Phillies: Chase Utley wants Dodgers to win 2020 World Series

Chase Utley is happy Mookie Betts is a Dodger

Outside of Kershaw, perennial Most Valuable Player Award candidate Mookie Betts appears to be his second favorite player on the Dodger roster.

“[Betts] just does so many things well on the baseball field,” Utley said of the four-time Gold Glove and three-time Silver Slugger awards winner. “I think we all see the talent that he has. Not only in the batter’s box, but defensively, [and] on the bases — he showed that last night.”

Utley continued that what baseball fans do not see in Betts is his work ethic, what he has done behind the scenes, and the mutual respect he and his teammates have for each other.

“He pushes guys in the right direction, in a positive way,” Utley said. “I’m happy that he’s wearing a Dodgers uniform.”

Chase Utley’s outlook on the Dodgers

Utley appears confident in the Dodgers’ chances to capture three more wins and win the World Series for the first time since 1988. He says the team, which led Major League Baseball in wins (43) — among many other categories — played well despite “all the different restrictions in place.”

“[They] are starting to become a veteran group,” Utley said. “I was over there 3-4 years ago, and there were a lot of young guys. Now, they have three or four years and a few World Series [appearances] under their belt.

“I would imagine they’re not stressed out, [nor] anxious.”

While Kershaw and the Dodgers found success in Game 1, the storyline was not the same to begin Game 2. Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin lasted just 1 1/3 innings — marking the shortest outing by an injured starter who allowed one run or fewer in a World Series game “since at least 1947,” notes MLB Communications.

In other words, there is plenty of the series left to be played.