Sonny Gray logs quality start in no-decision

The slumping slugger battled cleanup in each of the first two games of the series and was dropped down to sixth against a southpaw in Game 3 on Wednesday. Perhaps the move back to the top of the lineup will provide the offensive jolt that the Dodgers need to stave off elimination and keep their dreams of a three-peat alive. Here’s the full lineup that they will trot out against Brewers’ southpaw Shane Drohan on Thursday: Ohtani (DH), Mookie Betts (SS), Freddie Freeman (1B), Will Smith (C), Kyle Tucker (RF), Teoscar Hernandez (LF), Miguel Rojas (2B), Andy Pages (CF) and Enrique Hernandez (3B).

Smith entered the game in the eighth inning with the tying runner on third and two outs. He wound up winning a 10-pitch battle with Yandy Díaz on a strikeout. He would then go on to retire the side in order in the ninth inning. The right-hander has appeared in seven of the team’s eight games this postseason and has picked up two saves while allowing one run on two hits in nine innings. He will almost certainly be ready in Game 4 if the team needs him.

Halpin came to bat with the Guardians down 2-1 in the fifth inning and a runner on first. In a 2-2 count, he took a sinker right down the middle and hit it 385 feet to right-center field to put the Guardians on top 3-2. No other runs would cross the plate. Despite being more of a defensive player, Halpin is 4-for-12 this postseason with two RBI and two runs scored.

Simpson drove in the only runs of the day for the Rays with a two-run triple off Gavin Williams in the fourth inning. The Rays only had three hits on the day, but all three of them went for extra bases. Simpson is just 3-for-15 so far this postseason with two runs scored.

It was a tough day for Caminero, who was struck out by Gavin Williams, Daniel Espino, and Cade Smith. The Rays’ third baseman has enjoyed a solid postseason but is just 2-for-11 in the first three games of this series with a 7/1 K/BB ratio. He’ll need to adjust to how the Guardians are pitching him if the Rays have any hope of advancing to the World Series.

Jax struck out two and walked two on the day, but one of those walks came back to hurt him in the second inning when he walked Jo Adell, who then came around to score on a Nathaniel Lowe double. Jax then settled down until the fifth inning, when Patrick Bailey reached on an infield single and then Petey Halpin crushed a go-ahead two-run home run. Jax would then allow a single ot Brayan Rocchio before his day was done. There is a chance that he could be used out of the bullpen in Game 6 or 7 if the series gets that far.

Williams was cruising early in this one, keeping the Rays off the scoreboard for the first three innings and striking out five of the first nine batters he faced. He allowed a leadoff double in the fourth but then struck out the next two batters and seemed close to getting out of the jam before a walk and a Chandler Simpson triple plated two runs. Williams would rebound to retire the side in order in the fifth but was then removed from the game at just 70 pitches. Guardians manager Stephen Vogt made it clear that Williams was healthy but had just started two games and made one relief appearance in a six-game stretch, so they wanted to save his arm in case they need him later in the series. Williams has now allowed four runs on eight hits in 16 2/3 innings this postseason while striking out 33 and walking six. He could likely start Game 7 if the series gets that far.

Cabrera spent almost the entire season in the Yankees’ organization at the Triple-A level, hitting .288 with 19 home runs and a .790 OPS. He was designated for assignment and claimed off waivers by the Reds in late September. He will battle for a bench spot in spring training.

Nogami is a little-known 20-year-old from Japan who was not playing professional baseball but was signed out of a semi-hardball league. Limited scouting reports suggest that he has a 90 mph four-seamer, cutter, slider, curve, and a splitter. He’s likely a low-cost developmental prospect for the Padres.

The 48-year-old Reith played 13 years of professional baseball, including three in the big leagues with the Reds as a reliever. He has spent the past five seasons as the pitching coach for Triple-A Durham in the Rays’ organization. This will be Reith’s first stint on a major league coaching staff, and it will be interesting to see what, if any, organizational approaches he brings over from Tampa Bay, where he coached current Twins starters Taj Bradley and Joe Ryan.