LEADING OFF: Down 0-2 in NLCS, Dodgers turn to Urías

A look at what’s happening around the majors Wednesday:

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CALL TO ARMS

With their rotation in flux, the Los Angeles Dodgers turn to 24-year-old playoff veteran Julio Urías in Game 3 of the NL Championship Series as they try to climb out of a 2-0 hole against Atlanta.

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was scratched from his scheduled Game 2 start Tuesday due to back spasms. The team still expects he'll be able to pitch later in the series, but it will be Urías in Game 3 against Braves rookie Kyle Wright.

Urías, already pitching in his fourth postseason, was the winner in relief in the Game 3 clincher last Thursday against San Diego during the Division Series. He allowed only one hit and an unearned run over five innings.

Wright threw six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in his postseason debut in the clinching Game 3 of the NLDS against Miami. The 25-year-old righty was the fifth overall pick in the 2017 draft out of Vanderbilt.

There have been 14 teams take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven NLCS, and all have gone on to win the pennant.

OUT WEST

As the Rays go for a four-game sweep of defending AL champion Houston in the ALCS, right-hander Tyler Glasnow is expected to pitch for the first time since starting on two days’ rest in Tampa Bay’s AL Division Series Game 5 win over the Yankees. The 6-foot-8 Glasnow delivered 2 1/3 scoreless innings in a 2-1 victory, throwing 37 pitches. He’ll pitch in AL Championship Series Game 4 against Houston on four days’ rest.

Glasnow will face right-hander Zack Greinke, who might be making his last appearance without fans in the stands — something the offbeat veteran has cherished in this pandemic-altered season.

“I don’t really notice fans when the game’s going on, but warming up and practice before games, I...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-Down-0-2-in-NLCS-Dodgers-turn-to-15646109.php