Dodgers vs. Yankees: Buehler Aims for 3-0 Lead in World Series Game 3

Despite a tense and nerve-wracking ninth inning, Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered an ace-worthy performance, keeping the Yankees’ offense at bay with just one hit over 6.1 innings. His brilliance on the mound was much needed as the Dodgers’ bats cooled off after scoring four early runs against Carlos Rodon.

Game 2’s ninth inning saw the Yankees mounting a comeback, but a wild pitch and shaky performance by Blake Treinen nearly gave New York a lifeline. However, with the bases loaded, Alex Vesia managed a one-pitch save, securing the win for LA.

Now, the spotlight turns to Walker Buehler, who will make his first start of the series tonight. Buehler looks to build on his strong showing against the Mets, where he went four innings without allowing a run. He faces a challenging Yankees lineup, led by Clarke Schmidt, who is determined to avoid a 3-0 series deficit.

	5:08 P.M.		New York
DH	Ohtani (L)	2B	Torres
RF	Betts	RF	Soto (L)
1B	Freeman (L)	CF	Judge
LF	T. Hernández	DH	Stanton
3B	Muncy (L)	3B	Chisholm Jr. (L)
C	Smith	SS	Volpe
2B	Lux (L)	1B	Rizzo (L)
CF	K. Hernández	C	Trevino
SS	Edman (S)	LF	Verdugo (L)
P	Buehler (R)	P	Schmidt (R)

Freddie Freeman has been on fire this series, with a walk-off grand slam in Game 1 and a homer in Game 2, giving him a stunning 1.556 OPS. However, Max Muncy has struggled, going 0-6 with three strikeouts, and will look to turn things around tonight. Meanwhile, Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández have also been key contributors with multiple hits through the first two games.

The Yankees are reeling after the recent shoulder injury to Shohei Ohtani, which could affect his performance at the plate. Ohtani has been a key figure for the Yankees all season, but with a subluxation in his left shoulder, it’s uncertain how much it will impact his swing. Still, the Yankees' offense, especially Juan Soto, who has a 1.160 OPS this postseason, will need to step up if they hope to stay in the series.

Buehler’s fastball has been under scrutiny, with experts noting his diminished whiff rate this season. Adjusting his pitch usage has been crucial, and tonight he faces a Yankees team renowned for their ability to hit fastballs. If Buehler can control the game as he did in his past two World Series Game 3 outings, the Dodgers could be well on their way to a series sweep.

Will the Yankees rally behind Schmidt and their powerful lineup, or will Buehler and the Dodgers continue their dominant run? Tune in tonight for what promises to be a thrilling Game 3.