The Los Angeles Dodgers are 7-10 in their last 17 World Series games after losing to the Houston Astros in seven games in 2017, to the Boston Red Sox in five games in 2018, and now taking a 3-2 series lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020. The Dodgers can end a World Series drought that dates back to 1988 with a win against the Rays in Game 6 on Tuesday night.
- Date/Time: October 27, 8:08 p.m. ET
- Stadium: Globe Life Field
- TV Coverage: Fox
- Sportsbook Odds: Dodgers -135 | O/U 8 (Line History)
- Rays vs Dodgers Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
The betting lines on Game 6 have remained steady since being posted with the Dodgers going off as -135 favorites, the Rays paying +125 to extend the World Series to a seventh game, and the total at 8 runs. Tampa Bay is 6-4 in its last 10 games as a betting underdog with Blake Snell on the mound.
Starting Pitchers Analysis
Blake Snell walked four batters in Game 2 of the World Series but limited the damage by allowing only two hits and two earned runs while striking out nine in 4.2 innings pitched. Snell has recorded a 3.33 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP across five postseason starts this season and has led the Rays to a 3-2 record over those five starts.
Tony Gonsolin was outstanding during the regular season with a 2.31 ERA and a 0.84 WHIP in 46.2 innings pitched. But through three short appearances in the 2020 postseason, Gonsolin owns a disastrous 9.39 ERA and 1.70 WHIP. He was pulled quickly in Game 2 after allowing just one hit and one run on 29 pitches and is likely to have a short leash again in Game 6.
Tampa Bay News & Notes
For the second time in this World Series, the Rays offense had no answer for Clayton Kershaw in Game 5. Kershaw breezed through 5.2 strong innings and allowed only two runs before handing the ball over to the bullpen, which held on for a 4-2 Dodgers win. With the loss, the Rays fell to 3-6 over their last nine postseason games and failed to score more than three runs for the third time in this series.
The Rays have been forced to the brink of elimination in each of their last two postseason series and have risen to the challenge. With Blake Snell on the mound against a struggling Tony Gonsolin, Tampa Bay should feel confident in its chances of forcing a Game 7.
Los Angeles News & Notes
After suffering through a bullpen collapse that cost the Dodgers in Game 4, Dustin May, Victor Gonzalez and Blake Treinen combined to allow only two hits and one walk over the final 3.1 innings of Game 5 to preserve the team’s 4-2 lead. Los Angeles got home runs from Joc Pederson and Max Muncy in the win.
Every move that manager Dave Roberts makes in the postseason is heavily scrutinized by the media and Dodgers fans around the country. How he handles Tony Gonsolin and the bullpen in Game 6 could be the key to winning both this game and the series. But if Los Angeles can produce a big day on offense, it could take a lot of pressure off its skipper on these late-game decisions.
Betting Pick: OVER 8 runs
The OVER is 4-1 through the first five games of the World Series. Snell’s control issues this postseason could catch up to him against a team that hits as well as the Dodgers, and Gonsolin hasn’t done much to impress of late. This one should produce enough runs to go OVER the posted total.
- Tampa Bay is 20-10 over its last 30 games.
- Los Angeles is 15-5 over its last 20 games.
- The OVER is 5-2 in Tampa Bay’s last 7 games.
