World Series Game 1: Five things you need to know before first pitch

BOSTON — The World Series is here! The Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox are playing for baseball’s ultimate trophy in a series that we haven’t seen in more than 100 years.

The Red Sox have mostly cruised through the postseason after mostly cruising through the regular season. They’re considered the favorites against a Dodgers team that was pressed into Game 163 to win its division, then needed seven games to beat the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS.

Of course, all that quickly goes out the window when it’s World Series time. Now it’s just the first team to win four games, regardless of what happened in the previous 170+.

To get you ready for Game 1, here’s everything you need to know, including TV coverage, start time, lineups and pre-game festivities:

1. What time is World Series Game 1?

The Red Sox are hosting the first two games of the series, so Fenway Park is at its most festive this week. First pitch is scheduled for 8:09 p.m. ET with TV coverage on FOX.

2. World Series pitchers and lineups

The Dodgers are going heavy with right-handed bats to match up against Red Sox starter Chris Sale. That means Brian Dozier, Austin Barnes and an outfield of Yasiel Puig, Chris Taylor and Enrique Hernandez, with Cody Bellinger and Joc Pederson coming off the bench.

The real headline is the pitching matchup, which features two of the game’s best: Sale and Clayton Kershaw for the Dodgers. It’s two big lefties with great stuff when they’re at their best, but each carry their own question marks into the series.

For Sale, it’s his health. He only threw four innings in the ALCS and wasn’t particularly strong. He was in the hospital after Game 1 and the Red Sox didn’t need him later in the series. So he’s well-rested, but we’ll see in Game 1 of this series if he fares better than he did against the Astros.

For Kershaw, you know the old story: But fact is, he’s had two great starts this postseason and he could continue narrative-busting season with another strong outing in Game 1.

3. Fenway weather is rainy pre-game

The tarp was out at Fenway Park on Tuesday afternoon, as rain hit Boston.

On-field batting practice was canceled as a result of the rain, but by 5 p.m. ET, the rain seemed to have stopped. The good news is that forecasts seem to indicate it will be clear by first pitch, but it’s still something to watch.

4. Red Sox add Pomeranz to World Series roster

The only surprise when World Series rosters were announced Tuesday was that the Red Sox added Drew Pomeranz as their 11th pitcher. The addition of Pomeranz means Brandon Workman won’t be in the bullpen. He was rough in the earlier rounds, allowing five runs in one inning of work.

Pomeranz wasn’t great in the regular season, sporting a 6.08 ERA and a 2-6 record. He’s mostly there so the Red Sox have another lefty to matchup against L.A.

5. The ceremonial stuff

If you’re into World Series pageantry, then you’re probably wondering about the pre-game festivities. Here you go:

• James Taylor will sing the national anthem.
• Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski is throwing out the first pitch.
• Stavaughn Harris, a 13-year-old from the Boys & Girls Club of Boston, will deliver the game ball along with Red Sox legend Jim Rice.

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Mike Oz is a writer at Yahoo Sports. Contact him at mikeozstew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz

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