World Series Game 4: Five things you need to know before first pitch

LOS ANGELES — We assure you, it’s Game 4 of the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers happening Saturday night. The crazy 18 innings of Game 3 might have felt like two games, but they were just one.

The Dodgers, 3-2 winners on Max Muncy’s walk-off homer, now have a fighting chance in the World Series. They’re still down 2-1, but have an advantage in Game 4 after the Red Sox burned through their pitchers in Game 3.

There are a lot of question marks for both teams heading into Game 4 — mainly who’s going to pitch (we’ll get to that below). Dave Roberts and Alex Cora have some decisions to make. Players need to bounce back or grab momentum. Game 3 was crazy with its 18 innings, but how players respond to Game 3 a day later could well determine the series.

Here’s our daily look at lineups, pitching matchups and more ahead of first pitch:

A clock in Dodger Stadium turns to midnight at the beginning of the 17th inning in Game 3 of the World Series baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

1. When does World Series Game 4 start?

First pitch of Game 4 comes to us from Dodger Stadium at 8:09 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on FOX.

2. Pitching matchup

In the end, the Dodgers have arrived back at Rich Hill as their Game 4 starter. Following Game 3, the Dodgers went fron Hill to TBA, which led to speculation that Clayton Kershaw might pitch on short rest. However, the team has since revealed that Hill will make the start Saturday night with Kershaw following in Game 5 on Sunday.

Dodgers make it official: Clayton Kershaw starts tomorrow. They have thus far declined to announce their starter for today.

— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) October 27, 2018

The Red Sox have announced left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez as their starting pitcher after previously scheduled starter Nathan Eovaldi pitched six-plus innings of relief in Game 3.

LHP Eduardo Rodriguez will start for the #RedSox tonight in WS Game 4 at LAD. pic.twitter.com/9nATGR98xq

— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) October 27, 2018

Though it was only one batter, Rodriguez also pitched in Game 3. That puts him in rare company.

Eduardo Rodriguez will be the first pitcher to start a #WorldSeries game after pitching in relief the previous day since Firpo Marberry for the Washington Senators in 1924. #RedSox

— David Adler (@_dadler) October 27, 2018

3. Lineups

The question for the Red Sox was how they’d get all their best bats in the lineup without having a DH in the NL park. In Game 3, that meant Andrew Benintendi on the bench and only go to pinch hit once. In Game 4, Benintendi returns to the lineup, but ALCS MVP Jackie Bradley Jr. sits despite hitting a clutch home run in Game 3.

Benintendi replaces Bradley in the lineup. He’ll play LF, with Betts in CF and Martinez in RF, vs Hill. Pearce in for Moreland, Holt and Nunez start over Kinsler and Devers.

— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) October 27, 2018

Here’s how the Dodgers will line up. David Freese is back in the leadoff spot against Boston’s left hander.

Tonight's GM. 4 Dodger lineup vs. Red Sox:
Freese 1B
Muncy 2B
Turner 3B
Machado SS
Bellinger CF
Puig RF
Taylor LF
Barnes C
Hill P#LADetermined | #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/Fy2cyfooKf

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 27, 2018

4. Where do these teams go after 18 innings in Game 3?

Will there be a baseball hangover in Game 4? More than likely, yes. In some cases, the players are returning to Dodger Stadium around 10-12 hours after leaving Game 3. The two teams tax their bullpens in Game 3. The Red Sox especially taxed all their pitching, using four of their five starters.

A lot of this may come down to who strikes first – which is usually how the Red Sox win. They’ve won every postseason game in which they scored first and lost every game in which they didn’t score first — like Game 3.

So the question becomes whether the Red Sox can wipe this away or the Dodger can grasp some momentum. After Game 3, we heard something on each side from the players.

“Same mentality we had all year— flush it and move on to the next game,” said Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr.

“It’s one of those things when you’re able to come out on top from a game like this,” said Dodgers Game 3 hero Max Muncy, “you have to feel it gives you a little momentum going to the next one.”

5. The ceremonial stuff

The Dodgers usually put on a show with stars from the past, like having Magic Johnson and Tommy Lasorda throw out the first pitch before Game 3. For Game 4, the team has only revealed that another Dodgers hero will handle first pitch duties.

OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder will perform the national anthem, the team announced.