World Series Rolls On

The 2020 World Series is even after two games after the Los Angeles Dodgers won Game 1, 8-3, and the Tampa Bay Rays took Game 2, 6-4. Game 3 is set for Friday night on FOX at 8:08 p.m. ET as the Dodgers send right-hander Walker Buehler to the mound against Rays right-hander Charlie Morton.

The earliest the series could end is Sunday in Game 5, and there is a scheduled off-day on Monday. A potential Game 6 is on Tuesday and Game 7 would be Wednesday, all at 8:08 p.m. ET and all on FOX, if necessary.

Buehler was 1-0 with a 3.44 ERA in eight regular-season starts this year, and he is 1-0 in four starts in the 2020 playoffs with 29 strikeouts in 19 innings while posting a 1.89 ERA. Friday’s start will be his second career World Series start as he took a no-decision against the Boston Red Sox in 2018 with seven strikeouts over seven shutout innings.

Morton went 2-2 with a 4.74 ERA in nine starts this season while striking out 42 batters in 38 innings. He is 3-0 so far in the playoffs with an impressive 0.57 ERA. He has 17 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings in those three starts.

Morton was the Game 7 winner as a reliever for the Houston Astros in the 2017 World Series and also made a start in Game 4 that year, allowing one run over 6 1/3 innings.

After splitting the first two games, the Dodgers are now favored to win at -200 while the Rays are +165. The series is +230 to go five games, +145 to go six games and +155 to go seven games.

MVP Odds

With both teams winning once in the first two games, the MVP odds are wide open. Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts (+220) is the current favorite ahead of Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (+550).

Betts has two hits in the first two games with a home run, two runs scored, two steals and a couple of sparkling defensive plays. Kershaw won Game 1 with eight strikeouts over six innings while allowing just one run and two hits.

Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (+1100), the NLCS MVP, is 2-for-6 so far in the series with a home run, two runs scored and three walks. Outfielder Cody Bellinger (+1300) homered in Game 1 and has two RBI, one walk and one run scored.

The top Rays player is second baseman Brandon Lowe at +1100. Lowe had two homers in Game 2 with three RBI to propel the Rays to a win.

Keep an eye on Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena (+2200), who was the ALCS MVP and can get hot in a heartbeat to carry the Rays. Game 2 starting pitcher Blake Snell is +1800 and would likely start Game 6 for Tampa Bay. He struck out nine but only went 4 2/3 innings and didn’t get the win.

The Game 3 starters could be intriguing as Buehler (+1800) and Morton (+2500) could be in line for Game 7 starts if the series goes that far.

Props

A fun bet to look at for the rest of the series is a Grand Slam prop bet. Right now, Yes is at +450.

The Dodgers had a grand slam from Max Muncy in the NLCS, but there hasn’t been a grand slam in the World Series since 2016. There have been just two in the last 20 years and 19 all-time.