ALCS and NLCS Betting Notes: Astros on the Brink of Elimination, Braves Lead Dodgers 2-0
The Astros are on the brink of elimination and the Dodgers are nearing it, as the two teams take the field for games 3 and 4, respectively, of the ALCS and NLCS. Here are the MLB odds and betting notes ahead of the first pitch Wednesday night.
Braves vs. Dodgers NLCS Betting Preview
The Dodgers dropped the first two games of the NLCS against the Atlanta Braves, who are the fourth team in MLB history to start the postseason a perfect 7-0. A win tonight will put them one game away from making their first World Series Championship series since 1999.
Getting there won’t be easy — not even with a two-game lead. Online sports betting sites make the Dodgers -182 favorites to win Game 3. Of course, the Braves were large underdogs in games 1 and 2, too.
Though the Dodgers are -182 favorites, and likely closer to -200 by Wednesday night’s first pitch, the Braves are currently as large as -260 NLCS favorites at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Per ScoresAndOdds, MLB bettors are backing the Dodgers while their backs are up against the wall. 83% of money being bet is on Los Angeles as of 1 PM ET.
Bettors are fading a rookie right-hander in Kyler Wright, and for good reason. Wright went 2-4 during the regular season with a 5.21 ERA. However, regardless of which side you’re on tonight, be prepared for more of a bullpen game from the Braves, who have yet to announce a probable starter for Game 4.
The Dodgers will deal left-hander Julio Urias. Urias was a perfect 3-0 during the regular season with a 3.27 ERA. He last appeared in the in the NL Divison series against the San Diego Padres, helping the Braves complete a sweep as he gave up merely one unearned run in three innings pitched.
The Dodgers ultimately hope to carry some momentum from the final three innings of Game 2, where they combined to score seven runs — seven more than they scored through the first 15 innings of the NLCS.
Expect L.A.‘s bats to get hot against Wright & Co, and the Braves to lose their first game of the MLB playoffs. The question is, are you willing to lay two-to-one on that? As always use our odds comparison tool to find the best price for your MLB bets across the sports betting industry.
Rays vs. Astros ALCS Betting Preview
Meanwhile, in Dallas, the host city of the ALCS, the Astros are in danger of being eliminated by the Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays were the best team in the American League during the regular season, so their dominance isn’t so surprising. “Dominance,” however, might be too strong a word.
The Astros have been hitting more, and harder than the Rays. Houston has 26 hits compared to 18 for Tampa Bay, and they’ve recorded 31 hard-hit balls. In fact, they have four hits with runners in scoring position…none of which have resulted in an RBI. Ouch.
While the Rays seem to be making every play, the Astros — second baseman Jose Altuve, specifically— can’t seem to make one.
Altuve recorded NO errors during the regular season yet has three errors series, including one that resulted in a 5-run inning for the Rays — the only inning in which they Rays would score in Game 3.
Tampa Bay’s defense is taking runs away from Houston, while Altuve’s blunders are handing them out to the Rays. That’s a losing combination.
On Wednesday night, we get Zack Greinke (3-3, 4.03 ERA, 1.13 WHIP) vs. Tyler Glasnow (5-1, 4.08 ERA, 1.13 ERA). Conventional wisdom says Altuve will get rid of his yips and the Astros finally turn their hot bats into a win tonight. But -140 on Glasnow at PointsBet might be just short enough for me to bet against the Astros. The Ray’s defense is no fluke, and you don’t have to twist my arm to get me to fade the Astros anyway.
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Image Credit: USA Today Sports Images