MLB

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Boston Red Sox

Los Angeles
Dodgers
99 - 75
Clayton Kershaw (11-7) ERA: 2.88
Boston
Red Sox
115 - 56
Chris Sale (13-4) ERA: 2.30
October 23, 2018, 8:09 PM EDT
 | Fenway Park

Game Preview

Los Angeles
Dodgers
99 - 75
Clayton Kershaw (11-7) ERA: 2.88
Boston
Red Sox
115 - 56
Chris Sale (13-4) ERA: 2.30
October 23, 2018, 8:09 PM EDT
 | Fenway Park
  • The Los Angeles Dodgers pay a visit to Fenway Park for Game 1 of the World Series against the Boston Red Sox. For the first time since 2012, Clayton Kershaw opens as an underdog as the Dodgers are a +132 underdog for Game 1, with the Red Sox coming back at -152. Chris Sale opposes Kershaw on the mound with the total Sportsbook at 7.5 runs.

    Shark Bites
    • The total has gone OVER in eight of the Red Sox’ last nine games at home (avg. combined score: 12.78).
    • The Dodgers are 3-7 SU in their last 10 games vs the Red Sox.
    • The total has gone OVER in five of Boston’s last seven games when Chris Sale is the starter.

    Dodgers vs Red Sox Game Center

    Kershaw struggles on the road in the playoffs

    Clayton Kershaw (9-5, 2.73 ERA) makes his fourth start of the postseason and his numbers have been quite good. Overall, the lefty has an impressive 2.37 ERA over three starts and one relief appearance in Game 7 of the NLCS, with the Dodgers going 2-1 SU in his starts and winning the game in which he came out of the bullpen. However, in Kershaw’s lone road start in Game 1 of the NLCS, the Brewers roughed him up for four earned runs on six hits over just three innings in a 6-5 LA loss.

    This is the first career appearance for Kershaw against the Red Sox and he does so at Fenway Park in front of a raucous crowd. Los Angeles is 5-6 SU with the Texas native holding a 4.45 ERA through his 11 career road playoff starts. Kershaw made an away start vs Houston in Game 5 of last year’s World Series and was shelled for six earned runs on four hits, lasting 4.2 innings in a 13-12 loss. This is the first time Kershaw has been an underdog since July 24, 2012, a game Los Angeles lost 8-2 to St. Louis.

    Alarming signs coming from Sale

    Chris Sale (12-4, 2.11 ERA) toes the rubber for the fourth time in the postseason and for the third time at Fenway Park, where he holds a 3.86 ERA through the first two appearances. Boston split those first two games, winning the first match vs the Yankees 5-4 while losing the second start 7-2 to Houston. The Florida native made one career start vs the Dodgers in 2012 when he was with the White Sox – Kershaw opposed him, the total closed at 5.5 and Los Angeles won the game 7-6.

    Sale only pitched once in the ALCS, in Game 1, and there was a startling trend that reared its head in that game. The lefty’s fastball velocity has fallen off drastically as the season has worn on: in June, July and August, he had an average velocity of 97.38 mph, while in his four starts in September, he had an average velocity of 93.56 mph. In Game 1 of the ALCS vs Houston, his fastball averaged 92 mph and topped out at 96 mph.

    Is the OVER the bet to make in Game 1?

    Runs have been easy to come by at Fenway Park recently, as the total has gone OVER in eight of the last nine games there with an average combined score of 12.78. Sportsbook has tonight’s total Sportsbook at 7.5 runs. Additionally, the total has gone OVER 7.5 runs in five of Sale’s last seven trips to the mound, with the two games that went UNDER both having a combined score of seven runs. Meanwhile, the total has gone OVER in each of Kershaw’s last three road playoff starts with an average combined score of 16. Lastly, Boston is hitting LHP well in the postseason, holding a .284 batting average. I think the OVER is the bet to make.

    My take on Los Angeles vs Boston

    I like the OVER 7.5 runs for Game 1 of the World Series. There’s just too much volatility surrounding both starting pitchers, as Kershaw has struggled immensely on the road in the postseason and now he has to make his first career start vs the Red Sox at loud Fenway Park. Meanwhile, Sale’s velocity has continued to trend downward, indicating there could be issues with his shoulder, and he has a 5.85 career playoff ERA. Lastly, Fenway Park has been an OVER machine with eight of the last nine games there going OVER with an average combined score of 12.78.

Odds

Tuesday, October 23 Tue Oct 23


Opening
Current

Runline
Moneyline
O/U
Opening
+1.5
-190
+120
o7.5
-110
-1.5
+165
-130
u7.5
-110
Runline
Moneyline
O/U
Current
+1.5
-140
+162
o7.5
+101
-1.5
+120
-172
u7.5
-121

Edge Finder

1.26
Runs
0.98
0.97
Walks
0.61
1.89
Hits
1.96
8.10
Strike Outs
7.93

Head To Head

LA
Stat Type BOS
2.70
Runs
4.70
6.10
Hits
7.90
2.50
Walks
3.20
7.30
Strikeouts
8.60
4-6
O/U
4-6
LA
Stat Type BOS
3.67
Runs
4.67
7.67
Hits
7.00
2.67
Walks
4.33
8.33
Strikeouts
9.00
2-1
O/U
2-1
Aug 7/16 (1 of 10)
LA
Stat Type BOS
Home
Away
8
Runs
5
9
Hits
6
6
Walks
6
5
Strikeouts
10
7 o
O/U
7 u
Starting Pitcher
LABOS
Brandon McCarthy (R)
David Price (L)
Aug 6/16 (2 of 10)
LA
Stat Type BOS
Home
Away
3
Runs
0
11
Hits
5
1
Walks
2
11
Strikeouts
11
8.5 o
O/U
8.5 u
Starting Pitcher
LABOS
Ross Stripling (R)
Eduardo Rodriguez (L)
Aug 5/16 (3 of 10)
LA
Stat Type BOS
Home
Away
0
Runs
9
3
Hits
10
1
Walks
5
9
Strikeouts
6
7.5 o
O/U
7.5 u
Starting Pitcher
LABOS
Scott Kazmir (L)
Steven Wright (R)
Aug 25/13 (4 of 10)
LA
Stat Type BOS
Home
Away
1
Runs
8
3
Hits
12
1
Walks
3
5
Strikeouts
7
7.5 o
O/U
7.5 u
Starting Pitcher
LABOS
Chris Capuano (L)
Jake Peavy (R)
Aug 24/13 (5 of 10)
LA
Stat Type BOS
Home
Away
2
Runs
4
5
Hits
8
5
Walks
2
8
Strikeouts
13
7 o
O/U
7 u
Starting Pitcher
LABOS
Hyun-Jin Ryu (L)
Jon Lester (L)
Aug 23/13 (6 of 10)
LA
Stat Type BOS
Home
Away
2
Runs
0
3
Hits
2
0
Walks
0
6
Strikeouts
8
7.5 o
O/U
7.5 u
Starting Pitcher
LABOS
Ricky Nolasco (R)
John Lackey (R)
Jun 20/10 (7 of 10)
LA
Stat Type BOS
Away
Home
0
Runs
2
4
Hits
7
3
Walks
2
6
Strikeouts
11
9.5 o
O/U
9.5 u
Starting Pitcher
LABOS
Hiroki Kuroda (R)
Clay Buchholz (R)
Jun 19/10 (8 of 10)
LA
Stat Type BOS
Away
Home
4
Runs
5
6
Hits
10
3
Walks
2
7
Strikeouts
10
11 o
O/U
11 u
Starting Pitcher
LABOS
Vicente Padilla (R)
Tim Wakefield (R)
Jun 18/10 (9 of 10)
LA
Stat Type BOS
Away
Home
6
Runs
10
9
Hits
13
2
Walks
4
9
Strikeouts
5
10.5 o
O/U
10.5 u
Starting Pitcher
LABOS
Carlos Monasterios (R)
Felix Doubront (L)
Jun 13/04 (10 of 10)
LA
Stat Type BOS
Away
Home
1
Runs
4
8
Hits
6
3
Walks
6
7
Strikeouts
5
8.5 o
O/U
8.5 u
Starting Pitcher
LABOS
Hideo Nomo (R)
Pedro Martinez (R)

Starting Pitchers

DateOppSUScoreO/UIPLineERWHIPStrikeoutsDecision
Oct 17, 2018MILW5-2P7-18010.719Win
Oct 12, 2018MILL5-6O3-13142.672Loss
Oct 5, 2018ATLW3-0U8-25000.253Win
View Pitcher Log
DateOppSUScoreO/UIPLineERWHIPStrikeoutsDecision
Oct 13, 2018HOUL2-7O4-13021.255No Decision
Oct 5, 2018NYYW5-4O5.10-16021.318Win
Sep 26, 2018BALL3-10O4.20-34031.078No Decision
View Pitcher Log

No pitcher available

DateOppSUScoreO/UIPLineERWHIPStrikeoutsDecision
Jun 15, 2012LAL6-7O5.20+11051.946No Decision
View Pitcher Log

Team Records

LA
Record BOS
99-75
All
115-56
49-38
Home
59-26
50-37
Away
56-30
90-69
As Fav
94-40
8-5
As Dog
20-16
79-95
ATS
98-73
34-53
ATS Home
47-38
45-42
ATS Away
51-35
79-86-9
O/U
83-77-11
36-45-6
O/U Home
39-37-9
43-41-3
O/U Away
44-40-2
43-28
vs. LHP
24-16
56-47
vs. RHP
91-40
LA
Record BOS
12-8
All
99-52
6-4
Home
52-23
6-4
Away
47-29
12-7
As Fav
81-36
0-0
As Dog
17-16
9-11
ATS
86-65
3-7
ATS Home
43-32
6-4
ATS Away
43-33
8-12
O/U
74-67-10
4-6
O/U Home
35-32-8
4-6
O/U Away
39-35-2
6-2
vs. LHP
22-16
6-6
vs. RHP
77-36
LA
Record BOS
87-67
All
16-4
43-34
Home
7-3
44-33
Away
9-1
78-62
As Fav
13-4
8-5
As Dog
3-0
70-84
ATS
12-8
31-46
ATS Home
4-6
39-38
ATS Away
8-2
71-74-9
O/U
9-10-1
32-39-6
O/U Home
4-5-1
39-35-3
O/U Away
5-5
37-26
vs. LHP
2-0
50-41
vs. RHP
14-4
LA
Record BOS
45-32
All
55-25
24-14
Home
31-10
21-18
Away
24-15
42-30
As Fav
46-14
2-2
As Dog
8-11
36-41
ATS
45-35
17-21
ATS Home
24-17
19-20
ATS Away
21-18
34-38-5
O/U
38-35-7
14-20-4
O/U Home
21-15-5
20-18-1
O/U Away
17-20-2
25-13
vs. LHP
7-10
20-19
vs. RHP
48-15
LA
Record BOS
6-4
All
8-2
3-1
Home
3-2
3-3
Away
5-0
5-3
As Fav
2-1
1-1
As Dog
6-1
4-6
ATS
7-3
2-2
ATS Home
2-3
2-4
ATS Away
5-0
3-5-2
O/U
7-3
0-3-1
O/U Home
4-1
3-2-1
O/U Away
3-2
3-3
vs. LHP
3-0
3-1
vs. RHP
5-2

Gametime Weather

Weather
11:00am Overcast
11ºC / 51ºF
67% Humidity
2% Precipitation
89% Cloud Cover
Wind Impact Stadium Type Open
Field Image
Arrow Image 10
mph

Injuries

NamePositionInj Desc
Daniel HudsonRPIs out indefinitely, Knee
Tony GonsolinSPIs out indefinitely, Ankle
Gavin Lux2BIs out for season, ACL
NamePositionInj Desc
Adalberto MondesiSSIs out indefinitely, Knee
Joely RodriguezRPIs out indefinitely, Oblique

Last 10 Games

DateOppScoreSULineTotalStarterIPOPP. Starter
Oct 20, 2018MIL5-1W+1007.50Walker Buehler4.20Jhoulys Chacin
Oct 19, 2018MIL2-7L-1057.50Hyun-Jin Ryu3Wade Miley
Oct 17, 2018MIL5-2W-1807Clayton Kershaw7Wade Miley
Oct 16, 2018MIL2-1W-1477.50Rich Hill5Gio Gonzalez
Oct 15, 2018MIL0-4L-1757.50Walker Buehler7Jhoulys Chacin
Oct 13, 2018MIL4-3W-1258.50Hyun-Jin Ryu4.10Wade Miley
Oct 12, 2018MIL5-6L-1317.50Clayton Kershaw3Gio Gonzalez
Oct 8, 2018ATL6-2W-1458Rich Hill4.10Mike Foltynewicz
Oct 7, 2018ATL5-6L-1658Walker Buehler5Sean Newcomb
Oct 5, 2018ATL3-0W-2507Clayton Kershaw8Anibal Sanchez
View Game Logs
DateOppScoreSULineTotalStarterIPOPP. Starter
Oct 18, 2018HOU4-1W+1708David Price6Justin Verlander
Oct 17, 2018HOU8-6W+1358.50Rick Porcello4Charlie Morton
Oct 16, 2018HOU8-2W+1128.50Nathan Eovaldi6Dallas Keuchel
Oct 14, 2018HOU7-5W+1108David Price4.20Gerrit Cole
Oct 13, 2018HOU2-7L-1307Chris Sale4Justin Verlander
Oct 9, 2018NYY4-3W+1309Rick Porcello5CC Sabathia
Oct 8, 2018NYY16-1W+1508.50Nathan Eovaldi7Luis Severino
Oct 6, 2018NYY2-6L+1109David Price1.20Masahiro Tanaka
Oct 5, 2018NYY5-4W-1607.50Chris Sale5.10J.A. Happ
Sep 30, 2018NYY10-2W-1409Rick Porcello2Luis Cessa
View Game Logs