MLB Betting News, Match-Ups and Trends For Wednesday 10/17/18

Milwaukee Brewers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Preview and Predictions 10-17-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 17th October 2018 by Gracenote
Brewers vs. Dodgers Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 10/17/2018

Clayton Kershaw takes to mound as the Los Angeles Dodgers try to seize the lead in the National League Championship Series when they host the Milwaukee Brewers for Game 5 on Wednesday. Cody Bellinger ended a five hour-plus marathon with an RBI single in the bottom of the 13th as the Dodgers earned a 2-1 victory in Game 4 to even the series at two games apiece.

Bellinger had two hits in Game 4 after going 1-for-21 in the first seven contests during the postseason and Manny Machado scored the winning run after extending his hitting streak to five games (8-for-22). Kershaw attempts to rebound from a rough outing in Game 1 and will face fellow left-hander Wade Miley, who has yet to allow a run in the postseason as Milwaukee looks to recover from its second loss in seven playoff contests. The Brewers managed eight hits in the Game 4 loss and left fielder Ryan Braun had three of them while leadoff batter Lorenzo Cain went 0-for-6 with three strikeouts and National League MVP candidate Christian Yelich was 1-for-5 with a walk. Milwaukee shortstop Orlando Arcia boasts three homers in the playoffs after launching three in 119 games during the regular season and went 1-for-5 with a run scored in Game 4.

TV: 5:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers LH Wade Miley (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (1-1, 3.27)

Miley has given the Brewers a chance to win with two solid performances in the postseason, yielding five hits and one walk over 10 1/3 innings without a decision. The 31-year-old Louisiana native, who was 5-2 in 16 starts for Milwaukee in the regular season, struck out three across 5 2/3 innings Saturday in Game 2 and left with a two-run lead before the Dodgers rallied to win 4-3. Matt Kemp has two homers and Yasiel Puig is 6-of-17 with a blast and six walks versus Miley, who had a 2.50 ERA on the road during the regular season.

Kershaw was brilliant in his first outing during the playoffs, allowing two hits over eight scoreless innings to beat Atlanta on Oct. 5, but struggled in his Game 1 start at Milwaukee. The 30-year-old Texan, who was 9-5 in the regular season, yielded five runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks across three innings to take the loss Friday, dropping to 8-8 in the postseason. Pitcher Brandon Woodruff took Kershaw deep and Cain recorded two hits against the three-time Cy Young winner in Game 1.

WALK-OFFS

1. Milwaukee Cs Erik Kratz and Manny Pina are 9-for-23 combined with three runs and two RBIs in the playoffs.

2. Los Angeles 2B Brian Dozier got the start in Game 4 and knocked in the first run with a single.

3. Brewers starting pitchers have allowed two earned runs over 26 2/3 innings in the NLCS after LHP Gio Gonzalez gave up one Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 5, Brewers 2
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Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros Preview and Predictions 10-17-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 16th October 2018 by Gracenote
Red Sox vs. Astros Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 10/16/2018

The Boston Red Sox attempt to take a 3-1 lead when they visit the Houston Astros on Wednesday for Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. Jackie Bradley Jr. broke Game 3 open with a grand slam in the eighth inning as Boston posted an 8-2 victory to win its second straight in the series.

Bradley's blast was the sixth postseason slam in Red Sox history and it put a capper on the team's solid performance. "It's a credit to him, because at this level, when you're hitting .180 after two months or I think it was three months, it is hard," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said during his postgame press conference. "And he kept showing up. He kept working. He kept working his craft. Now you see the results." The defending World Series champion Astros aren't overly worried about trailing through three games as they had to win the final two games of the 2017 ALCS to knock out the New York Yankees. "There's no pouting around here. There's no panic around here," Houston manager A.J. Hinch said in his postgame press conference. "It's just get ready for (Wednesday's) game. We've done a really good job of being focused on what the next situation is."

TV: 8:39 p.m. ET, TBS

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (1-0, 1.35 ERA) vs. Astros RH Charlie Morton (regular season: 15-3, 3.13)

Porcello, a 17-game winner in the regular season, struck out two in a scoreless inning of relief in Game 2 of this series. The 29-year-old won his lone start of the AL Division Series when he gave up one run and four hits over five innings against the Yankees and he said he has adjusted to the dual role. "I think as a starter you're trying to cover the course of a whole ballgame, so you're kind of trying to keep your emotions in check just because you've got a lot of baseball to pitch," Porcello said at his press conference. "You don't want to get too high, too low, whatever it is."

Morton posted career highs for victories and strikeouts (201) but this will be his first appearance of the postseason. The 34-year-old has pitched just four innings over the last month with his last outing being a three-inning stint against the Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 30. "I tried to keep playing catch, and I threw a lot of (batting practice), threw a bullpen all in the past week and a half," Morton said at his press conference. "So we discussed just trying to get some rest, take advantage of this time and try to stay sharp at the same time."

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox LHP Chris Sale (stomach) rejoined the team and will throw a bullpen session Wednesday before the team decides whether or not he will start Thursday's Game 5.

2. Houston 2B Jose Altuve (knee) served as the DH in Game 3 and Hinch is leaning toward keeping him in that role in Game 4.

3. Boston DH J.D. Martinez had a run-scoring double in Game 3, his lone hit in 11 at-bats in the series.

PREDICTION: Astros 6, Red Sox 5
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LEADING OFF: Astros on defense, Kershaw's last turn for LA?

A look at what's happening around the majors today:

SPYGATE, THE SEQUEL

The Houston Astros might find themselves defending more than their World Series title. The champions are under scrutiny after Cleveland filed a complaint to Major League Baseball about a man associated with Houston attempting to film in the Indians' dugout during Game 3 of the AL Division Series last week, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because of the sensitivity of the matter. MLB also says it is aware of a report by Metro Boston that a man claiming to be an Astros employee was removed from a credentialed area near the Red Sox dugout during the AL Championship Series opener at Fenway Park.

In a statement, MLB said the matter ''will be handled internally'' and offered no other details.

Astros manager AJ Hinch was questioned about the Metro report following Tuesday's game and said he was aware of the alleged incident but said he hadn't been briefed. He's certain to be asked again, especially since the Indians' complaint was not reported until after Hinch had finished his postgame remarks.

LAST LOOK?

Clayton Kershaw starts Game 5 of the NL Championship Series at home against Milwaukee in what could conceivably be his final outing in a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform. The three-time Cy Young Award winner can opt out of the last two years and $70 million remaining on his contract after the World Series. Dodgers ownership has made it clear the team would like its longtime ace to stay. ''I have not made a decision,'' Kershaw said Tuesday. The 30-year-old lefty acknowledged after his last regular-season start that he had considered the possibility of it being his last go-round with the Dodgers, the only team he's played for during his big league career. Wade Miley pitches for Milwaukee on three days' rest, with the best-of-seven series tied at two games apiece. ''For me it's just trying to focus as much as I possibly can on the Brewers and getting ready,'' Kershaw said, ''and putting everything else on the back burner as best I possibly can.''

EXTRA REST

Houston hopes Charlie Morton won't be too rusty when he makes his 2018 playoff debut in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series against Boston. Morton, who spent time on the disabled list late in the year with shoulder discomfort, hasn't pitched since the regular-season finale Sept. 30. Rick Porcello starts for the Red Sox after appearing in relief in Game 2. Boston leads 2-1 after a grand slam by Jackie Bradley Jr., his second big hit in the series, broke open an 8-2 victory in Game 3.

GETTING DIRTY

Tensions could be on the rise in the NLCS after Dodgers slugger Manny Machado stepped into trouble again Tuesday night. Both benches emptied after Machado clipped the back leg of Milwaukee first baseman Jesus Aguilar while running out a groundout in Game 4. Aguilar left his foot on the base for a moment after Machado was already out, and the star shortstop appeared to show his displeasure by bringing his left foot forward and kicking Aguilar on the back of the leg. Aguilar looked annoyed and the two exchanged words, but no punches were thrown. ''He's a player that has a history of those types of incidents,'' Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich said about Machado. ''It's a dirty play by a dirty player.'' Aguilar, however, said the two talked it out after Machado singled in the 13th inning. ''We're family. Things happen,'' said Machado, who scored the winning run moments later. ''He's a great guy. We go way back since the minor leagues.''

HELP WANTED

Milwaukee is expected to add a new arm for the rest of the NLCS after starter Gio Gonzalez left Game 4 in the second inning when he twisted his ankle trying to field Yasiel Puig's infield single. Gonzalez has a high ankle sprain and it's likely he'll need to be replaced on the roster, manager Craig Counsell said. Following the injury to Gonzalez, the Brewers burned through much of their bullpen during a 2-1 loss to the Dodgers in 13 innings. ''We'll have to kind of put our heads together and look at what we've got,'' Counsell said. ''We're in a little bit of a tough spot, for sure.''