By way of some insanely terrible Atlanta baserunning, awesome defense (Mookie Betts) and some clutch hitting in the late innings of NLCS Game 7, the Los Angeles Dodgers punched their ticket to the World Series for the third time in the last four seasons. In doing so, Dave Roberts’ squad became only the second team to pull off that feat since 1969! LA also became the first team to battle back from a 3-1 series deficit to win a series since the Chicago Cubs did it back in 2016. The comeback ended up snapping the Cubs 108-year World Series championship drought. Los Angeles will attempt to remain on that same path when it battles a Tampa Bay Rays outfit that found a way to outlast the Houston Astros in the ALCS by winning the seventh and deciding game after nearly blowing a 3-1 series lead itself. The Dodgers are without a doubt the more experienced and talented team in this matchup having qualified for the playoffs each of the last eight seasons, but the title has eluded them each and every time. Regardless, online sportsbooks currently have them installed -210 favorites to finally seal the seal and win the World Series.
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MLB Series Odds
Dodgers -210
Rays +165
After all was said and done, the top seeds in both the American and National League ultimately end up in the final series of the year; how fitting to see some normalcy in a not so normal 2020!
The Dodgers cruised to the NL West pennant taking it by six games over the San Diego Padres in the 60-game abbreviated regular season schedule. They then went on to dispose of the Milwaukee Brewers in short order in the Wild-Card round and followed it up with a clean sweep of Fernando Tatis Jr. and company in the NLDS. Though it seemingly looked dead in the water through the first four games of the NLCS, LA hunkered down when it mattered most to take three straight from the up and coming Braves to punch their ticket back to the Fall Classic after a year hiatus. Los Angeles fell to the Astros in seven games back in 2017 and then got destroyed by the Boston Red Sox a year later. LA’s 6-14 all-time in World Series play.
The AL East figured to be dominated by the New York Yankees who opened -270 favs to cruise to the division pennant; the Rays hit the board at +350. But once the month of September rolled around, Tampa Bay found itself in the driver’s seat and went on to win the division for the first time since 2010. While it made quick work of the division rival Toronto Blue Jays in the Wild-Card round, it’s next two series went the distance. First to feel the wrath of Kevin Cash’s squad was the aforementioned Yankees whom it ended up defeating 3-2 by taking the fifth and deciding game of the ALDS. That was followed up with the dramatic 4-3 series win over Houston. This will be Tampa Bay’s second appearance in the World Series. The last saw them fall to the Philadelphia Phillies in five games back in 2008.
Offensively, the Dodgers certainly look to own the advantage. With Mookie Betts setting the table for the power bats of Corey Seager, Justin Turner, Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff will certainly be forced to throw a number of stressful pitches over the course of this series. There isn’t an easy out in the lineup. Heck, even Kike Hernandez came off the bench to launch the game tying and backbreaking home run in Game 7! For the season, LA ranks No. 1 in scoring offense with an average of 5.8 runs per game. It’s also launched a league-high 118 home runs! It ranks No. 2 in OPS, No. 10 in team batting average and is better than average at swiping bases (No. 13).
To add insult to injury, the pitching staff from the starting rotation to the bullpen was the best in the game over the course of the regular season. It’s 3.02 ERA is the best in the Bigs as is its 1.06 WHIP. It’s ERA jumped up to a measly 3.36 in the postseason. Walker Buehler has been a bit erratic with the walks (11), but has made up for it with 29 strikeouts and only 4 ER allowed through 19 innings over four starts. Clayton Kershaw’s 2-1 with a 3.32 ERA and nasty 23:2 K/BB ratio. Then there’s Julio Urias and Dustin May who’ve been nothing short of lights out when either opening or closing games out. While Kenley Jansen does leave some cause for concern at the back end of the pen, it’s still been rock solid overall in going 5-1 with a 3.40 ERA with arms like Brusdar Graterol, Tony Gonsolin and Pedro Baez rising to the occasion.
Though Tampa Bay’s thump pales in comparison to that of their opponent, don’t for one second dismiss what the Rays can do at the dish! There might not be a hotter hitter on the planet right now than Randy Arozarena. This dude’s batting .382 with a .855 slugging percentage through 55 postseason at-bats. He’s raked 21 hits (7 HR) and knocked in 10 RBI while crossing the plate 14 times himself. Ji-Man Choi is another lethal bat the Dodgers will be forced to contend with over the course of this series. The Korean import is a tough out evidenced by his .290 batting average and 7:7 K/BB ratio through 31 postseason at-bats. Unfortunately, the Rays haven’t gotten much from anyone else save for Manuel Margot. Brandon Lowe is batting an embarrassing .115 in the playoffs after ripping the cover off the ball in the regular season. He must get going at the top of the order for the Rays to have any shot of keeping up with LA’s unforgiving lineup!
The Rays can still win this series even if it continues to get limited help offensively. As great LA’s pitching has been this season, Tampa Bay’s just might be even better! The starting staff owns a collective 3.36 ERA and 9-5 playoff record. It’s only conceded 112 hits and 46 ER through 123.1 total innings, and racked up a healthy 126:53 K/BB ratio during that stretch. Though longevity has been an issue, Blake Snell has pitched to a 3.20 ERA and allowed 7 ER through nearly 20 innings. Tyler Glasnow owns a 25:8 K/BB ratio through 19.1 innings, but serving up the long ball (6) has been an issue. Then there’s veteran left-hander Charlie Morton whose rounded out the starting rotation with a perfect 3-0 record and sterling 0.57 ERA in his three made playoff starts. Rounding it all out is a “stable” – or bullpen – that’s been one of the best in the game since Opening Day. Nick Anderson, Diego Castillo and Pete Fairbanks have been nothing but money at the back end. Jose Alvarado only makes the Rays’ pen even deadlier with the number of left-handed bats LA normally has in its lineup.
Regardless of how it ultimately plays out, MLB bettors will be treated to a fantastic matchup in the World Series that should be competitive throughout – Play Ball!
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