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Gilbreath just returned from Tommy John surgery 10 days ago. He had since made three appearances in which he gave up six runs and totaled three outs. It’s been quite a struggle for a lefty who was one of the Rockies’ best relievers as a rookie in 2021 and again until getting hurt in 2022.

This is Venable’s first job managing a major league team. He interviewed for the White Sox job last year when Pedro Grifol was hired. Venable previously worked as a first and third base coach with the Cubs for three years and as the Red Sox bench coach for two years before joining the Rangers as the associate manager for the past two years. Venable was beside manager Bruce Bochy as the Rangers won the World Series in 2023. He’ll replace Grady Sizemore, who was 13-32 as Chicago’s interim manager after Grifol, who was 89-190 in a season and a half, was fired on August eighth. The White Sox are in a long-term rebuild after posting the most losses in a single-season in the Modern Era (since 1901) with 121 losses in 2024.

When Freeman hit a two-run home run in the first inning, it looked like the Dodgers might sweep the series with Freeman being the easiest World Series MVP decision in history. Instead the Dodgers dropped Game 4 11-4 to the Yankees, though Freeman certainly still has the inside track on the World Series MVP if the Dodgers can close out the series. Freeman’s home run gave him the record for most consecutive games in the World Series with a home run with six.

The Yankees won 11-4, but when Weaver entered it was a 6-4 game with two outs, a man on second and Mookie Betts at the plate in the seventh inning. Weaver struck out Betts swinging with a high fastball. In the eighth inning, he retired the side in order and struck out Teoscar Hernandez and Max Muncy swinging. It wasn’t a save appearance, but it was an electric relief outing in a two-run game that kept the Dodgers off the board before the Yankees broke the game open with a five-run bottom of the eighth inning.

Wells became the youngest Yankees catcher to hit a home run in the World Series at 25 years old. His solo home run off Landon Knack in the sixth inning provided the Yankees with some breathing room as they took a 6-4 lead. Wells was 4-for-41 in the postseason entering play Tuesday, but showed that he still has more to offer right now than Jose Trevino. Given that the Dodgers don’t have any left-handed starting pitchers, expect Wells to be behind the plate for the Yankees for the rest of the series.

Volpe became the only player in World Series history to have at least four RBI and at least two stolen bases in the same game. He carried the Yankees in Game 4. Volpe’s two-out grand slam off Daniel Hudson was his first home run of the playoffs. It traveled 390 feet and left his bat at 107.6 mph exit velocity and most importantly gave the Yankees a lead they wouldn’t give back. In the eighth inning, Volpe hit a hustle double as the throw by Teoscar Hernandez beat him to the base, but the ball popped out of Enrique Hernandez’ glove. He promptly stole third base and scored on a ground ball to give the Yankees a 7-4 lead. New York desperately needed an offensive performance like this to get back in the series.

Hudson gave up two hits, walked one and struck out one. He was the first reliever out of the bullpen after Ben Casparius began the bullpen game for the Dodgers. Hudson began the third inning by striking out Juan Soto, but soon the bases were loaded after he hit Aaron Judge, allowed a single to Jazz Chisholm and walked Giancarlo Stanton. After Anthony Rizzo popped out, Hudson threw a first pitch slider down and in to Anthony Volpe that was hit out to left center field for a grand slam. The Yankees had a lead they wouldn’t give back and the Dodgers opted to use their low leverage relievers for the rest of the game.

Gil gave up five hits, walked two and struck out one. He settled down after allowing a double to Mookie Betts and a two-run home run to Freddie Freeman in the first inning. Gil started the fifth inning with a 5-2 lead, but was removed after allowing a leadoff home run to Will Smith and walking Tommy Edman. Gil only threw 67 pitches, but was understandably on a short leash with the Yankees facing elimination. He won’t start another game in this series, but could be available out of the bullpen in Game 6 or Game 7 if necessary.

Boone has been clear that Cole wouldn’t start Game 4 on three days’ rest under any circumstances, which includes the Yankees falling behind 3-0 in the series, citing Cole’s injury during the regular season. However the optics may look with the Yankees’ season potentially coming to an end without Cole taking the mound a second time in the series, Boone refuses to budge from his previous stance. Cole is still on track to start Game 5 on Wednesday if necessary.

The Dodgers are opening with Casparius as part of a bullpen game. Los Angeles has used the bullpen for an entire game in each round of the playoffs. The Dodgers lineup: Shohei Ohtani DH, Mookie Betts RF, Freddie Freeman 1B, Teoscar Hernández LF, Max Muncy 3B, Enrique Hernández CF, Gavin Lux 2B, Will Smith C, and Tommy Edman SS.

The Yankees are splitting up the struggling Aaron Judge — who is still hitting third, despite his issues — by putting Chisholm Jr. between the two sluggers. The full lineup as the Yankees look to keep this series going: 2B Gleyber Torres, RF Juan Soto, CF Judge, 3B Chisholm Jr., DH Stanton, 1B Anthony Rizzo, SS Anthony Volpe, C Austin Wells and LF Alex Verdugo behind Luis Gil.