Grandal has struggled throughout his career in the postseaso

[panxing18]

He is used to pitching to catcher Yasmani Grandal , but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced backup Austin Barnes will take his place Tuesday., striking out 30 times in 68 at-bats and hitting safely on just seven occasions. He's 3-for-22 with 10 strikeouts this year.For what it's worth, Barnes was behind the plate for Hill's best career game when he threw nine perfect innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates before allowing a 10th-inning home run to second baseman Josh Harrison in a tough-luck 1-0 loss. That battery hasn't fared as well recently, as Hill posted a 6.75 ERA in his first three September starts with Barnes behind the dish.The other problem is that Hill hasn't had great success against some Brewers, with Christian Yelich (.900 OPS in 10 at-bats), first baseman Jesus Aguilar (1.232 OPS in seven at-bats), outfielder Lorenzo Cain (1.413 OPS in seven at-bats) all having success against the lefty. Granted, those are small sample sizes, but that trio led the team in batting this year.On the opposite mound, southpaw Gio Gonzalez will get the ball. He essentially served as the team's opener in Game 1, allowing one home run to shortstop Manny Machado in an otherwise run-free outing.Gonzalez is a starter by trade (he has a 10-11 record and 4.57 ERA in 27 starts with the Brewers and Washington Nationals this year), but unless he's cruising , chances are he'll have a quick hook like last time as manager Craig Counsell tries to piece together a bridge to a win.Gary Landers/Associated PressThat's not too difficult given Milwaukee has one of MLB's best relief staffs. The Brewers were top five in league ERA and have continued their strong performance in the postseason. Of note, southpaw Josh Hader has thrown six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts, while right-hander Corey Knebel has tossed 6.2 innings of one-run balls alongside 10 punchouts.The question is whether the bottom falls out on a Brewers bullpen that has been taxed this postseason. Milwaukee starters have tossed 25.2 innings in the playoffs, or an average of just four-plus innings per outing. At some point, will the Brewers simply run out of gas, or will they hold on long enough to stay effective?As far as Game 4 goes, the Brewers hold a trump card in that their top reliever (Hader) threw just eight pitches on Monday. He did toss three innings (and threw 46 pitches) on Friday in a 6-5 win, although the fact he wasn't used Saturday (and had a day off Sunday) could mean more action Tuesday if needed. Counsell confirmed postgame that Hader is available in Games 4 and 5.That should ultimately be the difference. The potential for multiple innings out of Hader, who has thrown 3.2 shutout innings and allowed just two hits while striking out six against L.A., may be too much.Give the edge to Milwaukee as Counsell makes all the right moves again to bring the Brewers within one win of the World Series.Pick: Milwaukee 5, Los Angeles 3 DETROIT (AP) — At this point, Clint Hurdle is probably used to managing for more than nine innings.Colin Moran hit an RBI single in the top of the 10th , and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Detroit Tigers 3-2 on Wednesday night. It was the second straight night Hurdle’s Pirates beat Detroit in 10 innings, and it was the sixth extra-inning game already this season for Pittsburgh. Hurdle has guided the Pirates to a 4-2 record in those.“I’ve been fortunate to have some experience to draw upon, and coaching for some men that had some experience,” Hurdle said. “I’ve had some men that I’ve been able to work with and watch. Sometimes, more than anything, you need to act like you know what you’re doing.”Spencer Turnbull allowed two hits in six innings for Detroit, but he was denied his first career win after reliever Joe Jiménez loaded the bases with nobody out in the eighth. Daniel Stumpf relieved Jiménez and gave up a tying sacrifice fly to Josh Bell.Pittsburgh star Starling Marte was beaned by Jiménez during that eighth inning, but he remained in the game and hit a single in the 10th.The game was played in rainy conditions, and Tigers left fielder Christin Stewart slipped and fell while catching Bell’s flyball in the eighth. Stewart stayed in for his plate appearance in the bottom of the inning, then left with a right quad injury.In the middle of the eighth, there was an announcement telling fans to leave the seating area because of severe weather in the area, but the teams played on. Eventually , fans were told they could return, and there were plenty of good seats available down near the field.Adam Frazier led off the 10th with a double off Buck Farmer (1-1), and Marte and Moran followed with singles, giving the Pirates the lead. Nick Burdi (2-1) pitched a perfect ninth, and Felipe Vázquez finished for his fifth save in five chances.“Obviously, it’s a welcome challenge when you’re playing close games every day,” Moran said. “That means you’re in every game, and you’ve got a chance to win.”Turnbull allowed only an unearned run in the fourth in his seventh career start.“I was pretty happy with myself, although I had one stretch in the middle that wasn’t good,” Turnbull said. “I was able to get it back, though. I was sailing a few pitches, but I made an adjustment and pretty much started hitting my spots again.”Pittsburgh starter Trevor Williams allowed two runs in six innings.Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead in the fourth. With two outs , Detroit shortstop Ronny Rodríguez couldn’t handle Jung Ho Kang’s hard grounder, letting it past for an error. Bell came home from second on that play.The Tigers pushed across two runs in their half of that inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Rodríguez lifted a fly to left. Jason Martin made the catch, but his throw home was a bit off line, and Miguel Cabrera was safe on a close play.John Hicks followed with an RBI single to left that landed in front of Martin, who appeared to get a late break on the ball.Pittsburgh has won nine of 12.SCARY MOMENTJiménez, making his 100th career appearance, gave up a single and a walk before hitting Marte with a pitch that may have glanced off the Pittsburgh slugger’s shoulder but also appeared to hit him around the left ear flap on his helmet. He was slow getting up but stayed in.“They’re always horrible,” Hurdle said. “We’ve obviously been through a few of them now, both with shots off the mound and shots at the plate.”TRAINER’S ROOMTigers: Detroit has lost LHP Matt Moore for the season after he had knee surgery. Manager Ron Gardenhire updated Moore’s status before the game.UP NEXTPirates: Pittsburgh has Thursday off before starting a home series with San Francisco. RHP Jordan Lyles (1-0) starts for the Pirates against LHP Madison Bumgarner (1-2) on Friday night.Tigers: Detroit hosts a four-game set against the Chicago White Sox. RHP Tyson Ross (1-2) takes the mound for the Tigers on Thursday against RHP Ivan Nova (0-2).

[veranix]

[veranix]

[veranix]

[veranix]