Reporting from Houston — Houston ace Justin Verlander, who is scheduled to start Game 6 on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium, said he believes the baseballs being used in the World Series are slicker than those used during the regular season. He said it was one reason the Dodgers and Astros combined for a record 15 home runs in the first four games.
“All you can ask for is consistency,” Verlander said. “Over the years the numbers speak for themselves.”
Astros teammate Dallas Keuchel, who started Game 5 Sunday, also complained about the baseballs after the Astros’ Game 2 victory.
“Obviously the balls are juiced,” he said.
Verlander, a six-time all-star, pushed the issue during a news conference before Sunday’s game when he said he doubted commissioner Rob Manfred’s statement that the baseballs remain within long-standing specifications.
“I think there’s enough information out there to say that’s not true,” Verlander said.
“On one hand,” the former Cy Young Award winner continued, “you can have somebody that manufactures the ball [say] they’re not different. And on the other hand you can [have] the people that have held a ball in their hand their entire life, saying it’s different. You value one over the other. Take your pick.”
MLB spokesperson Pat Courtney responded by saying: “World Series baseballs are tested at the time of manufacturing and are made from the same materials and to the same specifications as regular season baseballs. The only difference is the gold stamping on the baseballs.”
Verlander acknowledged that since the same balls are being used for both teams, there was a fair playing field.
“I don’t think it’s the case of one pitcher saying, ‘Hey, something is different here,’ ” Verlander said. “I think as a whole everybody is saying, ‘Whoa, something is a little off here.’”
Dodgers left-hander Rich Hill has often noted the impact slick baseballs can have in creating blisters but said he noticed nothing wrong with the World Series balls. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts agreed, saying the balls felt normal to him. He suggested warm weather in the first two games in Los Angeles may have contributed to the inflated home run numbers.
“It’s hard to argue the numbers,” he said. “You know there’s more velocity. Guys are swinging harder.”
1/35
Astros Alex Bregman is mobbed by teamates after hitting the game winner aginst the Dodgers in the 10th inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 2/35
Astros celebrate a tenth inning win over the Dodgers in game 5.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 3/35
Astros celebrate a tenth inning 13-12 win over the Dodgers in game 5.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 4/35
Astros Brian McCann celebrates with pinch runner Derek Fisher to beat the Dodgers
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 5/35
Astros Alex Bregman gets the game-winning hit against the Dodgers in the 10th inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 6/35
Astros Brian McCann holds his wrist in pain after being hit by a pitch from Dodgers reliever Kenley Jansen in the 10th inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 7/35
Dodgers Yasiel Puig hits a two-run home run in the 9th inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 8/35
Cody Bellinger snags a foul ball from the stands in the ninth inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 9/35
There is a lot of numbers on the Minute Maid Park scoreboard,
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 10/35
Dodgers pitcher Brandon Morrow sits in the dugout alone after giving up the lead in the 7th inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 11/35
Clayton Kershaw walks back to the dugout after giving up four runs to the Astros in the fifth inning of Game 5 of the 2017 World Series.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 12/35
Kenley Jansen meets at the mound with pitching coach Rick Honeycutt in the tenth inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 13/35
Justin Turner is tagged out at 3rd base on a failed sacrafice bunt form Kiki Hernandez in the seventh inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times ) 14/35
Carlos Correa hits a two-run home run against the Dodgers in the seventh inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 15/35
George Springer crosses the plate ahead of Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve, who homered off of the Dodgers’ Kenta Maeda in the fifth inning.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 16/35
Carlos Correa of the Astros celebrates after hitsing a two-run home run in the seventh inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 17/35
Carlos Correa celebrates his two-run home run with Astros teammate Jose Altuve, right, in the 7th inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 18/35
Carlos Correa of the Astros reacts after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning.
(Christian Petersen / Getty Images) 19/35
Jose Altuve hits a three-run homer off Dodgers reliever Kenta Maeda in the fifth inning.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 20/35
The Astros’ George Springer can’t come up with a ball hit by the Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger during the seventh inning.
(Eric Gay / AP) 21/35
Alex Bregman of the Astros tags out Justin Turner of the Dodgers at third base during the seventh inning.
(Bob Levey / Getty Images) 22/35
Yuli Gurriel is swarmed by Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa after hitting a three-run homer off of Dogers starter Clayton Kershaw in the fourth inning.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 23/35
Kenta Maeda reacts after Jose Altuve hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 24/35
George Springer crosses the plate ahead of Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve, who homered off Kenta Maeda in the fifth inning.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 25/35
Cody Bellinger celebrates his home run in the fifth inning of Game 5 of the World Series.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 26/35
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger hits a three-run homer in the fifth inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 27/35
Clayton Kershaw gives up a three-run home run to the Astros’ Yuli Gurriel in the fourth inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 28/35
Cody Bellinger hits a three-run home run against the Astros in the fifth inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 29/35
Logan Forsythe scores during the fourth inning.
(Christian Petersen / Getty Images) 30/35
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve can’t get a glove on a hit by the Dodgers’ Charlie Culberson during the fourth inning of Game 5.
(Charlie Riedel / Associated Press) 31/35
Logan Forsythe is safe at second base on a steal as Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve holds up the ball.
(TANNEN MAURY / EPA) 32/35
Clayton Kershaw pitches during the first inning of Game 5.
(Pool / Getty Images) 33/35
Former United States Presidents George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush speak to the crowd before Game 5.
(Pool / Getty Images) 34/35
Dodgers fan Edward Santos, whose family is from the Philippines, sports a jersey with the phrase “Icanmakerice” before Game 5.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 35/35
Dodgers starting pitcher sits alone in the outfield before the start of Game 5 at Minute Maid Park in Houston. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Giles’ failings
Ken Giles was scored on just once in his final 19 regular season appearances. In the postseason, Giles has been scored on it six of seven outings.
In the World Series, he’s allowed five runs and recorded five outs.
No reliever has ever been scored upon more frequently in one postseason, and Houston manager A.J. Hinch said Giles’ role, which used to be closer, is now uncertain.
“I’ll try to lift the burden off of him carrying this end-of-the-game pressure with him,” Hinch said. “Obviously, he’s had a rough go of it. He’s more than equipped to handle it. And I’m not sure how the game is going to play out.
“If I’ve got to give him the ball at some point, he’s got the weapons to get outs.”
Gurriel expecting boos
The slant-eyed gesture made by Yuli Gurriel — aimed at Dodgers starter Yu Darvish, who is part Japanese — earned a five-game suspension, which the Astros first baseman will serve at the start of next season.
Despite the penalty and Gurriel’s apology, the Astros are expecting an aggressive reception when they return to Dodger Stadium for Game 6 on Tuesday.
“I think everyone is aware it’s going to be a rough setting for him,” Hinch said. “I don’t think you can convince 55,000 fans to turn the page as fast as maybe the two teams have.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2017 World Series
[email protected]
Follow Pedro Moura on Twitter @pedromoura
