We're right back at it with Game 2 Saturday evening. The Dodgers are again pretty heavy favorites at (-143), and the total is an identical 7.5, a number the Blue Jays happily sailed by single-handedly Friday night.
The Dodgers turn to Yoshinobu Yamamoto to help try and even the series. He's allowed six runs (four earned) in three postseason starts, with 13 hits, 18 strikeouts and two homers in 19.2 innings. The Blue Jays counter with Kevin Gausman, who's been a touch erratic in the postseason. He's allowed just four runs in 18.0 innings, but also 10 hits (two homers) and nine walks and has a 32:18 FB:GB ratio. He's been a fly ball guy, but it's elevated in a short span, and paired with increased walks, and we're flirting with disaster. The 2.00 ERA comes with a 5.19 xFIP.
With Los Angeles starting a righty here, we'll likely see some shuffling to the Blue Jays lineup from Friday, so there will be some different options to consider. Pricing looks to be static from Game 1. As noted yesterday, you don't need me to tell you to consider Shohei Ohtani ($21,900/$14,600). Use him if you feel good about the value, fade him for more balance. It's your choice.
MVP
Vladimir Guerrero, TOR vs. LAD ($18,300/$12,200): Right back to the well, and, why not? As Guerrero went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run last night, bringing him to a .447 average and 1.411 OPS in the postseason. This may be a touch chalky, and Toronto did have a handful of players with better splits off righties, but Guerrero is just too locked in right now.
Utility
Tommy Edman, LAD at TOR ($9,300/$6,200)
Ernie Clement, TOR vs. LAD ($7,200/$4,800)
I promise I'm not just editing yesterday's column and changing pitchers names. But I'll start with these two again, as they are just lineup staples for me at this point due to form and price. Edman went 1-for-3 last night with a run and a walk, and has now hit safely in seven straight. Clement went 2-for-4 with an RBI and is now 20-for-46 (.435) in the postseason. There's minimal upside but steady floors where you likely won't take a zero and you could save money to chase potential elsewhere.
Mookie Betts, LAD at TOR ($15,000/$10,000)
I don't believe the Dodgers offense is being talked about enough, and I mean in a negative way. The team is hitting .250 and is averaging 4.3 runs, a decent postseason number, but it's certainly come with peaks and valleys. It's the pitching that's carried them, until last night. Betts has been okay, hitting .289 (13-for-45) but he only has five extra base hits, six RBI and three runs. It's a hefty price, and largely a BvP play. He's 16-for-51 (.314) with three homers off Gausman.
Nathan Lukes, TOR vs. LAD ($8,400/$5,600)
With a righty starting for the the Dodgers, Lukes figures to start, though I question whether he'll occupy the two-hole in the lineup, as Bo Bichette's return makes the Blue Jays deeper. That said, he still made 9.7 fantasy points off the bench yesterday without a hit, as he walked, drove in a run and scored. Prior to the 0-for-1 Game 1, he had nine hits during a six-game hitting streak. As always, this column isn't giving you a lineup but rather options in different tiers. Using Lukes and everyone else mentioned here allows you to afford Ohtani. I will point out that he had just a .318 wOBA and 104 wRC+ against righties.
Max Muncy, LAD at TOR ($10,500/$7,000)
I admittedly prefer someone like Alejandro Kirk ($9,900/$6,600), but I also believe Gausman is far more getable than Yamamoto Saturday, despite how hot the Blue Jays seem to be. Simply, the Dodgers need a spark and for a showdown tournament setting, this isn't too high of a price to pay for a player that's largely feast or famine. We're targeting a home run, that's it with Muncy. He's 6-for-18 with three long balls off Gausman. If you're feeling bold, this is absolutely a spot to stack Jays, and perhaps Muncy is your one-off Dodger. If you assume the favored team wins, Muncy is an upside play.
