Rays, Dodgers Headed For Another OVER

The Los Angeles Dodgers struck hard and struck first in the World Series, rolling to an 8-3 victory over Tampa Bay. How will the Rays respond? That could very well be up to Game 2 starter Blake Snell, who leads the Rays into Wednesday’s Game 2 at Globe Life Field. Snell has looked ordinary for most of the postseason, and he’ll need to be better to help the underdog Rays draw even.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Dodgers kicked things off as -144 favorites, but that line has shrunk down into the -130 to -135 range, with the Rays listed between +115 and +125. The total has remained fixed at 8.

Starting Pitchers Analysis

Snell (2-2, 3.20 ERA in postseason) went 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts against the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series. He was fortunate not to incur further damage after allowing 15 baserunners over nine innings while striking out just six. He has also allowed four home runs in his four playoff appearances after giving up 10 in the regular season.

The Dodgers counter with Tony Gonsolin (0-1, 9.95 ERA in postseason), who will need to be a whole lot more effective than he was in the National League Championship Series. Gonsolin was torched for seven runs in 6.1 innings over his two outings vs the Atlanta Braves, walking six batters in the process. He was 2-2 with a 2.31 ERA in 46.2 regular-season innings.

Tampa Bay News & Notes

The Rays looked completely overmatched at the plate in the World Series opener, managing just one run (courtesy a Kevin Kiermaier solo home run) on two hits in six innings against Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw. It was an uncharacteristically poor showing from Tampa Bay, which finished fourth in the majors in slugging percentage vs lefties during the season.

Bettors and daily fantasy players should expect a bounce-back from designated hitter Randy Arozarena, who went 0-for-3 with a walk in Game 1 for just his fourth hitless performance in 15 postseason games. Arozarena has seven home runs in 58 at-bats in the 2020 playoffs and should make for an intriguing DFS option against a struggling Gonsolin.

Los Angeles News & Notes

Game 1 couldn’t have gone much better for the Dodgers, who have now reeled off four consecutive victories since falling behind 3-1 to the Braves in the NLCS. In addition to getting a virtuoso performance from Kershaw, the Dodgers saw two of their previously slumping stars continue their thaw, as outfielders Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger both had homers in the rout.

Betts’ breakout is of particular interest to Dodgers backers. The marquee offseason acquisition thrived in his first season with the Dodgers but had struggled to open the NLCS, going just 2-for-14 over the first four games. Thankfully for the Dodgers, that slump is over: Betts has seven hits over his last four games and added a pair of stolen bases in the Game 1 triumph.

Betting Pick: OVER 8 (-110)

We don’t have a ton of confidence in the Game 2 starters given their recent track records, especially when it comes to all the baserunners Snell and Gonsolin have been allowing. We see another high-scoring affair in Game 2.