Game 3 a throwback with batters facing pitchers for 1st time

ATLANTA (AP) — Game 3 of the World Series will be a bit of a throwback to the days before interleague play and players frequently changing teams.

None of the Atlanta Braves have faced Houston starter Luis Garcia. The only Astros player who has hit against the Braves starter Ian Anderson is Marwin Gonzalez, who is 0 for 3.

“Definitely going to try to use that to my advantage,” Anderson said Thursday as the Series shifted to rainy Truist Park following a split in Houston. “I think with my pitch mix it definitely helps me out a little bit with the fastball/changeup. Definitely going to try to be on the attack, feed off the energy of the crowd, and put the pressure on them.”

Back in the day, batters frequently had no experience against the pitchers they faced in the Series. But with free agency starting after the 1976 season and interleague play in 1997, hitters and pitchers have more frequent personal experience against each other.

Astros manager Dusty Baker thinks each starting pitcher will have the advantage Friday.

“If you’ve never seen him, you can watch film all you want to, but then until you see his release point," the former All-Star outfielder said.

A quick big hit can change the dynamic.

“Hank Aaron used to say, if you’ve never faced a pitcher, you initiate him right away and then kind of kill his spirits,” Baker said. “So hopefully, we can initiate him.”

Anderson is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three postseason starts this year and Garcia is 1-1 with a 9.64 ERA. Garcia pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings in Game 6 against Boston on Oct. 22, when his fastball averaged 96.8 mph, up from 93.3 mph six days earlier after tweaking foot positioning in his delivery.

END OF PITCHERS HITTING

Astros pitcher Luis Garcia, 0 for 6 at...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Game-3-a-throwback-with-batters-facing-pitchers-16573074.php