2 weeks Ago By Daniel Mader
The Dodgers and Yankees got a day off for travel between Games 2 and 3 of the World Series. Now, as the matchup heads to the Bronx, each club will go deeper into its rotation for their third meeting. Whichever starter goes deeper into Monday's matchup could be crucial — a significant reason the Dodgers own a 2-0 series lead so far is the performances of their starting pitching.
Jack Flaherty did allow a two-run homer to Giancarlo Stanton in Game 1, but he was solid through 5 1/3 innings otherwise in the Dodgers' 6-3 win. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, meanwhile, cruised through the Yankees' lineup in Game 2, as he finished with 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball. As for the Yankees, ace Gerrit Cole turned in a strong performance in Game 1, going six innings while striking out four and allowing just one run.
Carlos Rodon struggled in Game 2, though — allowing four runs in 3 1/3 innings as Los Angeles claimed a 4-2 win. Rotation depth can swing a World Series — and for the Yankees, they're approaching do-or-die territory in Game 3. So, who will New York and Los Angeles roll out on the mound in Monday's contest? Here's what to know about the starting pitching matchup in Game 3 of the World Series between the Yankees and Dodgers.
MORE: Full 2024 World Series schedule Yankees-Dodgers Game 3 starting pitchers Clarke Schmidt will get the ball in the Yankees' first home game of the World Series, while Walker Buehler will start the game for the Dodgers. It will be Schmidt's first-ever World Series start, but his third of the 2024 postseason. Buehler, though, has a pair of Fall Classic starts under his belt already — he started one game in the Dodgers' 2018 World Series appearance and another in their 2020 championship run.
Schmidt, 28 years old, is in his fifth season in the majors. All of them have been with New York, but he appeared in only five games between 2020 and 2021. After a breakout season (3.
12 ERA in 57.2 innings pitched) in 2022, Schmidt became a full-time starter for the Yankees last year and proved to be a durable option, starting in 32 games and racking up a 4.64 ERA in 159 innings.
While he only started 16 games in 2024, Schmidt broke once through again, pitching to a 2.85 ERA. On the other side, Buehler is a seasoned veteran for Los Angeles.
Now 30 years old, he's started in 122 career games in the regular season and 17 in the postseason. Buehler's best year came in 2021, when he logged a 2.47 ERA and 212 strikeouts in 207.
2 innings. He hasn't been as effective of a pitcher since then though, as he underwent his second Tommy John surgery in 2022. Buehler managed just 75.
1 innings in the 2024 regular season, and his 5.38 ERA was his highest mark since his rookie year in 2017. While Schmidt had stronger numbers on the mound this season, Buehler boasts extensive experience in the postseason — and the Dodgers will be hoping that experience shines in a tough environment in Game 3.
MORE: A look at Aaron Judge's struggles to begin 2024 World Series Clarke Schmidt stats Starts W-L IP ERA WHIP K K/9 16 5-5 85.1 2.85 1.
18 93 9.8 Schmidt was one component of a strong Yankees rotation in 2024. While he wasn't as durable of some of their other top starters, like Carlos Rodon and Nestor Cortes, Schmidt was effective when on the bump.
He didn't qualify for the league ERA title due to his limited innings, but if he did qualify, Schmidt would have ranked fifth in MLB with his 2.85 ERA. Approaching his first-ever World Series start, Schmidt has five career postseason appearances, two of them in 2024.
He allowed three runs in 2 1/3 innings for the Yankees in the 2022 postseason, but has racked up a 3.86 ERA and six strikeouts in 9 1/3 innings in the 2024 postseason. Clarke Schmidt vs.
Dodgers stats Player H-AB AVG HRs RBIs Ks OPS Kike Hernandez 1-7 .143 0 0 3 .286 Teoscar Hernandez 0-3 .
000 0 0 1 .000 Shohei Ohtani 1-3 .333 1 2 2 1.
667 Only three current Dodgers hitters have faced Schmidt in their careers. Both Kike Hernandez and Teoscar Hernandez haven't been very effective against the Yankees starter, but Shohei Ohtani does have a home run against him. Ohtani is expected to play in Game 3 after some initial injury concerns, so the Dodgers star's matchups against Schmidt on Monday should be interesting.
MORE: Latest injury updates on Shohei Ohtani for World Series Walker Buehler stats Starts W-L IP ERA WHIP K K/9 16 1-6 75.1 5.38 1.
55 64 7.6 Buehler finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting in 2021, but injuries have limited his impact since then. He missed most of the 2022 season, and the entire 2023 season, due to his second career Tommy John surgery.
After returning to the mound in 2024, Buehler's regular season numbers in just 75 1/3 innings don't jump off the page. However, if there's something he does bring for manager Dave Roberts and Los Angeles, it's experience. Having pitched in two World Series games before, Buehler has proven to be reliable in high-stakes games.
In the 2024 postseason, Buehler has a 6.00 ERA in two starts, but most of that damage came against the Padres in the NLDS. His last start came in Game 3 of the NLCS against the Mets, when Buehler pitched four scoreless innings with six strikeouts.
Walker Buehler vs. Yankees stats Player H-AB AVG HRs RBIs Ks OPS Jazz Chisholm Jr. 3-5 .
600 0 1 2 1.400 Trent Grisham 4-19 .211 2 2 4 .
776 Anthony Rizzo 2-9 .222 0 0 1 .633 Juan Soto 4-15 .
267 0 2 3 .620 Buehler has only faced four non-pitcher Yankees in his career: Jazz Chisholm Jr, Trent Grisham, Anthony Rizzo and Juan Soto. Chisholm, the former Marlin, has had the most success against Buehler of anyone in New York's lineup, but in limited opportunities.
Aaron Judge, who is just 1-for-9 to begin the World Series, has never faced Buehler. Yankees-Dodgers Game 4 starting pitchers The Dodgers haven't yet announced their starting pitcher for Game 4, and will likely do so Tuesday night. However, the Yankees plan on rolling out the right-handed Luis Gil.
Gil had a 3.50 ERA and 171 strikeouts in 2024 as one of the American League's best pitchers. Whether the Yankees trail in the series 2-1 or 3-0 by then, a win in Game 4 will be critical for their World Series hopes.
First though, Buehler and Schmidt will get the ball in Game 3 on Monday night..
