On May 25, 2021 the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Houston Astros on a 9-2 win. Three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw was brilliant, tossing 7.2 innings with only one run allowed. It was Kershaw’s first start at Minute Maid Park after game 5 of the 2017 World Series, which was probably a nightmare that Kershaw doesn’t want to remember. However, after watching Kershaw’s dominant start in Houston, I watched game 5 of the 2017 World Series again.
The Dodgers used 7 pitchers in game 5 of the 2017 World Series. 5 of them each allowed at least one earned run and the Astros had 5 home runs in that game. Now, let’s dig a little deeper.
It’s not something new. In game 5 of the 2017 World Series, the Houston Astros only had one swing and miss on Kershaw’s breaking pitches. It was a slider at the bottom of the first inning to strike out Jose Altuve. Clayton Kershaw went 7 innings in game 1 of the World Series and he generated 8 swings and misses, 5 from breaking pitches. In addition, he tossed 4 innings in game 7 and he generated 3 swings and misses via his breaking pitches. So, throwing 51 breaking pitches in game 5 while getting only one swing and miss is quite unusual for Kershaw. How unusual? Well, Clayton Kershaw was the 2012 Dodgers’ opening day starter and he only tossed 3 innings against the Padres, generating a swing and miss via his slider. Since then, he has gotten at least two swings and misses via his breaking pitches (sliders and curveballs) each game in the regular season.
Moving Kenta Maeda to the bullpen was a good decision that the Dodgers made in the 2017 postseason and Kenta Maeda only gave up 1 run in 10.2 innings. After Kershaw gave up 6 earned runs, the Dodgers decided to let Kenta Maeda stop the Astros in game 5. Unfortunately, Jose Altuve hit a three-run home run on Maeda’s fastball. In total, Maeda threw 7 pitches against Altuve, 3 sliders, 3 changeups and 1 four-seamer. That one and only fastball became a disaster. Moreover, Kenta Maeda only gave up two hits via his four-seamer in the 2017 playoffs.
In addition, Brandon Morrow had an outstanding 2017, finishing the season with a 0.92 WHIP. In the 2017 postseason, Morrow tossed 13.2 innings and gave up 6 earned runs. And, 4 of those earned runs were given up in game 5 of the World Series. He faced 4 batters in the bottom of the 7th inning and couldn’t even record an out. George Springer crushed a solo shot on Morrow’s 4-seamer and Carlos Correa smashed a three-run home run on his 4-seamer.
Furthermore, Tony Cingrani tossed 5 innings and gave up 3 hits in the 2017 postseason. He only allowed one earned run, which was a solo shot hit by Brian McCann in game 5.
Finally, Kenley Jansen gave up 2 hits and allowed a run in game 5. Jansen wasn’t at his best in the 2017 World Series, allowing 2 home runs. Jansen gave up 3 earned runs in the 2017 WS, but he posted a 0 ERA in the NLDS and NLCS.
Looking back at game 5 of the 2017 World Series, it might still be hard to believe that Kershaw gave up 6 runs. Additionally, Kenta Maeda was solid in the 2017 postseason while only giving up one run, but that one and only run was in game 5. And, Tony Cingrani only gave up a run in the 2017 postseason, which was in game 5 as well. All just happened in game 5.
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