MLB Playoffs: Two rookies get the ball for Game Seven

For the first time in major league history, a pair of rookies will get the ball to start Game Seven of the MLB playoffs.

Dave Roberts recently announced that Dustin May would start game seven for the Los Angeles Dodgers per Ken Rosenthal to face off against Ian Anderson.

This is the first time that both teams will start a rookie pitcher in a winner-take-all postseason game.

It is important to note that Dustin May is on just one days rest. The 23 year old rookie started Friday’s game five of the NLCS. May threw 55 pitches and went two innings.

May has logged 6.2 innings in the 2020 postseason with a 1.35 ERA. He has made four appearances, two of them as the starter and two as a reliever.

The Dodgers will most likely not ride May too long, but just as a short opener like he did on Thursday.

Dave Roberts still has plenty of options to follow May in game seven. Tony Gonsolin, another rookie, was the other candidate to start Sunday’s winner take all game. He threw last Tuesday and has had plenty of rest.

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw threw Thursday, the 15th, so he is on two days rest and could be called upon.

Another starter that is available out of the bullpen is Julio Urias, who is on three days rest. Walker Buehler is the only unavailable pitcher after throwing six innings of scoreless baseball in yesterday’s Dodgers win.

The Atlanta Braves are going with a 22 year old in Ian Anderson. He has been outstanding in the postseason as a rookie, and has not given up a run yet in three outings.

Anderson boasts an impressive 22 strikeouts in 15.2 innings, only giving up six hits and walking eight. The Braves have won every game that Anderson has pitched in the playoffs.

Unlike Dustin May, Anderson is on schedule and has plenty of rest to throw 100 pitches. Brian Snitker has kept him below 100 pitches in the postseason so it will be interesting to see how long he rides him in the winner-take-all game.

Anderson has not pitched too deep into the three games he has pitched in the postseason. He has gone six innings, five and two-thirds, and then most recently only four innings.

Max Fried will not be available after throwing in yesterday’s loss. The Braves could call upon Bryse Wilson or Kyle Wright after Anderson’s outing, but that will most likely not be the case.

The Braves have plenty of reliever options if Anderson can have another strong outing.

Expect an electric game seven with plenty of good pitching.