The Atlanta Braves took Game 3 at home on Friday to establish a 2-1 lead in the World Series over the Houston Astros. As the home favorites once again going into Game 4, Atlanta looks to win its second straight to go up 3-1 in the Fall Classic.
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
The Braves are the favorites once again as they sit at -118 on the moneyline for Game 4. The visiting Astros come in at +100 as the underdog. The total is set at 8.5 runs with the UNDER going 9-4 in the last 13 meetings between these teams.
Starting Pitchers Analysis
With no starter announced as of Saturday morning, it looks like Atlanta is leaning towards a bullpen game. After Huascar Ynoa hurt his shoulder in the National League Championship Series and Charlie Morton sustained a fractured fibula in Game 1, the Braves are down to two true starters: Max Fried, who pitched Game 2, and Ian Anderson, who started Game 3. The alternative to a true bullpen game would be trying to get a start from Kyle Walker or Tucker Davidson, who were in the Triple A rotation this season.
Zack Greinke has made two appearances this postseason with his most recent outing coming in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Red Sox. The 38-year-old lasted just 1.1 innings as he gave up one hit, three walks, and two earned runs before getting the pull. Greinke made 30 appearances (29 starts) this season with an 11-6 record plus a 4.16 ERA and 1.17 WHIP.
Houston News & Notes
Houston’s up-and-down performances have been a trend through these playoffs and that continued in Game 3 as the bats managed just two hits. The Astros hold the most potent offence in the postseason at 5.85 runs per game, but they’ve managed just nine runs over the first three contests of the World Series (3.0 runs per game). It may not be time to hit the panic button just yet, but that can change quickly if the bats come up limp again in Game 4.
Starter Luis Garcia was solid in his outing as he allowed three hits and one earned run over 3.2 innings while striking out six. Pitching clearly wasn’t Houston’s problem in Game 3 as Atlanta only managed two runs and six hits themselves.
Atlanta News & Notes
With a 2-0 win in Game 3, Anderson was certainly the performer of the night. The Braves starter pitched five hitless, scoreless innings while allowing just three base runners in total. In fact, Anderson’s outing was the fourth-longest no-hit bid by a rookie in postseason history. It took the Astros until the eighth inning to get their first hit – a single from Aledmys Diaz off Tyler Matzek.
When your pitching is this good, you don’t need much offence to get the win, and the Braves’ bats did just enough to get the job done. Austin Riley hit an RBI double down the third-base line in the third to put Atlanta up 1-0 and Travis d’Arnaud added a solo shot for the second straight game to provide the offence.
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How Houston Will Win
The Astros’ offence has been something of an enigma this postseason: when it’s hot it’s unstoppable, but when it’s cold it’s really cold. We’ve seen both sides this series, but if Houston is going to take Game 4, they’ll need to show us their good side again.
How Atlanta Will Win
Pitching has been the Braves’ strength this series but now that they’re out of legitimate starters, the real test begins. Manager Brian Snitker will have some tough decisions to make in Games 4 and 5 as he tries to navigate his limited rotation. It won’t be easy but if they can limit Houston’s offence again, Atlanta could take a 3-1 stranglehold in the series.
Computer Pick: Braves -110
For all the 2021 World Series predictions, see our MLB Computer Picks page.
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