NEW YORK – When the Yankees fell 0-3 in the American League Championship Series against the Astros two years ago, their coaching staff was happy to show the team moments from the Red Sox’s 2004 comeback … against the same Bombers.
That weird situation of trying to get inspiration from an archive didn’t work (Houston got swept by New York). So it’s understandable if the Yankees sit down to watch that comeback documentary on Netflix now that they’re also down 0-3 against the Dodgers in this World Series that continues Tuesday with Game 4 at Yankee Stadium.
But what happened 20 years ago will always be a reminder that a 3-0 lead can be erased. For the Yankees to complete the feat, their frozen team, which has a combined .186 average in this Fall Classic, will have to advance in a game where Los Angeles will use only relievers.
“It all starts with you,” said Aaron Judge, who has drawn massive criticism for his 1-for-12 performance with seven strikeouts in this series. “It starts with a swing, a change, a play. Everything can change in our favor. “That’s the attitude you have to have in this situation.”
There has not been a World Series sweep since the Giants swept the Tigers in 2012. The 11 consecutive Fall Classics without a sweep is the second-longest streak in history, following the 12-year stretch from 1977 to 1988 .
Even before the Bombers lost in Game 3, manager Aaron Boone didn’t rule out targeting ace Gerrit Cole to start on short rest. Cole threw just 88 pitches in a stellar Game 1, but he’s been dealing with soreness in his right elbow that has slowed his start to the season, and New York doesn’t want to increase his workload.
“We know what it’s all about,” Freeman said. “We have the opportunity to be champions, and we know they have nothing to lose, and they will go out and do everything they can. Our job is to go out and hopefully put together another good game.”
When is the game and where can I watch it?
Game 4 of the World Series will be played at Yankee Stadium at 8:08 ET/5:08 pm PT. All games will start at the same time and will be broadcast on FOX and FOX Deportes.
Who are the openers?
Dodgers: LD Ben Casparius (2-0 record, 2.16 ERA in regular season)
The right-hander will make his World Series debut during the Los Angeles squad’s “bullpen game.” Casparius, 25, last pitched on Oct. 20 in Game 6 of the NLCS against the Mets, pitching 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up one run and allowing two hits.
Yankees: LD Luis Gil (15-7 record, 3.50 ERA in regular season)
The Dominican will make his second postseason start after pitching four innings and giving up two runs in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Oct. 18. Gil, who is a leading candidate for the AL Rookie of the Year Award, faced the Dodgers on June 9 at Yankee Stadium, pitching a no-decision after allowing three runs in 5.2 innings in a 6-game win for New York – -. 4.
What are the alignments?
Dodgers: They moved up Puerto Rican Kike Hernández two points in the order, put Will Smith in eighth place and put Gavin Lux in seventh place against the right-hander Gil. Shohei Ohtani will play for the second straight game despite dealing with a partial dislocation of his left shoulder.
Yankees: Austin Wells returns to the lineup after José Treviño started behind the plate in Game 3, and Chisholm moves up to the fourth spot for the second time this Postseason (also in ALCS Game 4 in Cleveland), and Stanton drops to to fifth place.
Who is running and who is not?
Dodgers: Freeman continues his dominant run in the World Series, hitting a home run in all three games against the Yankees. The star first baseman now Has homered in five straight Fall Classic games. If the Dodgers win the series, Freeman would almost certainly win his first World Series MVP trophy.
Yankees: Stanton had a double and a single in Game 3, the only member of the team with two hits. He leads the Bombers with an OPS of 1.110 this season. Venezuelan Torres walked two in Game 3 and has a .390 on-base percentage in these playoffs. Judge went 0-for-3 with a walk in Game 3 and is 1-for-12 in the World Series with seven strikeouts.
Interview between Time.news Editor and Baseball Expert
Editor: Welcome to our special sports segment! Today, we’re diving into the intense drama of the World Series, particularly focusing on the Yankees’ current predicament. Joining us is renowned baseball analyst, Dr. Sarah Thompson. Sarah, thanks for being here!
Dr. Thompson: It’s great to be here! Exciting times in the world of baseball, even if the circumstances for the Yankees aren’t the best.
Editor: Absolutely! The Yankees are down 0-3 against the Dodgers, reminiscent of their own historic back-and-forth with the Red Sox in 2004. Do you think they can draw inspiration from their own past or even the Red Sox’s comeback?
Dr. Thompson: History can be a powerful motivator. Though drawing inspiration may not have worked for them last time against the Astros, the fact remains that anything can happen in baseball. A 3-0 lead isn’t insurmountable, as we’ve seen in the past. The Yankees must believe they can change the narrative, but that belief needs to be matched by performance.
Editor: Speaking of performance, Aaron Judge has faced considerable criticism, going 1-for-12 so far. How important is his role in a potential comeback?
Dr. Thompson: Judge is crucial. His leadership on and off the field can either rally the team or add to the pressure. He stated, “It all starts with you.” That mindset is vital. If he can turn things around and spark his teammates, it could create a ripple effect. But it’s not just him—everyone needs to step up.
Editor: Before Game 4, there’s talk about possibly starting Gerrit Cole on short rest, despite elbow soreness. How wise would that be?
Dr. Thompson: It’s a gamble. While Cole is undoubtedly a star pitcher, risking his health for a chance to avoid elimination could backfire. The Yankees need to think long-term. If Cole’s not at his best, it might be better to rely on Luis Gil or other options that don’t jeopardize their ace’s future.
Editor: Speaking of Gil, what can you tell us about his upcoming start?
Dr. Thompson: Gil is a promising talent with a solid regular-season performance. His no-decision against the Dodgers back in June shows he can hold his own. If he can build on that, it may alleviate some of the pressure. He’ll need to pitch effectively to give the Yankees a fighting chance.
Editor: The Dodgers, on the other hand, will be using a bullpen game strategy with Ben Casparius. How does that change the dynamics of the matchup?
Dr. Thompson: It’s an astute move by the Dodgers. Bullpen games can keep hitters off balance, especially if they face multiple pitchers in one outing. For the Yankees to counter this, they need to focus on making adjustments quickly, taking advantage of each reliever’s tendencies.
Editor: What do you think the Yankees need to prioritize if they want to stay in the Series after Game 4?
Dr. Thompson: Two key things: offense and confidence. Offensively, they need to break out of their slump; a .186 batting average won’t cut it in the World Series. The players need to focus on small wins—getting on base, moving runners over—rather than trying to hit home runs every time. Confidence comes from that incremental success.
Editor: Historically, there hasn’t been a World Series sweep since 2012. Do you believe the Yankees can defy the odds and avoid becoming the next swept team?
Dr. Thompson: There’s always a chance. Baseball is unpredictable, and the Yankees have the talent to rattle off four wins in a row. But they must approach each game with the mentality that today is a new day. They need to channel their inner resilience—just like we saw back in 2004!
Editor: Well, it’s sure to be an exciting Game 4! Thank you, Dr. Thompson, for sharing your insights.
Dr. Thompson: My pleasure! Let’s hope for an exhilarating game. Go Yankees!
Editor: And to our viewers, be sure to catch Game 4 airing tonight at 8:08 ET on FOX. Thank you for tuning in to Time.news!