#Dodgers to win Game 4 behind Urias

Julio Urias gave the Dodgers three strong innings to close out Game 7 of the National League Championship Series against the Braves, and he will go from closing to starting on Saturday against the Rays in Game 4 of the World Series.

In 11 starts and four long-relief appearances in the regular season and playoffs, Urias is 7-0 (with four of those wins coming in the postseason) and has given up two runs or fewer in 13 of those outings. In the postseason, he has been at his best, allowing two runs (only one earned) across 16 innings with only one home run surrendered.

The swings and misses also have increased for Urias, who is averaging 9.0 strikeouts per nine innings in the playoffs after registering 7.4 per nine innings in the regular season. This is big because the Rays lead MLB in strikeout rate at nearly 10 per game between the regular season and postseason.

The Rays will pitch Ryan Yarborough in Game 4, either as the starter or following a one- or two-inning opener. Yarbourgh has made one start and two relief appearances totaling 10²/₃ innings in October and has given up four runs (with three home runs) in limited work. He also has just six strikeouts this postseason, is striking out 6.8 batters per nine innings for all of 2020, and will be facing a Dodgers lineup that struck out at the fourth-lowest percentage in MLB during the regular season and led MLB in both runs and home runs.

The Dodgers are 9-6 when Urias pitches with eight of those wins by two or more runs. Entering Friday, 44 of their 53 wins have come by multiple runs, Los Angeles should take it to the Rays and get a convincing Game 4 victory.

The play: Dodgers, -1.5 runs on run line, in Game 4.