Scherzer’s sudden departure after three innings Monday meant potential Game 4 starter John Gray had to go to work. So now Andrew Heaney, who lasted just two-thirds of an inning in his previous postseason start against the Astros in the American League Championship Series, gets the nod for the Rangers. And Garcia’s injury in the midst of an epic October for the Rangers right fielder (a postseason record 22 RBIs, eight homers and a 1.108 OPS) is a major subplot.
The D-backs counter with Joe Mantiply as the starter in what will be a bullpen battle. They will try to change the math that works against them. The Rangers’ 2-1 lead is an advantage that 68 of 99 (69%) teams in best-of-seven postseason series have turned into a series win. Teams leading 2-1 away from home in a 2-3-2 formation have won series 29 out of 39 (74%) times.
Here’s what’s on offer for Game 4:
When is the match and how can I watch it?
Game 4 is live now from Chase Field on FOX.
The Fall Classic is available in the US on MLB.TV with authentication to a participating pay TV provider. Games are available live internationally (except Canada). Full game archives will be available approximately 90 minutes after the end of the game.
Who are the starting pitchers?
Rangers: LHP Andrew Heaney
Texas intends to return to the half-bullpen that has been used twice this postseason, with Heaney getting most of the innings before manager Bruce Bochy flipped him to Dane Dunning in a piggyback situation. Heaney made two starts and two relief appearances this postseason, allowing four runs over six innings. Bochy usually lets Heaney ride until he’s in trouble early in the postseason, so that should remain true in Game 4.
D-backs: LHP Joe Mantiply
In what will be a complete bullpen game, manager Torey Lovullo will use his high-leverage lefty to set the tone against the top of the Texas lineup. The key factor here is left-handed hitter Corey Seager, who crushed two massive home runs in the first three games of this series. Seager’s career OPS is nearly 100 points higher against righties (.905) than against lefties (.808) — and was even more pronounced this season, when he posted a 1.075 OPS against righties compared to .882 against . lefties. With fellow lefty Evan Carter in the starting lineup — something he didn’t do against Astros lefty Framber Valdez in the ALCS — it’s possible Mantiply could come back against him in the second inning if he pitches a clean first, but he won’t get much further than that .
What are the starting lineups?
rangers: With Garcia no longer on the roster, the Rangers put Travis Jankowski in the bottom of the lineup.
D-backs: Emmanuel Rivera singled to third ahead of Evan Longoria, who went 2-for-8 with an RBI in the first three games. Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte swapped places at the plate, given that Heaney is a lefty. The D-backs usually go with Carroll-Marte against righties and Marte-Carroll against lefties.
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
rangers: Gray is unlikely to be available after throwing 30 pitches in three innings of relief in Game 3 following Scherzer’s injury. The high-leverage trio of Josh Sbortz, Aroldis Chapman and Jose Leclerc threw just 16 pitches each and should all be available in Game 4, but the Rangers’ long relief group of Dunning, Cody Bradford and Martin Perez figures to get big load behind Heaney.
D-backs: Between Saturday’s Game 2 win, Sunday’s off day and Monday’s Game 3 loss, Arizona hasn’t used any of its top high-leverage options since Friday’s Game 1.
With Mantiply starting, the next high-leverage spots against Texas’ heavy lefties — Seager and Carter — will likely fall to fellow lefties Kyle Nelson and Andrew Zalfrank. Meanwhile, righties Ryan Thompson and Kevin Ginkel will handle the other big spots on the long bridge next to closer Paul Sewald. The remaining three bullpen arms — Ryne Nelson, Miguel Castro and Luis Frias — will fill the remaining gaps. The only reliever who may not be available is Frias, who threw 1 2/3 innings Monday — though he only threw 20 pitches.
rangers: Both Scherzer (back tightness) and García (left side soreness) left Game 3 early with injuries and will miss the remainder of the Fall Classic.
D-backs: Outfielder Jake McCarthy was removed from the roster just before Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series after suffering a strained right oblique muscle. He is not expected to return.
rangers: Seager continued to hit his stride, hitting his second homer of the World Series and moving his postseason slash line to .298/.444/.649. Carter has reached safely in all 15 of his postseason games this year after a 2-for-3 night in Game 3.
Semien’s struggles continued with a 1-for-4 night, and Taveras is hitting just .200 this postseason.
D-backs: Pham homered in Game 1, went 4-for-4 in Game 2 and had two hits in Game 3. Walker is just 6-for-48 (.125) with five RBIs and 17 hits in his last 14 games, though has had six hard-hit balls (95 mph exit velocity, according to Statcast) and just one strikeout over the past two games. Marte has recorded a hit in all 15 games this postseason – and all 19 of his career playoff games.