Manfred defends MLB baseballs again following Keuchel's criticisms

Commissioner Rob Manfred refuted claims that juiced baseballs are behind the home run surge this season, two days after the Houston Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-6 in a game that saw both teams combine to hit a World Series-record eight home runs.

"I'm absolutely confident that the balls that we're using are within our established specifications," Manfred told the Associated Press prior to Game 3 on Friday.

"I think making a judgment based on seeing home runs in a single game just doesn't make a lot of sense to me."

Following Game 2, Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel became the latest pitcher to question baseball's credibility, saying he believes, 100 percent, that the balls are juiced and that "Major League Baseball wants to put on a show."

Throughout the regular season, several others, including Boston Red Sox starter David Price touched on the amount of home runs and the increase in pitchers struggling with blister-related ailments.

"Never have I ever gotten a blister on my ring finger. I had a huge one," Price said at the time. "And now that's gone, I have a cracked nail on my middle finger."

Entering Game 3, there have been 91 home runs during the postseason. Over 6,000 dingers were hit across the 2017 season, the highest total since 2000.