Dodgers vs. Astros Pick
Are the host Houston Astros going to take the World Series lead in Game 3 over the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday night? First pitch is at 8:20PM EST.
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Astros are listed as a -128 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Dodgers are a +108 underdog and the over-under is set at 8.5 runs.
Houston evened the series Wednesday night with a thrilling 7-6 victory in 11 innings at Los Angeles. The two games hosted by the Dodgers were the first meetings between the two teams since 2015.
Pitching for the Dodgers will be Yu Darvish (10-12, 3.86 ERA), while the Astros turn to Lance McCullers Jr. (7-4, 4.25). Darvish carried a 1.16 WHIP with 209 strikeouts in 186 2/3 innings during the regular season. He has allowed two earned runs on eight hits with 14 strikeouts and one walk over 11 1/3 innings in the postseason. Darvish was 6-4 with a 2.44 ERA in 92 1/3 innings in the regular season. McCullers had a 1.30 WHIP with 132 strikeouts in 118 2/3 innings during the regular season. In three postseason appearances (one start), he has surrendered three earned runs on six hits with 13 strikeouts and five walks over 13 innings. He was on the mound in relief during the ALCS-clinching win over the Yankees, throwing four innings of scoreless one-hit ball, striking out six and walking one.
In Game 2 of the World Series, Houston prevailed in a thriller as George Springer hit a two-run home run off losing pitcher Brandon McCarthy in the top of the 11th inning. The Astros rallied in the eighth and ninth innings of Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen to force extra innings. Coming into the game, Los Angeles was 98-0 when leading after eight innings. Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa each hit a solo home run in the top of the 10th to give the Astros a 5-3 advantage, but in the bottom half the Dodgers rallied for two runs to tie it. Springer finished his night 3-for-5 with a double, the home run and a walk. Alex Bregman was 2-for-6 with a double, a run and an RBI. Correa was 3-for-6 with the home run and two RBIs. Chris Devenski earned the win in relief. Joc Pederson, Corey Seager, Yasiel Puig and Charlie Culberson all hit home runs for LA. Seager’s came with a runner on off Justin Verlander, giving the Dodgers a 3-1 lead in the sixth inning.
Houston is 20-7 in its last 27 home games. The Dodgers are 8-2 in their last 10 playoff games.
McCullers had a shaky finish to the regular season, but has righted the ship in the postseason. He was fantastic in his lone start and dominated in relief to close out the ALCS. Darvish is basically in the same boat, having difficulties for quite a while for the Dodgers after being acquired in trade but recently has looked a lot more like his old self. He was fantastic in starts versus the Diamondbacks and the Cubs in the postseason. The difference here is the venue as Houston is dominant at home and we believe it will carry them to a Game 3 victory as its lineup is second to none in baseball.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: HOUSTON ASTROS -128