO LONG OF A GAME, IT’S TOO MANY OUTS. YOU JUST TRY AND SCRATCH AND CLAW AS MUCH AS YOU CAN UNTIL THINGS START HAPPENING. >> WHAT DID KENLEY LOOK LIKE FROM YOUR VANTAGE POINT? >> KENLEY IS GETTING BACK. . HE STARTING TO LOOK REALLY GOOD. >> I AGREE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TIME. >> APPRECIATED. >> COREY SEAGER JOINING US ON THE MLB GAME OF THE WEEK LIVE ON YOUTUBE POSTING SHOW. WE WILL HAVE MORE INTERVIEWS IN JUST A MOMENT. DODGERS TAKE IT 7-5 OVER TAMPA BAY. IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAD A DUAL WITH A NUMBER OF PICTURES — LOOKED LIKE WE HAD A DUEL WITH A NUMBER OF PITCHERS. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU SEEN THIS HAPPEN THIS YEAR? NOMAR: QUITE OFTEN. THIS IS ONE THING DODGER FANS HAVE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO. I THINK THE MANTRA FOR A DODGER FAN IS DON’T LEAVE EARLY, BECAUSE YOU KNOW LATE IN THE GAME THEY’RE GOING TO COME THROUGH, ESPECIALLY IF THE GAME IS CLOSE. A FEELING IN THAT DUGOUT THAT THEY ARE ALWAYS IN EVERY GAME, ESPECIALLY UNTIL THE LAST OUT. AN ERROR BY THE PITCHER, A WALK, QUALITY AT-BAT, AND THEN THAT DOUBLE. HOWEVER YOU BRING IN NOW, IT’S JUST QUALITY AT-BAT AFTER QUALITY AT-BAT AND THEY PUT THE RUNS UP. >> KENLEY JANSEN PUT A LID ON THE RAYS OFFENSE TONIGHT. THAT’S ONE OF THE BIG STATEMENTS WE SAW WITH HIS WORK OVER THE PAST WEEK OR SO. PERFECT TIMING FOR THE DODGERS. WIN NUMBER 98 ON THE SEASON FOR THE DODGERS. YOUR GAME SUMMARY COMING YOUR WAY. THIS GAME WAS SUPPOSED TO START WITH ROB STRIPLING. CALEB FERGUSON TAKES OVER TO START THE DAY. A JOEY WENDLE WALK, STILL SECOND BASE. THAT SUBSET SAC FLY CHANCE FOR WILLY ADAMES. >> IT WAS SNELL ON THE HILL THAT LOOKED OUTSTANDING FOR THE RAYS. >> WE TALKED EARLIER IF BLAKE SNELL COULD ESTABLISH HIS FASTBALL. WE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT HIS CONTROL WAS GOING TO BE LIKE AND I THINK HE SHOWED US TONIGHT EXACTLY WHAT THE RAYS ARE HOPING FOR. HOPEFULLY, OVER THE NEXT WEEK THEY CAN STRETCH AMOUNT. >> ROB STRIPLING WAS SUPPOSED TO START INSTEAD IN THE FOURTH. WE THOUGHT THAT WAS A DOUBLE PLAY BUT ADAMES GETS TO THE BAG BEFORE DAVID FREESE GETS THE BASE OF ALSO BE KEY PLAYING. RUNNERS AT THE CORNER — BASEBALL SO WE KEEP PLAYING. >> THAT’S REALLY WHAT THE DODGERS WERE LOOKING FOR. >> PUTTING SOME ZEROS ON THE BOARD. >> IT’S ALL GOOD. YOU HAVE A CENTER FIELDER IN LEFT IN A.J. POLLOCK. >> I THINK EVERY PITCHER IS NOW WORRIED WITH THE WAY THE BALL CARRIES OUT OF THE BALLPARK. >> YOU CAN SEE HIM REACH. STILL SECOND BASE. — STEA SECOND BASES — STEALS SECOND BASE. >> MUNCY GETS HIT BY A PITCH AND COREY SEAGER WITH HIS FIRST KNOCK OF THE GAME. THAT WAS THE FIRST HIT TONIGHT FOR L.A. I THINK THAT STEAL BY CODY BELLINGER IS HUGE, BECAUSE MAX MUNCY HAS UNBELIEVABLE POWER.