Phillies: Chase Utley wants Dodgers to win 2020 World Series
By Matt Rappa
Chase Utley is not just a former Phillies player, but also a former Dodgers player; he seems to be rooting for the latter to win this year’s World Series.
Many forget, but the career of Philadelphia Phillies franchise great second baseman Chase Utley did not end in red pinstripes, rather Los Angeles Dodgers blue. After more than 1,500 games played and a 2008 World Series championship with the Phillies, the six-time All-Star was dealt in August 2015 to Los Angeles, where he would finish his career three full seasons later.
Prior to Game 2 of the 2020 World Series between the Dodgers and the Phillies’ 2008 World Series opponent — the Tampa Bay Rays — Utley joined ESPN Radio LA and was not shy to show support for one of his former organizations to win its seventh World Series championship.
Utley acknowledged that the Rays are a good team run by a “great manager and coaching staff,” coupled with a general manager and front office that “does a really good job.”
“They have a talented offense and an extremely talented starting pitching staff, as well as bullpen,” Utley said. “It’s definitely not going to be easy for the Dodgers, but I like their chances.”
Utley continued that he thinks the Dodgers have done a good job keeping their eyes on the prize, not getting too far ahead. “I’m really proud of the guys for how they’ve been able to overcome this craziness of the season,” he added.
Chase Utley on Clayton Kershaw’s solid Game 1 performance
One player, in particular, that Utley is proud of is three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, who before his Game 1 victory had allowed 16 earned runs across 26 2/3 combined innings in the World Series opposite the Houston Astros (2017) and Boston Red Sox (2018).
Kershaw finally reversed the narrative, at least for the time being, allowing just one run across six solid innings opposite the Rays on Tuesday.
“I played with [Kershaw] about 3 or 4 years and there’s nobody I’m happier for to have success in the World Series than him,” Utley said. “He works so hard; in between his starts, he’s always grinding. He deserves to be as good as he has been over the years.
“I’m happy he was able to have some success and lead [the Dodgers] to a Game 1 victory.”