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In a World Series featuring two 100-plus win teams, two Game of All-Time candidates and countless breathtaking moments, it’s only appropriate it be settled by the full seven games.
The Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers, who have been considered the two best teams in the league for most of the season, have delivered back-and-forth body shots during a scintillating 2017 Fall Classic, and now with each team up against the ropes, one squad will be able to deliver the knockout punch at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night.
It’s been all-time great World Series, and it’s a must-watch Game 7.
First pitch is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast nationally on Fox. Those with a cable log-in can watch via Fox Sports Go, but if you don’t have cable or can’t get to a television, you can watch Fox online–if you’re in a select market–by signing up for a free trial of one of the following cable-free, live-TV services:
Fubo TV: Fox is included in the “Fubo Premier” channel package.
DirecTV Now: Fox is included in all four of the channel packages.
Sling TV: Fox is included in the “Sling Blue” channel package.
Again, all of these options include a free trial, so you can watch tonight’s game at no cost.
Preview
In the winner-take-all Game 7, the Astros will hand the ball to 24-year-old Lance McCullers Jr., who, in peculiar fashion, was warming up for this immediately following Houston’s Game 6 loss on Tuesday night.
Though the burgeoning superstar was a bit shaky in his lone start this World Series–5.1 innings, four hits, four walks, three earned runs and three strikeouts in the Game 3 win–he proved during the ALCS he can be counted on during the biggest moments. He tossed six terrific innings of two-hit, one-run ball in what turned out to be a Game 4 loss, and then he came back in relief in Game 7 and was nearly unhittable, hurling four scoreless innings with six strikeouts and just one hit allowed.
“He’s a guy that wants the ball,” catcher Brian McCann said. “He wants the ball in big moments. We’re happy he’s taking the mound and we’ll all be ready.”
The Dodgers, meanwhile, will counter with Yu Darvish. After a pair of fantastic starts in the NLDS and NLCS (11.1 innings, eight hits, one walk, two earned runs, 14 strikeouts), the 31-year-old was roughed up in Game 3, giving up six hits, one walk and four earned runs in just 1.2 innings of work.
Unfortunately tossed into the middle of a controversy that involved Yuli Gurriel making a racist gesture, Darvish has the perfect opportunity for redemption in Game 7.
“We have some of best pitchers on the planet here in this locker room, and he’s one of them,” said Rich Hill. “We’re going to see a really awesome game, with a lot of conviction behind his pitches. It’s going to be awesome.”
Of course, with this being the last game of the season no matter the outcome, both starters will have very short leashes. At any sign of danger, we could see Clayton Kershaw or Dallas Kuechel–two former CY Young winners who were beat up in their Game 5 starts–out of the bullpen. We could see players used for one pitch. We could see anything.
That’s the beauty of a Game 7.