Astros vs. Dodgers Pick
Are the Houston Astros going to even the World Series at a game apiece with the host Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday night? First pitch is 8:09PM EST.
The Astros are a -116 favorite to win on the moneyline according to oddsmakers at sports book Bovada.lv. The over-under sits at 7.5 runs.
Los Angeles won Game 1 by a count of 3-1 in the first meeting between the two teams since 2015. The total went under by a full three runs.
Pitching for Houston will be Justin Verlander (15-8, 3.36 ERA), while the Dodgers turn to Rich Hill (12-8, 3.32). Verlander is 4-0 in four postseason appearances, one in relief. He has a 1.46 ERA and 0.93 WHIP over 24 2/3 innings with 24 strikeouts. He gave up no runs on five hits with eight strikeouts and one walk in a 7-1 home win over the Yankees in Game 6 of the ALCS. Verlander is 7-6 with a 4.15 ERA in 110 1/3 road innings this year. Hill does not have a decision in two postseason starts, posting an ERA of 3.00 and a WHIP of 1.11 over nine innings. He surrendered one earned run on three hits with eight strikeouts and one walk in a 4-1 home victory over the Cubs in the NLCS. Hill is 7-5 with a 2.77 ERA in 78 home innings this season.
In Game 1, Clayton Kershaw gave up one earned run on three hits with 11 strikeouts over seven dominating innings to get the win. Kenley Jansen earned the save. Kenley Jansen earned the save. Chris Taylor hit a leadoff home run for the Dodgers in the bottom of the first and finished 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs. Justin Turner hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning for the rest of the offense. Corey Seager was 2-for-3 in his first game back after missing the NLCS with a back injury. Dallas Keuchel took the loss as he allowed three earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts and one walk over 6 2/3 innings. Alex Bregman hit a solo home run in the fourth inning.
Is there a way to justify betting against Justin Verlander right now? He is on an incredible run for the Astros. Look for him to have another shutdown performance. While the Houston offense struggled to hit the best pitcher in baseball, it mashes most lefties not named Kershaw. Take the Astros here with confidence.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: HOUSTON ASTROS -116