We have ourselves a great World Series on our hand and one team will look to go 2-1 when the Los Angeles Dodgers battle the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, October 23, 2020. Tampa Bay switches to the home team for this game, but all games are taking place in Arlington. This game will air live on FOX at 8:08 p.m. EST.
Los Angeles took a 1-0 series lead with a dominant 8-3 game one win. Cody Bellinger remained clutch and opened the scoring with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth innings. Los Angeles added four runs in the bottom of the fifth and another two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Tampa Bay tried to mount a comeback, but their rally in the top of the seventh was cut short. Los Angeles announced their presence early in this World Series.
Tampa Bay came to play in game two as they evened up the World Series with a 6-4-win Wednesday night. Brandon Lowe was the story of the night as he broke out of a series funk as he hit two home runs and knocked in three Rays. The Rays led 6-2 heading into the sixth inning, but the Dodgers fought back to make things uncomfortable for the Rays the final few innings.
Through two games, the Los Angeles Dodgers are -200 favorites to win the 2020 World Series. Tampa Bay is +160 to lift the trophy.
Below is my pick for game one of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers vs Tampa Bay Rays. All odds are from BetMGM Sportsbook.
Los Angeles Dodgers (-165) vs Tampa Bay Rays (+140)
Pitching Matchup (Playoffs): Waler Buehler (1-0, 1.89 ERA, 1.37 WHIP) vs Charlie Morton (3-0, 0.57 ERA, 0.96 WHIP)
Walker Buehler is set to make his fifth start of the 2020 postseason, and he will look to continue his brilliance in October. Buehler’s first two appearances, one in the NLWCS and one in the NLDS, saw him pitch eight combined innings and allow just five hits and three earned runs. The righty pitched twice in the NLCS, in game one and game six, and completely shut down the Atlanta Braves. Buehler allowed 10 hits and just one earned run in 11.0 combined innings in the NLCS. The 26-year-old is going to be a problem for a long time in the playoffs.
Speaking of being a problem in the playoffs, that is exactly what Charlie Morton has been the past two seasons. Charlie Morton is set to make his fourth start of the 2020 postseason, and he will look to build off a dominant performance in the ALCS. Morton started game two and game seven and did not allow a run in 10.2 innings of work. It has been incredible what Morton has done in the latter parts of his career and the Rays wouldn’t want anyone else on the mound for this key game three.
In a series with Clayton Kershaw, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow, this is the best pitching matchup we could get.
MLB Predictions: It is hard to bet against Charlie Morton in the playoffs. Give me Tampa Bay +140.
2020 Picks Record: 69-51
