Daily Clips October 24, 2017

Transcription

1 Daily Clips October 24, 2017

2 LOS ANGELES DODGERS DAILY CLIPS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2017 DODGERS.COM: Astros, not legacy, at forefront for Kershaw Jenifer Langosch LA monitoring Turner, Seager ahead of Series Ken Gurnick Hollywood innings: HOU-LA World Series begins Anthony Castrovince Hot-tober! Temps don't faze World Series foes Jenifer Langosch Safe at home: Astros, Dodgers strong on own turf- Joe Posnanski Meet the Players: Get to know the Dodgers- Chad Thornburg and Matt Kelly Veteran quest: 5 in search of first WS title- Mark Feinsand 5 key Statcast storylines for Astros-Dodgers- Matt Kelly and David Adler Just in time for the World Series, find out: Which Dodgers player are you?- Eric Chesterton Dodgers build dominant bridge to Jansen- Joshua Thornton Hinch, Roberts share tight bond, similar styles- Richard Justice Turner hopes to add to LA's hallowed legacy- Ken Gurnick #AwardWorthy: Support Puig and a Dodgers fan- Chad Thornburg How the Astros, Dodgers were built- Jonathan Mayo The ties that bind: Connections run deep in WS- Barry M. Bloom Justin Turner fired off a great quote when asked to compare his beard to Dallas Keuchel's- Adrian Garro All that's happened to LA since 1988 title- Tracy Ringolsby LA TIMES: Tommy Lasorda is ready for one more World Series title Bill Shaikin Lives will be changed during this Dodgers World Series. Here's how mine was in 1988 Dylan Hernandez The Dodgers' road to the World Series: highlights from the NLDS Times Staff Reports OC REGISTER: Dodgers vs. Astros is a World Series for baseball s Information Age Bill Plunkett Yasiel Puig has Dodgers feeling fortunate their attempts to trade him failed Bill Plunkett Whicker: Astros offer Dodgers a stiff 7-game challenge- Mark Whicker Back injury could make Corey Seager the Dodgers preferred DH in Houston- J.P. Hoornstra ESPN: Altuve vs. Kershaw could be the stuff of legends- Bradford Doolittle This World Series Could Be An All-Time Classic Tony Chow and Neil Paine From 1-25, every roster spot matters in the World Series David Schoenfield Your World Series uniform preview Paul Lukas Dallas Keuchel, Clayton Kershaw unfazed by hot Game 1 forecast Jerry Crasnick Corey Seager back for World Series barring 'unforeseen,' Dave Roberts says- Bradford Doolittle Why the dominant Dodgers are actually World Series underdogs- Sam Miller TRUE BLUE LA: Clayton Kershaw & the Dodgers can build a history of their own- Eric Stephen Happy to be back at the World Series, 29 years later Eric Stephen Corey Seager good to go, and other thoughts from World Series media day Eric Stephen Cody Bellinger wins Sporting News NL Rookie of the Year- Eric Stephen DODGER INSIDER: Dodger Stadium World Series food specials Rowan Kavner Drysdale HOF broadcasting candidate- Rowan Kavner Notebook: Seager recovery, Dodger rotation, Bellinger honor- Rowan Kavner SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: The Astros and Dodgers Exemplify Contemporary Baseball. Now, They Meet in the World Series.- Tom Verducci Enemy Lines: A Rival Scout Breaks Down the Dodgers Ahead of the World Series- Emma Span YAHOO! SPORTS: We quizzed Dodgers players about 1988, the year of their last World Series win Mike Oz NEW YORK POST: Dodgers somehow getting even better before World Series Kevin Kernan

3 LOS ANGELES DODGERS DAILY CLIPS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2017 Astros, not legacy, at forefront for Kershaw By Jenifer Langosch DODGERS.COM LOS ANGELES -- Legacy may seem a premature thing to discuss when talking about someone still five months shy of his 30th birthday. Norms need not apply, however, to a once-in-a-generation type pitcher. Over 10 seasons, Clayton Kershaw has already built the sort of resume that will one day make him a shoo-in for election into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. There are the three National League Cy Young Awards, seven All-Star selections, four ERA titles and the distinction of being the only pitcher to win NL MVP honors since the sport changed the height of its mound in Missing from that run of individual accolades, though, had been the opportunity for the game's best pitcher to be showcased when the lights are brightest. Only fitting it is, then, that Kershaw will be the one to end the Dodgers' 29-year absence from the Fall Classic on Tuesday in Game 1, when he throws the the first pitch of the 113th World Series presented by YouTube TV. "I wish I could let it all sink back in," Kershaw said. "But in order for me to do my job, I think I just have to focus on getting the Astros out right now." Kershaw may have little time for narratives, but that hasn't kept others from forcing theirs upon him. Until now, he had been the only three-time Cy Young Award winner whose career did not include a World Series appearance. Each of the other eight has won a ring. Four of them have at least two. And it had been those past postseason runs in which the Dodgers fell agonizingly short of hoisting the NL pennant that nagged at Kershaw. For some, it diluted his legacy. Kershaw entered this October with a 4.55 postseason ERA in 18 appearances (14 starts) and had shouldered the loss in the club's elimination games in three of the past four seasons. "I think a lot of them you have to put the blame on the organization and us," Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt said in defense of his ace. "Every time in the past, we've asked him to come back on short rest. We've asked him to pitch out of the bullpen. We've asked him to pitch an extra inning or an extra batter that, if we had more depth or better relievers, he might not have been asked to do those things.

4 "Most of that shouldn't be on him." Circumstances, however, can't alter the images that had trailed him. Those moments when he stood on the mound, hands on his knees, or sat in the dugout, his eyes staring off in disbelief, became synonymous with the Dodgers' postseason letdowns. This year he buried those snapshots beneath others of a champagne-soaked lefty celebrating among teammates and smiling alongside his family. "I think it meant a lot in Chicago, when we were saying we are going to the World Series," Kershaw said. "That's a special thing. But now we're flipping the switch a little bit, and we're trying to figure out how to win four games." The efficiency with which the Dodgers dispatched the D-backs and Cubs en route to meeting the Astros has Kershaw uniquely positioned this time around. Each of the past four postseasons, Kershaw was asked to either pitch on short rest or also come out of the bullpen. He's done neither this October, posting a 2-0 record with a modest (by his standards) 3.63 ERA, and will take the mound Tuesday on a normal four days' rest. The time Kershaw missed nursing a back injury during the regular season further lessens the fatigue factor, as does the preparation that he has seemingly perfected. "I think the fans get cheated on not getting the opportunity to see him in between starts," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "I think that we, as fans, can appreciate him every fifth day and the energy and the emotion and the success that he's had on the field. But to be behind the scenes and to watch him work so diligently, with detail, every single day, that's something for me, I marvel at. "I wouldn't know what it's like to be a superstar. But with what he does every single day, working with a purpose, with everything he does, it makes sense." One the eve of his World Series debut, Kershaw was adept at deflecting questions about the magnitude and the moment, his legacy and this opportunity. His focus remains singularly on the Astros, a team he's faced just once since Houston changed leagues. All that other stuff is for everyone else to talk about, he said. Those around him prefer to marvel at it instead. "When you're around a guy like that who is passionate and intense and loves what they do every single day, you can't help but have that seep into your own game," said Dodgers Game 2 starter Rich Hill. "It's his constant pursuit of perfection. It's his intensity in the weight room. It's his continued preparation in his bullpens. His passion for the game is something that everybody can feed off of in the locker room, and everyone does."

5 LA monitoring Turner, Seager ahead of Series By Ken Gurnick LOS ANGELES -- Corey Seager and Justin Turner, the All-Star left side of the Dodgers' infield, are banged up but expected to be active for Tuesday night's Game 1 of the World Series presented by YouTube TV at Dodger Stadium. While Seager's injury has been front of mind since he was left off the roster for the National League Championship Series presented by Camping World, there were further signs on Monday that Turner, termed "banged up" by general manager Farhan Zaidi, could be compromised by an injury of unknown severity. Turner was held out of Sunday's team workout. On Monday, he briefly did agility drills with strength coach Brandon McDaniel and took ground balls at third base, but he did not take batting practice on the field for the second consecutive day, on the eve of the World Series. Although missing batting practice could signal a back or core issue, when asked before the workout if he had any concern about being healthy enough to play through the World Series, Turner answered forcefully: "No." Zaidi said on Sunday that Turner missing a workout is not comparable to Seager missing a workout before the NLCS, which proved to be a precursor of a significant injury. Turner also downplayed his absence. "The majority of my work I get done underneath in the cage and with the [pitching] machine, so with four or five days and the hot weather, I just wanted to take it easy and spend some extra time in the training room and doing my work inside," said Turner. Turner slugged the epic walk-off home run in Game 2 and was co-mvp of the NLCS with Chris Taylor. While Turner was in the trainer's room on Sunday, Enrique Hernandez and Kyle Farmer took ground balls at third base. Turner's primary fill-in at third base this year was second baseman Logan Forsythe, and the Dodgers went when Forsythe started there. Forsythe said he would be ready if it came to that. "The best possible thing for me is, whatever position I'm playing that day, that's where I'm taking ground balls," Forsythe said. "If I have to come in later for J.T., I feel confident enough to where I don't have to take ground balls." Seager, who missed the NLCS with a low back sprain sustained in the clinching Game 3 of the NL Division Series presented by T-Mobile, said he thought he had checked every box in his recovery until asked on Monday if he had tried sliding, since that was how he was injured in the first place. "I didn't even think about that, honestly," said Seager. "I should probably do that today. That's really caught me off guard, thank you. I guess you just try not to make it a mental thing and just do it. It wasn't

6 awkward, it wasn't mislanding. I think it was a fluke thing. I should test it, but I don't think it's a huge thing." The Dodgers beat the Cubs in five games of the NLCS without Seager, shuffling outfielder Taylor and roster replacement Charlie Culberson in at shortstop. Culberson is expected to make the roster again to back up Seager, meaning someone else must come off the roster. Based on NLCS performance, that could be Curtis Granderson or Joc Pederson. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said "unless something unforeseen happens, I don't see how [Seager] wouldn't be" on the roster. But Roberts also said with the unpredictability of back injuries, Seager will be watched closely. "Obviously you've got to trust the player, but we also have to trust our eyes and the medical staff," he said. "And Corey is going to do everything he can to lobby to be active and play in the World Series. And I know that. He knows that. So to have Charlie Culberson and other guys that can play short, if something does go south on us, we're definitely cognizant of that. But to have the DH potential, also, because I think from the training staff, swinging the bat really doesn't pose a problem, it's more of the bending over." Catcher Yasmani Grandal missed a second workout to be in Arizona with wife Heather, who delivered a son on Monday. Child and mother are well and Grandal is expected to be on the roster. Hollywood innings: HOU-LA World Series begins By Anthony Castrovince October does not bow in reverence toward what the regular season wrought. October is a season unto itself, and we've seen, time and time again, six months of magic upended by one rough series of postseason play. That's why it's so refreshing to see a Fall Classic that keeps it 100. With Clayton Kershaw and Dallas Keuchel opposing each other, the Astros and Dodgers open the World Series presented by YouTube TV tonight (8 ET/FOX) at Dodger Stadium having already achieved the rare feat of living up to their own individual acclaim and esteem. Call it the Century Series, because these two teams, unlike so many others before them, have stayed true to their elite status. "That's a great thing," Astros closer Ken Giles said. "You want to have the best teams face each other in the World Series. It doesn't get better than that." The Dodgers won 104 games in the regular season, the Astros 101. When Game 1 dawns -- mere minutes from Century City, and with high temperatures in the area expected to hit it will be the

7 first time two 100-win teams face each other in the Series since the Reds and Orioles in 1970, and the first time in any postseason series since the Yankees-Royals American League Championship Series in Only seven times have two 100-game winners met on this Series stage. Now come these two clubs. They have already accomplished so much this year, but they know a triple-digit win total, in and of itself, is far from enough. "We're four wins away from accomplishing our goal," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. These teams play with purpose -- the Dodgers trying to end their 29-year championship drought dating back to 1988, and the Astros trying to win it all for the first time in their 55-year franchise history after getting swept by the White Sox in their lone appearance, in They play with passion, against the backdrop of what Hurricane Harvey did to Houston and what Hurricane Maria did to Puerto Rico, the home island of Astros stars Carlos Beltran and Carlos Correa and the Dodgers' Game 5 hero in the NLCS, Enrique Hernandez. They play with personal ties, such as the close relationship of Roberts and Astros skipper A.J. Hinch. And they play with the pride of representing two organizations that won big not only in the win column but at the two trade cutoffs this summer -- the Dodgers reeling in Yu Darvish mere minutes before the nonwaiver Trade Deadline at the end of July, and the Astros bringing Justin Verlander to Houston mere seconds before the waiver deadline at the end of August. "You saw two teams that played extremely well throughout the regular season and two front offices that stepped up to bring in the right players to make that final push," Astros third baseman Alex Bregman said. "I think it just shows that both clubs are committed to winning." Still, it's the homegrown-stud starters taking the hill in Game 1. Houston came all the way to Hollywood just to run into a Texan, with Dallas-native Kershaw lined up on regular rest against a fully rested Keuchel. Unmet October expectations for the Dodgers have been a bugaboo in Kershaw's probable Cooperstown-worthy career, and he's eager to change that narrative. "I grew up a Dodger and got drafted by the Dodgers," Kershaw said. "I didn't know a ton of Dodger history at the time, but coming up it kind of gets ingrained in you, which is a good thing; it's not a lot of organizations that have the type of history that the Dodgers do. It's been a special thing, and I hope after this week is over, they can talk about 2017 a little more and 1988 a lot less." The Dodgers, who are 7-1 in this magic month, outscoring their opponents, 48-19, will have had four days of rest by the time Game 1 begins, and they've got star young shortstop Corey Seager back in action after a back injury held him out of the NLCS. ("I've checked all the boxes," Seager said.) Los Angeles has the home-field advantage by virtue of the superior regular-season record (the first club to gain that advantage under the new format). The Dodgers also had a built-in rotation advantage in the first two rounds of the postseason because of the hamstring injury that held up the Nationals' Max Scherzer and the five-game NL Division Series battle that compromised the Cubs.

8 But this time, L.A.'s opponent is aligned exactly as hoped -- Keuchel in Game 1, ALCS MVP Verlander in Game 2. This gives the Astros added confidence coming off an epic seven-game battle against the Yankees in the ALCS presented by Camping World. "Personally, I thought we were the best team [in the AL] from start to finish, and I thought the Dodgers were the best team in the National League start to finish," Keuchel said. "So this is going to be a great matchup. And it's not overblown, because we've both won 100 games." Last year the Cubs defeated the Indians to break their 108-year drought without a World Series title, leaving Cleveland -- which has not won a title since as the team with the longest such drought. A win for Houston would be the organization's first since being founded in A Dodgers victory in the World Series would be their first since 1988, 29 years ago, despite winning their fifth straight NL West crown this season. So either way, a long stretch without a championship will end at the conclusion of this year's Fall Classic. At the break in 2017, the Dodgers (61-29) and Astros (60-29) were far and away the best two teams in MLB, and at separate points in the season there was talk of each team challenging the 2001 Mariners' record for most wins in a season (116). That didn't happen due to some second-half stumbles that came long after they had both all but locked up their respective divisions, and they've advanced as advertised in October. Both are undefeated at home this postseason, so perhaps the built-in advantage for Los Angeles will prove to be a big deal; it certainly was to Houston in the ALCS, which became the fifth seven-game series in which the home team won every game. That has happened three times in the World Series: the Twins over the Cardinals in 1987, the Twins over the Braves in 1991 and the D-backs over the Yankees in "They're a good team," Astros outfielder Beltran said of the Dodgers. "There's a lot of similarities when I look at the Dodgers and look at our team. They've got talent, and they seem like they really enjoy themselves, they seem like they have good chemistry in the clubhouse, which is great." When strength meets strength -- and 100 meets that's special stuff. Hot-tober! Temps don't faze World Series foes By Jenifer Langosch LOS ANGELES -- The heat has been turned up -- literally -- for the Dodgers and Astros, who prepare to begin the World Series presented by YouTube TV under conditions foreign to the Fall Classic. Twenty-four hours before first pitch at Dodger Stadium, Accuweather.com forecast a high of 103 degrees Tuesday and 100 degrees Wednesday. A 5 p.m. PT start time won't provide much relief, either, as the local temperature is projected to have cooled off only to 98 degrees by that time. The average high for Los Angeles at this time of year is 72 degrees.

9 "A coach I played under in college always said, 'You're going to play your most important games in cold weather,'" Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier said. "He was wrong on this one." World Series temperatures have been tracked as far back as 1975 and only twice has the reading exceeded 90 degrees at first pitch. Those two instances came back in 2001, when the Game 1 temperature in Phoenix hit 94 degrees and the Game 6 temperature reached 91. (And the roof was open.) "I never thought it would be that hot," Dodgers outfielder Curtis Granderson said Monday, when temperatures peaked at 102 degrees, a record for the date. "But at the same time, I definitely would rather it be warmer than the potential 30-degree [nights] like I've had in some World Series I've played in. You play all season long and all Spring Training, so six to eight months of your season [is played] typically in decent-to-nice weather. "So to have the two teams determine who the best team in baseball is when it's 50-to-60 degrees below what you've normally been playing in is always something I've questioned. The fact that it does happen to be a little bit warmer, I'm sure a lot of guys aren't complaining." On that, Granderson was correct. Some players said they were unaware of the record-setting temps -- "I didn't even know it was going to be 100 degrees until I went outside to play Wiffle ball with my son in the backyard today," said Dodgers Game 2 starter Rich Hill. "It's going to be hotter than normal, but at the same time, I like to sweat," said left-hander Dallas Keuchel, who will start Game 1 for the Astros. "I like to get that perspiration, and make sure I have a firm grip on the ball. And, I mean, it's the World Series, so if it's a little bit hotter than usual, that's fine with me. There's no place I'd rather be." His opponent, Clayton Kershaw, agreed. "It is going to be hot, but, no, I don't think it's going to change anything," he said. "They're from Houston. I'm from Texas. It's going to be hot for everybody. We're all used to it. It will be fine." Still, it will be different. The Astros play half of their regular-season games in a climate-controlled stadium, while the Dodgers are benefactors of the cool air that typically pushes in when the sun sets over Dodger Stadium. The first-pitch temperature exceeded 90 degrees twice this season (July 8-9) at Dodger Stadium. The Astros' Aug. 11 game at Texas in Arlington began with the thermometer reading 96 degrees. It was one of four games the Astros played in heat that reached the 90-degree mark. Several players did wonder if the unseasonably warm nights will help power the offenses in a ballpark that is typically pitcher-friendly, and the numbers say the ball will carry more than usual.

10 And then there was Astros third baseman Alex Bregman, who put his own spin on the coming conditions. "I think the reason it's going to be so hot is because the 'Stros are in town," Bregman said. "I think we brought it with us from the last two games in Houston." Safe at home: Astros, Dodgers strong on own turf By Joe Posnanski LOS ANGELES -- Something strange happened with ballparks in Most people think of Houston as having a mad hitter's park. It was once, back in the early 2000s, when it was still called Enron Field and in the first couple of seasons after it changed names to Minute Maid Park. Over the last few years, it has become a more neutral park, which is to say it has not decisively favored hitters or pitchers. But in the last year or two, Minute Maid Park somewhat, suddenly and defiantly turned into an extreme pitcher's park -- the most extreme, in fact, in the American League, according to Baseball Reference's ballpark factors. Conversely, Dodger Stadium has long been known as a great pitcher's park; this goes back to the days of Koufax and Drysdale. But in 2017, hitters actually hit better at Dodger Stadium than they did on the road. All of which is to say: It's baffling out there. All of which is to say: Stadiums could be major factors in this year's World Series. Of course, that's the storyline before every World Series, right? Yes, every year before the games begin, we write all these stories about home-field advantage, about how good it is to have Game 1 (and, potentially, Game 7) at home, about how important it is for a team to steal a road game. Do these stories reflect anything real? Well, it depends on your point of view. It is true that since 1980, teams with home-field advantage in the World Series are 27-9, and home teams have won 61 percent of the games. So that pretty persuasively suggests home field can be a big deal, especially when you consider that until this season home-field advantage was not chosen by the team's individual records. On the other hand, the last three World Series champions have clinched on the road -- this includes the Cubs, who last year won the last two games in Cleveland to take it all. You have to go back to 2001, that classic Series between the D-backs and Yankees, to find the last time each team won all its home games in the World Series. So what does any of this mean for this World Series presented by YouTube TV? Who knows? But here's the thing: These Astros and Dodgers fit their ballparks well, and it could be difficult for either to break

11 serve. Neither team has lost a home game in this postseason. Neither team has come especially close to losing a home game in this postseason. The Astros outscored the Red Sox and Yankees, 31-7, in the five games at Minute Maid Park, and their pitchers did not allow more than two runs in any game. The Dodgers, meanwhile, have averaged 6.5 runs a game at home and have outscored the D-backs and Cubs, 26-13, in their four postseason games at home. This is a small sample size, of course, but it does reflect how those teams played at home this year. During the season, the Astros' pitchers held opposing batters to a.225 average at home (30 points less than on the road) and a.388 home slugging percentage (almost 40 points less than on the road). The Astros' ERA was almost a full run better in Houston. The Dodgers, meanwhile, uncharacteristically mashed the ball at Dodger Stadium all year. Their 115 home runs at home was a Dodger Stadium record, and their.449 home slugging percentage was the second highest since the team moved to Los Angeles. Of course, both teams were superb on the road, too. You don't win 100 games, as both teams did, without success on the road. The Astros actually had a slightly better record on the road through the season (they tied Cleveland for the best road record in baseball) because their incredible offense overcame their pitchers' 4.61 road ERA. But in the postseason, when everything is magnified, when managers will use their pitching staff creatively to get every out, when each moment feels so important, it's easy to see these ballparks being weapons for each team. The Dodgers are just so comfortable at Dodger Stadium. They went at home -- only the 1998 Yankees (62-19) have had a better home record the last 25 years. And those Astros pitchers at Minute Maid Park are just a different bunch. It was something to see in Games 6 and 7 of the American League Championship Series presented by Camping World, when the Astros came in on the brink of elimination. The crowd was crazy -- observers say it was as loud and electrifying an atmosphere as any in recent memory -- and the Astros' pitching staff, which got beat up in New York, allowed just one run in the final 18 innings. There will be a million analyses going in the World Series, and most of them will be rendered meaningless pretty quickly -- perhaps including this one. But keep an eye on the home park. The first visitor to break through might just win this thing. Meet the Players: Get to know the Dodgers By Chad Thornburg and Matt Kelly Here is everything you need to know about the Dodgers, who are searching for their first World Series title since 1988.

12 Austin Barnes, C Born: Riverside, Calif. DOB: 12/28/89 HS: Riverside Poly (Calif.) High School College: Arizona State University Minors: Jamestown (A-), Greensboro (A), Jupiter (A+), Jacksonville (AA), Oklahoma City (AAA) Major League Baseball runs in Barnes' family. His uncle Mike Gallego was an infielder for the A's, Yankees and Cardinals from and won a World Series with Oakland in '89. Gallego also previously served as the A's third-base coach and the Angels director of baseball development. "Uncle Mike made the big leagues an obtainable goal," Barnes said of growing up around Gallego. "You see your uncle can do it, and it puts it in your mind that it's possible. His attitude and the way he carried himself transferred over and showed me this is something you could do if you just work hard." Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF Born: Scottsdale, Ariz. DOB: 7/13/95 HS: Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) High School Minors: AL Dodgers (R), Ogden (R), Rancho Cucamonga (R+), Oklahoma City (AAA), Tulsa (AA) Cody Bellinger isn't the first in his family to reach the Major Leagues and he may not be the last. Cody's father, Clay, was a second-round Draft pick of the Giants in 1989 and went on to play in three seasons with the Yankees from and appear in two games for the Angels in '02. Following behind Cody is Cole Bellinger, a right-handed pitcher, who was selected by the Padres in the 15th round of this June's Draft. Bellinger, who was the Dodgers' No. 1 prospect entering 2017, clubbed 39 home runs -- more than three times the amount his dad hit in his entire career -- to set a National League rookie record. Bellinger's home run against Arizona in Game 3 of the NLDS presented by T-Mobile made him the youngest Dodger to homer in a postseason game at just 22 years and 88 days old. Tony Cingrani, LHP Born: Evergreen, Ill. DOB: 7/5/89 HS: Lincoln Way Central (New Lenox, Ill.) High School College: Rice (Houston), South Suburban College (South Holland, Ill.) Minors: Billings (R), Pensacola (AA), Bakersfield (A+), Louisville (AAA) Cingrani starred at Lincoln-Way Central High School before his baseball career led him to the big leagues. He tossed a no-hitter as a senior in 2007, striking out 20 batters against the state's top-ranked team. On April 28, Cingrani's rookie season -- the lefty became only the 58th pitcher in history to strike out four batters in an inning, doing so in the fourth against the Nationals. Yu Darvish, RHP Born: Habikino, Japan DOB: 8/16/86

13 HS: Tohoku (Sendai, Japan) Twelve years ago, Dodgers legend Tommy Lasorda traveled to Japan in an attempt to persuade Darvish, then a senior in high school, and his parents that Darvish should begin his professional career in Los Angeles, according to the LA Times. Darvish instead opted for seven seasons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, becoming one of the league's biggest stars, but eventually found his way to L.A., joining the Dodgers at this year's non-waiver Trade Deadline. Darvish allowed only two combined runs in his first two postseason starts for the Dodgers, but he accomplished something much more rare in Game 3 of the NLCS presented by Camping World. In the sixth inning of that game, Darvish became the first pitcher to draw a bases-loaded walk in postseason play since Dodgers pitcher Burt Hooton in the 1977 NLCS. Andre Ethier, OF Born: Phoenix DOB: 4/10/82 HS: St. Marys (Ariz.) High School College: Arizona State University, Chandler-Gilbert Community College Minors: Vancouver (A-), Kane County (A), Modesto (A+), Midland (AA), Las Vegas (AAA) Ethier has spent 12 seasons in the Majors, but his athletic accomplishments may be rivaled in his own household. Ethier and his wife, Maggie, were the first husband-wife inductees into the Arizona State Sports Hall of Fame in Andre was a two-time All-Pac-10 selection in baseball, while Maggie was an All-American gymnast on vault in 2001 and on floor in She scored nine perfect 10.0s in her collegiate career -- two on the vault, one on the beam and six on the floor -- the most in school history. Ethier's resiliency has paid big dividends in each of the past two seasons for the Dodgers. Ethier broke his leg in Spring Training last year but came back to hit a home run in the 2016 NLCS against the Cubs. Ethier missed the majority of this season with a herniated disk in his back, but again returned to homer against the Cubs in this year's NLCS. Now in his 12th year with the Dodgers, Ethier is the longest-serving member of the club. Kyle Farmer, C Born: Atlanta DOB: 8/17/90 HS: Marist High School (Atlanta) College: Georgia Minors: Ogden (R), Rancho Cucamonga (A+), Great Lakes (A), Tulsa (AA), Oklahoma City (AAA) Fans seeing Farmer for the first time on the October stage may recognize the Dodgers rookie from 2009's The Blind Side. As a senior at Marist, Farmer played a high school quarterback in the Academy Award-nominated film starring Sandra Bullock. His acting debut was unpaid, however, to preserve his college eligibility. Farmer's first Major League at-bat on July 28 was about as memorable as could be. Entering as a pinchhitter in the bottom of the 11th, Farmer knocked a two-run, walk-off double to deliver the Dodgers a 3-2 victory over the rival Giants. Farmer became the first Dodger in history to record a walk-off hit in his first career plate appearance.

14 Josh Fields, RHP Born: Athens, Ga. DOB: 8/19/85 HS: Prince Avenue Christian (Bogart, Ga.) College: Georgia Minors: West Tennessee (AA), Tacoma (AAA), Portland (AA), Jackson (AA), Pawtucket (AAA), Portland (AA) Before Fields was pitching out of the Dodgers bullpen, he was one of the college game's top relievers for Georgia. He appeared in 36 games for the SEC-champion Bulldogs that advanced to the College World Series in 2008, going 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA with 18 saves, a school record. A consensus All- American, Fields was named SEC Pitcher of the Year and National Stopper of the Year, and he established a new Georgia and SEC record for career saves (41). Fields, along with Farmer and Alex Wood, is one of three former Bulldogs on the Dodgers' roster. Logan Forsythe, INF Born: Memphis DOB: 1/14/87 HS: Christian Brothers (Memphis) High School College: University of Arkansas Minors: Eugene (A-), AZL Padres (R), San Antonio (AA), Lake Elsinore (A+), Tucson (AAA) As a junior at Arkansas, Forsythe starred for Team USA at the 2007 Pan Am Games in Rio De Janeiro. He hit.625 (10-for-16) in the tournament, helping the U.S. to a silver medal finish behind gold-medalist Cuba. Forsythe is known for his versatility; he has played at every position in the big leagues except pitcher, catcher and center field. He was one of only two players to start in all nine spots in the batting order at least once during the 2015 season. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B Born: San Diego DOB: 5/8/82 HS: Eastlake (Calif.) High School Minors: GCL Marlins (R), Utica (A-), Kane County (A), Portland (AA), Frisco (AA), Carolina (AA), Albuquerque (AAA), Oklahoma (AAA) Gonzalez is very involved in his support for youth baseball, particularly in Tijuana, Mexico, where he spent much of his childhood. He helped renovate a Little League baseball field in the city and continues to fund two fields at Campo Adrian Gonzalez en la Liga Municipal de Tijuana. In 2014, he also established Liga de Beisbol TELMEX Adrian Gonzalez, a youth league in Mexico. Yasmani Grandal, C Born: La Habana, Cuba DOB: 11/8/88 HS: Miami Springs (Fla.) High School College: University of Miami Minors: AZL Reds (R), Bakersfield (A+), Carolina (AA), Louisville (AAA), Tucson (AAA)

15 As a junior at Miami, Grandal was one of five finalists for the 2010 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award. He hit.401 with 15 home runs and 60 RBIs and was named 2010 ACC Player of the Year, but eventually lost out on the Golden Spikes Award to junior-college star Bryce Harper, the top pick in that year's MLB Draft. Grandal is recognized as one of the Majors' best catchers at framing pitches for strikes, including pitches he's had to stand up to receive. Curtis Granderson, OF Born: Blue Island, Ill. DOB: 3/16/81 HS: Thornton Fractional South (Ill.) High School College: University of Illinois at Chicago Minors: Oneonta (A-), Lakeland (A+), Erie (AA), Toledo (AAA) The UIC baseball team plays every home game in a ballpark named after one of its most famous alumni. Granderson donated $5 million to help fund the $10 million Curtis Granderson Stadium, which opened in April According to Sports Illustrated, his contribution is the largest one-time gift from an athlete to their alma mater in history. Granderson hit a grand slam on Aug. 17 against the Yankees for his final home run as a member of the Mets. Four days later, Granderson hit another slam for the Dodgers to become the first player in MLB history to hit two grand slams for two teams in a span of four games. Enrique Hernandez, INF/OF Born: San Juan, Puerto Rico DOB: 8/24/91 HS: American Military Academy (Toa Baja, P.R.) Minors: GCL Astros (R), Tri-City (A-), Lexington (A), Lancaster (A+), Corpus Christi (AA), Oklahoma City (AAA), New Orleans (AAA) Hernandez dabbled in a different profession last year, guest starring on an episode of The Bold and the Beautiful. Hernandez's fiancee, Mariana Vicente, is an actress and one of her first roles was on the longrunning daytime series. Coincidentally, Hernandez made his MLB debut with the Astros and hit his first career home run at Minute Maid Park. He was traded to the Marlins in a deal for outfielder Jake Marisnick before being traded to the Dodgers. In Game 5 of the NLCS, Hernandez became the 10th player to hit three homers in a postseason game, helping Los Angeles punch its ticket to the World Series. Hernandez, a Puerto Rico native, has been organizing relief efforts and raising funds for those in his home country. His father, Enrique Hernandez II, was a scout in Puerto Rico and coached Astros star Carlos Correa as a teeanager. He is fighting cancer but was in the stands at Wrigley Field to see his son hit those three home runs in Game 5. Rich Hill, LHP Born: Boston DOB: 3/11/80 HS: Milton (Mass.) High School College: Michigan Minors: Boise (A-), Lansing (A), Dayton (A+), Iowa (AAA), West Tennessee (AA), Peoria (A)

16 It's been a winding road to Los Angeles for Hill, who's played for nine different Major League organizations since he was selected by the Cubs out of Michigan in the fourth round of the 2002 Draft. Injuries and inconsistency had Hill bouncing between teams on a number of Minor League deals before eventually landing with the independent Long Island Ducks in Hill made two starts with the Ducks before the Red Sox offered him a shot at a Major League comeback, and in the span of 16 months, he went from an independent league team to signing a three-year, $48 million contract with the Dodgers over the winter. Kenley Jansen, RHP Born: Willemstad, Curacao DOB: 9/30/87 Minors: Inland Empire (A+), Chattanooga (AA) Jansen, now one of baseball's elite closers, didn't even begin his professional career as a pitcher. The Curacao native was signed by the Dodgers as an undrafted free-agent catcher in 2005, the position he remained at until the Dodgers converted him to a reliever in '09. Jansen credits his performance as primary catcher for the Netherlands in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, when he flashed his arm strength from behind the plate, for instigating the shift to the mound. It was at Jansen's wedding in Curacao last offseason that he and Justin Turner, who were both free agents, decided to re-sign with the Dodgers. Clayton Kershaw, LHP Born: Dallas DOB: 3/19/88 HS: Highland Park (Texas) High School Minors: GCL Dodgers (R), Great Lakes (A), Jacksonville (AA) Kershaw received a shoutout during the Detroit Lions' Week 2 matchup against the Giants by Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who used the Dodgers star's name as an audible call at the line of scrimmage. Kershaw and Stafford both grew up in the Dallas area, playing football, baseball, basketball and soccer together. At one point, Stafford was Kershaw's catcher and Kershaw was Stafford's center. Now, more than a decade after graduating together from Highland Park High School in 2006, Kershaw and Stafford are the highest-paid players in both MLB and the NFL, respectively. After winning five NL ERA titles, three Cy Young Awards and an MVP Award, Kershaw is making his first appearance in the World Series. Kenta Maeda, RHP Born: Senboku-gun, Japan DOB: 4/11/88 HS: PL Gakuen (Japan) High School Maeda was well-decorated in his time with the Hiroshima Carp of the Japan Central League. He won two Sawamura Awards, given to the league's top pitcher, in 2010 and '14. Maeda also became the youngest pitcher in Japanese baseball history to achieve the pitching Triple Crown during his first Sawamura Award-winning campaign in 2010, going 15-8 with a 2.21 ERA and 174 strikeouts in 215 2/3 innings.

17 Maeda had a bit of fun during a visit back to his native Japan last offseason, dressing in disguise as an old man and pitching to some of his young fans. Brandon Morrow, RHP Born: Santa Rosa, Calif. DOB: 7/26/84 HS: Rancho Cotate (Rohnert Park, Calif.) High School College: California Berkeley Minors: Inland Empire (A+), AZL Mariners (R), Tacoma (AAA), West Tennessee (AA) After spending much of his time in the big leagues as a starting pitcher, Morrow has enjoyed a latecareer re-emergence as a reliever -- in large part due to health -- as one of the most reliable arms in the Dodgers' bullpen. Signed to a modest Minor League deal this winter, Morrow turned out to be a steal for the Dodgers this season. He was selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2006 Draft, two slots ahead of Kershaw, but an early ascent to the Majors and questionable use led to multiple injuries before he found a career renaissance in Los Angeles. This is his first career postseason. Morrow on rising to the occasion Morrow on rising to the occasion Brandon Morrow talks about how the Dodgers made it to the World Series and discusses the club's impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio Yasiel Puig, OF Born: Cienfuegos, Cuba DOB: 12/7/90 Minors: AZL Dodgers (R), Rancho Cucamonga (A+), Chattanooga (AA) This offseason, Puig launched his Wild Horse Foundation, a non-profit organization that draws its title from the nickname given to Puig by legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully. Puig hosted one of his first charitable events in May, the inaugural Wild Horse Poker Tournament, drawing a star-studded guest list to Dodger Stadium, including teammates Kershaw, Jansen, Gonzalez and Turner, former Dodgers greats Don Newcombe and Orel Hershiser, comedian George Lopez, TV and radio personality Larry King, former NBA forward Metta World Peace and former "The Bachelor" star Ben Higgins. Puig has been arguably the most entertaining player of the 2017 postseason -- both with his play and his celebrations. From licking his bat to epic bat flips and even a tongue wag or two, Puig has been mustwatch this October. Corey Seager, SS Born: Charlotte, N.C. DOB: 4/27/94 HS: Northwest Cabarrus (Concord, N.C.) High School Minors: Ogden (R), Rancho Cucamonga (A+), Great Lakes (A), Chattanooga (AA), Oklahoma City (AAA) Baseball runs in the Seager family. Kyle Seager, the oldest at 29, has played third base for the Mariners for seven seasons and was an All-Star in Justin, 25, was a 12th-round Draft pick of Seattle in 2013 and spent this year playing for Double-A Arkansas in the Mariners' farm system. And Corey, the youngest at 23, is in his third season with the Dodgers and coming off a National League Rookie of the Year campaign. For the inaugural Players Weekend, during which MLB encouraged players to wear

18 nicknames on their jerseys, Kyle wore "Corey's Brother" on the back of his jersey to acknowledge his younger sibling's rapid ascent. Chris Taylor, OF Born: Virginia Beach, Va. DOB: 8/29/90 HS: Frank W. Cox (Virginia Beach) High School College: Virginia Minors: Clinton (A), Everett (A-), Jackson (AA), High Desert (A+), Tacoma (AAA) Taylor's father and grandfather both competed on the wrestling team at Virginia Tech, and Taylor followed in their footsteps early, winning a Virginia Beach city wrestling championship in middle school. Once he got to high school, however, he bucked the family tradition to focus on baseball. And for good reason, as Taylor went on to play collegiately at Virginia and now finds himself a key piece to the Dodgers. After struggling through three seasons with the Mariners, Taylor was traded to the Dodgers and completely overhauled his swing, which led to a significant power surge. He's since taken a firm hold on the Dodgers' leadoff spot in what's been a breakout season. Taylor on prep for WS matchups Taylor on prep for WS matchups Chris Taylor talks about his preparation for the various pitching matchups during the World Series Justin Turner, 3B Born: Long Beach, Calif. DOB: 11/23/84 HS: Mayfair (Calif.) High School College: California State University Fullerton Minors: Billings (R), Dayton (A), Sarasota (A+), Chattanooga (AA), Norfolk (AAA), Buffalo (AAA) Turner's path to stardom has been long and winding. As a college junior (the year most college prospects get drafted and signed) he was selected by, but didn't sign with, the Yankees. In fact, nine of his college teammates were drafted before him that year. He was then a seventh-round Draft choice of the Reds in 2006 before Cincinnati traded him to the Orioles two years later in a deal that included catcher Ramon Hernandez. Turner's first All-Star Game selection didn't come until this year at the age of 32, but his career.368 average in the postseason is tied with Hall of Famer Paul Molitor for the highest of any player with a minimum of 100 plate appearances. Chase Utley, 2B Born: Pasadena, Calif. DOB: 12/17/78 HS: Polytechnic (Calif.) High School College: UCLA Minors: Batavia (A-), Clearwater (A+), Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA) Utley fulfilled a childhood dream when he was acquired by the Dodgers in a trade with the Phillies in August The veteran second baseman grew up cheering on the Dodgers in Long Beach, Calif., and attended college at UCLA.

19 Utley has seven career World Series home runs on his resume -- the most by any second baseman in history. That includes the five homers he hit for the Phillies in the 2009 World Series -- which is still tied with Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson for the most hit in any Fall Classic. Tony Watson, LHP Born: Sioux City, Iowa DOB: 5/30/85 HS: Dallas Center Grimes (Iowa) High School College: Nebraska Minors: Hickory (A), State College (A-), Lynchburg (A+), Altoona (AA), Indianapolis (AAA) Watson was too young to remember his great uncle -- he was only a month old when he died -- but he's heard stories of Tom Offenburger's role in the Civil Rights movement. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Offenburger left his job with U.S. News and World Report in 1966 to become director of information for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference led by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. He also later worked as press secretary for activist and U.S. congressman Andrew Young. Alex Wood, LHP Born: Charlotte, N.C. DOB: 1/12/91 HS: Ardrey Kell (N.C.) High School College: University of Georgia Minors: Rome (A), Mississippi (AA), Gwinnett (AAA) The University of Georgia is well-represented on the Dodgers. Wood is one of three players to play his college ball for Bulldogs, along with Fields and Farmer. Wood's collegiate career got off to a delayed start as the left-hander tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow in the playoffs his senior year of high school and had to redshirt his first season at Georgia after Tommy John surgery. Farmer and Wood have matching tattoos on their arms that read "Second Chance" to honor Chance Veazy, their former UGA teammate who was paralyzed from the waist down in a scooter accident in Veteran quest: 5 in search of first WS title By Mark Feinsand LOS ANGELES -- As his teammates spilled out of the dugout to mob each other on the Minute Maid Park mound Saturday night, Justin Verlander acted like a man who had been there before. Twice, actually. Verlander knows how sacred a trip to the World Series is for a player, and after reaching the Fall Classic twice in his first seven seasons -- winding up on the losing sides both times -- the 13-year veteran is doing his best to appreciate his latest chance to pitch for a championship.

20 "It was kind of a Cinderella story for Detroit and for me in my rookie year; it was like, 'Oh, we'll be back here. This is super easy,'" Verlander said as the Astros prepared for Game 1 of the World Series presented by YouTube TV. "That experience and the time in between does give you an appreciation for how special it is to get this far." This World Series features many compelling angles, and one of them is the quest of five long-time veterans in search of their first World Series title. Verlander, Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann are three prominent Astros veterans vying for their first World Series ring, while Clayton Kershaw and Curtis Granderson will try to thwart Houston's postseason run and pick up the first such hardware of their accomplished careers. "There have been moments this postseason where I've taken a little more time to appreciate it and let it sink in," Verlander said. "When we clinched, I wasn't the first one running on the field into the pile. I slowly jogged out there, looked around the stadium, waved to my family and tried to feel it a little more so I could remember it." Verlander didn't do that in 2006 or '12 with the Tigers, overwhelmed by the excitement of the situation both times. "It's such an adrenaline rush and it's so exciting, you just kind of forget to experience it," Verlander said. "You experience it, but you don't really take it in. This postseason, I've made a point a couple times to take a moment to step back and soak it all in." "To get a chance to be here right now, you look back and go, 'Wow,' knowing what everybody had to go through to get to this point," said Granderson, who played in the World Series with the 2006 Tigers and the 2015 Mets. "You definitely don't take anything for granted." Beltran is in his 20th season, and at the age of 40, it's uncertain how many more shots he'll have at that elusive title. He's been to the postseason seven times with six teams, but he's appeared in only one World Series, losing to the Red Sox as a member of the 2013 Cardinals. In the Astros' clubhouse, Beltran is the wise old sage, always there to offer advice or an encouraging word to his younger teammates. As much as the Astros want to win it all for themselves and the city of Houston, it seems that getting Beltran his first championship is as much of a motivating factor as any other. "It would mean everything," said McCann, who played with Beltran in New York for three seasons before they wound up together again in Houston. "We've all talked about it. We want to get this done. He's a special person. I tell guys all the time, you're not going to come across another Carlos Beltran in your career." Beltran seemed both touched and embarrassed about his teammates' desire to help get him a ring, quickly turning the discussion back to the 25-man unit.