World Series Game 2: Five things you need to know before first pitch

BOSTON — The Los Angeles Dodgers don’t want to go home down 0-2 in the World Series. The Boston Red Sox, meanwhile, would greatly prefer to leave Fenway Park with a commanding 2-0 lead. These ideas, of course, are at odds and we’ll find out who gets what they want in Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday night from Fenway Park.

The Red Sox were relentless against the Dodgers in Game 1, leaving with an 8-4 win in a game that wasn’t quite the pitching duel we expected. Instead, it was a back-and-forth offensive battle that the Red Sox finally won with a three-run, pinch-hit homer by Eduardo Núñez.

Fortunes can change in Game 2. Or the holes could get dug deeper. Just like we’ll do every game, we’ve set this handy guide to get you set for the night ahead. It includes how to watch the game, lineups and other important updates.

The dugout reacts as Eduardo Nunez #36 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates his three-run home run during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game One of the 2018 World Series at Fenway Park on October 23, <g class= — The dugout reacts as Eduardo Nunez #36 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates his three-run home run during the seventh inning of Game 1. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

1. What time is World Series Game 2?

First pitch is scheduled for 8:09 p.m. ET with TV coverage on FOX. This is the second of two games at Fenway Park before the series shifts to Dodger Stadium.

2. Lineups and pitching matchups

For the 2-0 lead. #DoDamage pic.twitter.com/6IyVYhFi0T

— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) October 24, 2018

Tonight's GM. 2 Dodger lineup at Red Sox:
Dozier 2B
Turner 3B
Freese 1B
Machado SS
Taylor LF
Kemp DH
Hernández CF
Puig RF
Barnes C
(Ryu P)#LADetermined | #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/EDicCFB2Kb

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 24, 2018

The main difference in the Red Sox lineup is they’re starting Christian Vazquez behind the plate instead of Sandy Leon, who started Game 1. Vazquez will bat ninth, moving Jackie Bradley Jr. up to eighth.

The Dodgers are going all-righty again — just like they did in Game 1 against Chris Sale — with lefty David Price on the mound. It’s the same lineup, but you can count on the Dodgers to deploy the likes of Cody Bellinger and Joc Pederson from their bench.

Price (16-7, 3.58) is coming off the best postseason start of his career. In fact, it was the first time he earned a postseason win, a fact that has taken a lot of stress off his shoulders.

“It’s definitely a weight lifted off of me for sure,” Price said before Game 1. “Not like food tastes better or anything like that. But it was time. And I’m definitely glad that the time came and we moved past it. And I look forward to doing the same thing [in Game 2].”

The Dodgers send Hyun-Jin Ryu (7-3, 1.97) to the mound with the very important duty of not getting lit up like last time out. Ryu pitched seven score innings against the Braves in the NLDS, but pitched a combined 7.1 innings against the Brewers in the NLCS and allowed seven runs. It was NLCS Game 6 that was particularly tough for Ryu, in which he gave up five runs in three innings.

“Looking back at it,” Ryu said. “If I actually commanded all of my off-speed pitches to get ahead in the count, I think there would have been a different result. Obviously [in Game 2] I’m going to use all of the pitches that I can throw and may try to command the pitches better.”

3. Will there be rain again for Game 2?

Game 1 was threatened by rain and a lightning storm, but none of it actually affected the game. There’s afternoon rain in Boston, but it doesn’t like Game 2 should be impacted — so long as players can stand the cold. The forecast has Boston dipping to 40 degrees by the middle of the game.

It doesn't matter how cold it is at #FenwayPark as long as our #LADodgers bats are hot. Here is tonight's forecast for game 2. @FredNBCLA #NBCLA pic.twitter.com/6QeHYtuWTY

— Anthony Yanez (@AnthonyNBCLA) October 24, 2018

4. Dodgers found some good in their Game 1 loss

Even though they’d prefer not to be down in the series, the Dodgers did find some positives in their loss in Game 1.

Manager Dave Roberts said after the game: “I thought offensively we had a great game plan, and to get Sale’s pitch count up and get him out of there to get to their pen, I thought we did a great job offensively, we really did. It was just for me the defense, uncharacteristic tonight from our club. And I don’t think the pitching line is reflective of the way the guys threw. To beat a club like that, you’ve got to play a cleaner game defensively.”

5. The ceremonial stuff

The Red Sox are bringing out more Boston legends for Game 2.

• First pitch: A collection of players from the 2004 World Series team, including Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Kevin Millar, Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was part of that team but don’t be joining them in the first pitch.

• National anthem: The Boston Pops, with vocalists from the Tanglewood Chorus and the Boston Symphony Children’s Chorus.

• Game ball delivery: Jajuan Julian, 18, a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Boston will deliver the game ball former Red Sox All-Star and current NESN analyst Jerry Remy.