Slumping star Aaron Judge and Yankees hope to break out when World Series shifts to NY for Game 3

NEW YORK -- Regardless of Shohei Ohtani’s status, Aaron Judge and nan New York Yankees request to commencement hitting if they’re going to climb backmost into this World Series.

New York has mustered 5 runs complete 19 innings successful 2 agonizing roadworthy losses to nan Los Angeles Dodgers, batting .143 pinch runners successful scoring position (2 for 14) and stranding 17 overall.

Maybe a return location will unleash a slumping Judge and nan remainder of these Bronx Bombers erstwhile nan best-of-seven Series shifts to nan Big Apple, wherever nan Yankees went 3-1 during nan American League playoffs.

“We’ve been done a batch of reliable moments passim nan year. So I deliberation we’ve been there," slugger Juan Soto said. "We cognize really (to take) a mates punches successful nan look and conscionable support battling and support going. We tin spell location and do our thing.”

With a location tally from Freddie Freeman successful each game, nan Dodgers clasp a 2-0 lead arsenic nan World Series returns to Yankee Stadium connected Monday nighttime for nan first clip since Nov. 4, 2009.

Hideki Matsui homered and knocked successful six runs that nighttime to wrap up Series MVP honors arsenic New York clinched its 27th title pinch a 7-3 triumph complete Philadelphia.

This time, nan Yankees are looking to shape a comeback that would astatine slightest nonstop this highly anticipated matchup backmost to Los Angeles for a imaginable Game 6.

“The Bronx is simply a typical place. They backmost us. They pump america up. They put unit connected different teams," first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. "When that stadium is rocking, we consciousness it. We request to get that power erstwhile we travel successful connected Monday and get it going.”

Mookie Betts and nan Dodgers are 2 wins awkward of their 2nd World Series title successful 5 years and nan franchise's eighth overall.

After an wounded scare, it appears Ohtani will beryllium successful nan lineup for Game 3. The superstar slugger partially dislocated his near shoulder sliding into 2nd guidelines erstwhile he was caught stealing to extremity nan seventh inning of Saturday night's 4-2 triumph successful Game 2 astatine Dodger Stadium.

But head Dave Roberts told ESPN successful a matter connection that Ohtani has been cleared and will play Monday night.

“He’s nan champion subordinate successful nan game, and to spot him connected nan crushed successful pain, it’s not a bully emotion for sure,” teammate Tommy Edman said Saturday night. “We're hopeful he recovers quickly.”

Roberts and nan Dodgers scheduled an off-day workout nether nan lights Sunday evening astatine Yankee Stadium — aforesaid arsenic they did 12 days agone crossed municipality astatine Citi Field up of Game 3 successful nan National League Championship Series against nan New York Mets.

Meanwhile, nan Yankees spent Sunday walking cross-country and were not disposable to nan media.

Son of a squad pilot, Clarke Schmidt (5-5, 2.85 ERA) is scheduled to transportation Monday for New York against chap right-hander Walker Buehler (1-6, 5.38 ERA).

Schmidt besides started Game 3 successful each of nan first 2 playoff rounds, compiling a 3.86 ERA complete 9 1/3 innings successful a brace of no-decisions against Kansas City and Cleveland.

Both those outings came connected nan road, pinch nan bid versus nan Royals tied 1-all, and nan Yankees starring nan Guardians 2-0.

“Obviously, it’s a dream travel existent being capable to transportation nan first crippled astatine location successful a pivotal game,” Schmidt said. “I’m evidently very excited to get retired there, but I cognize I person a occupation to do. We’re trying to triumph this World Series. I deliberation for maine I’m conscionable trying to spell retired location and execute and do my job.”

A two-time All-Star, nan 30-year-old Buehler returned from his 2nd Tommy John surgery successful May and past missed astir 2 months this play pinch a hep wounded earlier coming backmost successful mid-August.

He besides has started a brace of Game 3s successful this postseason, allowing six runs complete 5 innings successful a 6-5 nonaccomplishment astatine San Diego and pitching 4 innings successful an 8-0 triumph for Los Angeles connected nan roadworthy against nan Mets.

Buehler is 3-4 pinch a 3.25 ERA successful 17 profession postseason starts. He's allowed conscionable 1 tally and 5 hits pinch 17 strikeouts complete 13 innings successful 2 erstwhile World Series outings, successful 2018 against Boston and 2020 vs. Tampa Bay.

“We’re looking guardant to Walker because Walker’s a big-game pitcher,” said Freeman, who has homered successful his past 4 World Series games making love to 2021 pinch Atlanta.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb