Bryan Power

8* Inter Milan (1:55 ET): Though they largely outplayed Gladback in the opening match of the group stage, Inter had to settle for a 2-2 draw. On the domestic front (Serie A), they got back to taking care of business as over the weekend they dominated Genoa 2-0. I thought Inter was perhaps Italy’s best team last season, even though they finished behind perennial winner Juventus. Back in the Champions League, I expect a full three points on Tuesday as they face Shakhtar Donetsk, a Ukranian side off a stunning win. 

No one saw Shakhtar’s upset of Real Madrid coming last week. The Ukranian side was widely believed to be the “long shot” of Group B, but stunned the favorites last Wednesday in a 3-2 final. Give credit where credit is due, but it was a widely panned effort from Real Madrid, who had an own goal and was in a lookahead to “El Clasico” with Barcelona over the weekend (which they won). Inter won’t be as disinterested here coming off their disappointing draw.

Shakhtar’s upsetting Real Madrid made Inter’s draw all the more disappointing as they failed to take advantage of the favorite losing. If they wish to take Group B, which is now a possibility, winning here is a must. Inter won the last fixture between these two, 5-0 back in August, part of the Europa League. Perhaps the most shocking aspect of Shkhtar’s upset last week was that they were dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak that severely weakened the roster. 8* Inter Milan

10* LA Dodgers (8:08 ET): The Dodgers have brought the Rays to the brink of elimination. I’m going to say they end this on Tuesday and win the franchise’s 1st World Series trophy since 1988 (Orel Hershiser). My last WS play was of course on the Dodgers (in Game 3) and it was a *10* Game of the Year winner. Had they been able to hold on in Game 4 (lost in final at-bat), then this series would already be over. I think we all knew they were the superior team coming into the series. Nothing over the L5 games has changed my opinion. 

Game 5 saw LA jump on Rays’ starter Tyler Glasnow early. Clayton Kershaw & the Dodgers’ bullpen made it hold up as TB was held to four runs or less for the 11th time in 13 games. That’s just not enough offense to defeat what was the highest scoring ballclub in all of baseball during the regular season. Now the Rays have obviously won twice in this series and both times they did put up a good number of runs (6 and 8). But their offense remains entirely too dependent on the HR ball. Over 70% of the Rays’ total runs scored this postseason have come via the home run. 

The Game 6 pitching matchup is the same as it was for Game 2. Now Game 2 was a Tampa Bay victory and Tony Gonsolin, who Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts used more as an “opener” was only left in for 1 ⅓ innings. I expect him to go longer this time. Blake Snell had more control issues in Game 2 for the Rays, walking four batters for a second straight outing. The Dodgers certainly don’t want to “let” this series get to a Game 7. They had “only” six hits on Sunday. After a game w/ six (or fewer hits) this postseason, the Dodgers are 5-1 their next game. There have been only four times all season that LA has lost when having 6 or less the previous game. 10* LA Dodgers