Braves Favored At Home In Game 3 Of World Series

The World Series is all even at 1-1 after the Houston Astros came away with a 7-2 win in Game 2. The best-of-seven shifts to Atlanta for Game 3 where the Braves are favored to take the lead for the second time in the series.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Braves are favored to the tune of -120 on the moneyline as they’ll be home at Truist Park for the first time in the series. The Astros come in as the underdogs for Game 3 at +101. The total is set at 8 runs with the UNDER going 6-3-1 in the last 10 meetings.

Starting Pitchers Analysis

Ian Anderson last pitched in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he gave up three hits and one earned run over four innings. In three starts this postseason, Anderson is 3-0 with a 1.47 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. The right-hander went 9-5 in the regular season over 24 starts with a 3.58 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP.

Luis Garcia is 1-1 in these playoffs, holding a 7.94 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP in four starts. His last outing in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox was by far his best as he gave up one hit and no runs over 5.2 innings of work. Garcia went 11-8 in the regular season over 30 games (28 starts) with a 3.48 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP.

Houston News & Notes

The Astros got the start they needed in Game 2 thanks to a four-run second inning. Jose Siri hit an RBI infield single and Martin Maldonado followed up with an RBI single of his own. On the same play, Rosario made a misjudged throw to third base, allowing Siri to score as well. The Astros capped off the inning with another RBI single from Michael Brantley, and that was more than enough offence to secure the win.

Jose Urquidy was solid in his start as he scattered six hits and two earned runs over five innings while striking out seven. Houston’s four relievers combined for just one hit and no runs through the final four innings.

Atlanta News & Notes

In Game 1, the Braves got off to a hot start as they went up 5-0 through the first three innings. In Game 2, we saw a complete reversal as the Astros built a 5-1 lead through just two innings.

Starter Max Fried pitched five innings and gave up seven hits and five earned runs in the process, but it was those first two innings that ended up costing the Braves the game.

On the offensive side there wasn’t much doing for Atlanta. Travis d’Arnaud had two hits and one RBI thanks to a solo shot in the second inning, while Freddie Freeman knocked in the Braves’ second run with an RBI single in the fifth. NLCS MVP Eddie Rosario went 0-4 on the night.

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How Houston Will Win

Often all the Astros need is a dominant inning or two where they can put up four or five runs. We saw them do it to Boston in the ALCS, and we saw it again in Game 2 as the bats were able to string together multiple hits in the second inning to establish a 5-1 lead. Being first up to bat in Atlanta may actually be a blessing for this team.

How Atlanta Will Win

The key for the Braves will be to withstand an early Astros attack. In Game 1, they were able to silence Houston’s bats as they gave up just two runs and eight hits – obviously Atlanta wasn’t able to replicate that in Game 2. They’ll need Anderson to continue his stellar postseason form if they want to take back the series lead in Game 3.

Computer Pick: Braves -113

For all the 2021 World Series predictions, see our MLB Computer Picks page.