The Bum's MLB Best Bets - Trends - News Thru the World Series !

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

NYY at HOU 08:00 PM

NYY +120*****

O 8.0 *****

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Sabathia can't save Yankees again with loss in ALCS Game 7
October 21, 2017

HOUSTON (AP) CC Sabathia was on the mound, unbeaten when starting after New York Yankees losses.

Aaron Judge made another home run-robbing catch early in the game.

Still, the Yankees couldn't avoid elimination this time. Their season is over, and their 41st American League pennant must wait.

Sabathia, among only three players remaining from New York's last World Series team in 2009, was unable to save them again in maybe his last game with the Yankees. The big left-hander was done in the fourth inning of the decisive Game 7 of the AL Championship Series, a 4-0 loss to the Houston Astros on Saturday night.

''I feel like I wasn't as sharp. They came out very aggressive, and I felt like I couldn't get on track,'' Sabathia said.

After sweeping the Astros in three games at Yankees Stadium, New York scored just three runs and had 20 hits in the four games at Houston, striking out 48 times.

Joe Girardi's contract is expiring and he has not said whether he wants to return for an 11th season in the Bronx.

''I love what I do, and I've always said the first thing that I do is I always talk to my family. They come first,'' the manager said. ''I'll sit down and talk to my wife, and the kids, and see where they're at and what they're thinking, and then see what the Yankees are thinking.''

Sabathia can become a free agent and Japanese right-hander Mashiro Tanaka can opt out of his contract.

Tanaka didn't want to talk about his situation, but Sabathia said he's like to remain with these Baby Bombers.

''I feel like this is a young team, and we will turn this into something great,'' Sabathia said. ''I just wasn't sharp enough today.''

New York had avoided elimination four times already this postseason, winning the AL wild card game and then overcoming a 2-0 deficit in the best-of-five AL Division Series to beat Cleveland. That included the clinching Game 5 that Sabathia started, though he got a no decision in the Yankees' only road playoff win.

Starting in a Game 7 for the first time in his career, Sabathia got three one-pitch groundouts after giving up George Springer's leadoff single in a seven-pitch first inning.

The Astros second began with Yuli Gurriel's long drive to right field, but Judge made a running, leaping catch with his left arm fully extended on a ball that appeared headed for the seats.

After Sabathia escaped jams with two runners on in each the second and third innings, Evan Gattis started the Astros fourth with a homer off the left-field facade. The Yankees lefty was done three batters later after Josh Reddick's first hit of the ALCS put runners at first and second.

Sabathia had been 10-0 with a 1.69 ERA in 13 starts after Yankees losses this year, including his six scoreless innings in Game 3 of the ALCS.

Reliever Tommy Kahnle induced an inning-ending, double-play grounder on his first pitch, so Sabathia allowed only one run in 3 1/3 innings. But the 37-year-old left-hander allowed five hits and three walks without any strikeouts.

Not even Judge was tall enough to take a homer away from Jose Altuve when he hit a ball into the right-field seats in the fifth. After consecutive singles put two more Astros on base, former Yankees catcher Brian McCann hit a two-run double into the right-field corner for a four-run lead.

Judge, the rookie slugger who led the AL with 52 homers, hit four in the postseason - three in the ALCS. But he also set a major league playoff record with 27 strikeouts in 48 at-bats in the playoffs.

The closest the Yankees came to scoring in Game 7 was in the fifth when Greg Bird had a leadoff double but was later thrown out at the plate for the second time in the ALCS - the fifth time New York had a runner thrown out on the bases.

Bird had gone to third on Charlie Morton's wild pitch and ran home when Todd Frazier hit a weak grounder. Third baseman Alex Bregman charged forward, scooped up the ball and made a perfect throw to McCann's mitt, and Bird slid into the tag.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB Playoff Record:.........

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD ( Best Bets & Opinions )

10/21/2017 0-2-0 0.00% -10.50
10/20/2017 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/19/2017 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/18/2017 1-3-0 25.00% -11.60
10/17/2017 2-2-0 50.00% -1.30
10/16/2017 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
10/15/2017 1-1-0 50.00% +0.00
10/14/2017 0-3-1 0.00% -15.50
10/13/2017 1-1-0 50.00%.....+0.00
10/12/2017 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
10/11/2017 3-1-0 75.00% +15.50
10/09/2017 2-5-0 28.57% -16.75
10/08/2017 2-2-0 50.00% -2.30
10/07/2017 1-3-0 25.00% -10.50
10/06/2017.......5-2-0......71.43%.....+16.25
10/05/2017 ......1-3-0 .....25.00%..... -10.50
10/04/2017 ......1-1-0..... 50.00%....... -0.50

Total:...............24 -31......43.63%.......-28.20

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Best Bets:......................ATS.................... ...TOTAL.....................TOTAL O/U

10/21/2017.................0 - 1.......................-5.00............................0 - 1......-5.50
10/20/2017.................0 - 1.......................-5.00............................1 - 0......+5.00
10/19/2017.................0 - 1.......................-5.00............................1 - 0......+5.00
10/18/2017.................0 - 0.......................+0.00..................... ......1 - 1......-1.00
10/17/2017.................0 - 0.......................+0.00..................... .....1 - 1.......-1.00
10/16/2017.................0 - 0.......................+0.00..................... ....1 - 0........+5.00
10/15/2017.................0 - 1........................-5.00.........................1 - 0........+5.00
10/14/2017.................0 - 2......................-10.00..........................0-0-1......+0.00
10/13/2017.................0 - 1.......................-5.00...........................1 - 0.......+5.00
10/12/2017.................0 - 0........................0.00..................... ......0 - 1........-5.50
10/11/2017.................2 - 0.......................+15.00.................... ...0 - 1........-5.50
10/09/2017.................0 - 1.......................- 5.00..........................1 - 3........-11.50
10/08/2017.................0 - 0........................00.00.................... .....2 - 0.......+10.00
10/07/2017.................0 - 2.......................-10.00.........................1-0-1.......+5.00
10/06/2017.................1 - 1.......................-1.00...........................3 - 1........+9.50
10/05/2017.................0 - 2.......................-10.00.........................1 - 1........-1.00
10/04/2017.................1 - 0.......................+ 5.00.........................0 - 1.......- 5.50


TOTAL:........................4 - 13..................- 41.00.....................15-12-2.......+13.00

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Six most popular picks for Week 7 in the Westgate Super Contest:

6) Washington Redskins, +5 (681)

5) San Francisco 49ers, +6.5 (687)

4) Denver Broncos, +1.5 (729)

3) Carolina Panthers, -3 (+750)

2) Green Bay Packers, +5.5 (803)

1) Cincinnati Bengals, +5.5 (810)

Season record of top 6 picks: 15-21

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Hot World Series on deck: Altuve, Astros vs Kershaw, Dodgers
October 21, 2017

Big-time aces Clayton Kershaw and Justin Verlander. Playoff boppers Jose Altuve and Justin Turner.

A pair of 100-win teams for the first time in nearly a half-century. Hollywood Walk of Fame vs. Texans who wear the star. A little extra Magic, plus Nolan back in the fast lane.

This is one hot World Series - the Houston Astros, fresh off a Game 7 victory over the Yankees, taking on the narrowly favored Los Angeles Dodgers, well rested after a postseason romp.

Could be real steamy, too. It's supposed to be almost 100 degrees at Dodger Stadium for the opener Tuesday night, maybe the hottest temperature ever at a World Series game.

''Now we chase the ultimate prize,'' Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. ''There's two teams standing. It's a race to four wins now. At the start there's a race to 11, we've got seven of them down.''

At least the familiar October chill that makes players and fans shiver shouldn't be an issue outdoors in sun-baked California or under the retractable roof at Minute Maid Park.

Not that young stars Cody Bellinger and Carlos Correa would mind, nor would old pros Carlos Beltran and Chase Utley, nor top starters Dallas Keuchel and Yu Darvish.

Because a chance to win a ring doesn't come very often - these teams that have already played more than 700 games against each other over the years already know that.

The Astros have never won the crown. They're playing for a whole region, with the Houston Strong patches on their uniforms representing an area hit hard by Hurricane Harvey.

''There's a lot of people that are really hurting right now in this city,'' said Verlander, the ALCS MVP. ''And it gives the city something to rally around and gives people something to cheer for that otherwise may not have a lot to be hopeful for.''

The Dodgers haven't been in the World Series since 1988, when Kirk Gibson's bat, Orel Hershiser's arm and Tommy Lasorda's moves outdid Oakland for the crown.

Now with Lakers great Magic Johnson as a part-owner, this LA team that led the majors with 104 wins is hoping to bring back the glory days that began in Brooklyn.

''I just want to win a World Series,'' Kershaw said after the Dodgers dethroned the Chicago Cubs in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series. ''I know more than anybody how hard it is to get there. So, I'm definitely not taking this one for granted.''

Said mercurial outfielder Yasiel Puig: ''The trophy's coming soon.''

The Astros, the major leagues' highest-scoring team this year, have never even won a World Series game. They only time they made it this far was 2005, when a club that included Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte got swept by the White Sox.

In fact, a World Series prize is the one piece of hardware missing from the trophy case from the Lone Star State. Texas teams have won the Super Bowl and championships in the NBA, NHL, college football and men's and women's basketball, but never in baseball.

Under the leadership of executive Nolan Ryan, the Texas Rangers came within one strike in 2011 before losing to St. Louis. The Ryan Express, who once pitched a no-hitter for Houston against the Dodgers, is currently an Astros exec.

The Astros posted 101 wins this year - not since Baltimore (108) and Cincinnati (102) in 1970 has the World Series matched teams who reached triple-digits.

These teams last met in 2015, when the Astros swept a three-game series at home. But they'd seen a lot of each other in the past.

Overall, the Dodgers are 388-323 vs. the Astros. Houston debuted as the Colt .45s as a National League expansion team in 1962, beat the Dodgers in a one-game playoff for the NL West championship in 1980 and eventually moved to the AL in 2013.

That first year in the AL, the young Astros got pounded and lost 111 times. But with smart drafts and player development, Houston emerged as a power. Hinch's club capped its rise by beating Boston in the AL Division Series, then stopping the Yankees 4-0 Saturday night in Game 7 of the ALCS.

The Dodgers, with a major league-high $226 million payroll, won their fifth straight NL West title this year, then 7-1 in the playoffs against the Diamondbacks and Cubs under manager Dave Roberts.

The result? Their first pennant since 1988 - the year Kershaw was born.

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Dodgers sitting pretty at home, waiting for World Series foe
October 21, 2017

LOS ANGELES (AP) No matter which opponent emerged from the seven-game AL Championship Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers could watch from home knowing they're sitting pretty.

The Dodgers earned a four-day break before the World Series through their quick resolution of the NLCS, which ended Thursday in Chicago with Los Angeles' seventh win in eight playoff games. The extended breaks between their two brief playoff series have allowed the 104-win Dodgers to keep their starting rotation in order and on full rest, and to give plenty of recovery time to their dominant bullpen.

''It's crucial, not only in setting the rotation,'' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Saturday before the Yankees and Astros played Game 7. ''Knowing what goes into the (playoffs), to come back home and reset mentally and physically has been a huge benefit to us.''

It might even be enough time for All-Star shortstop Corey Seager to return from the back injury that kept him out of the NLCS. Roberts said he is ''very optimistic'' Seager will be available for Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night, but the Dodgers are unlikely to make their final decision for a few days.

''I know Corey doesn't want to be denied,'' Roberts said.

The benefits of the Dodgers' major league-best regular season have echoed deep into October, where they're the first team to get home-field advantage in the World Series due to their superior record since baseball dropped the All-Star Game result as the determining factor.

The Dodgers opened both of their NL playoff series at home, and they've made only two round-trip plane flights this month, spending just a handful of nights away from home. They finished off both opponents on the road and hurried back to LA, playing only one game over the minimum necessary to reach the World Series and largely staying healthy, outside of Seager's injury.

''We're in good shape,'' Roberts said. ''And fortunately, with the length of that (last) series, we didn't have to overuse our guys, and give our guys in the `pen some recovery. On the position players side, everyone seems to be doing well.''

Los Angeles also cruised into the postseason, essentially wrapping up its fifth straight NL West title in mid-September and comfortably holding off Cleveland for the majors' best record, even though the Dodgers weren't aggressively going for that goal.

Meanwhile, all three of their playoff opponents have faced the Dodgers on weary legs after being stretched to the limit.

Arizona reached the NLDS only after winning a draining wild-card game against Colorado two days earlier, which meant Diamondbacks ace Zack Greinke couldn't face LA until Game 3.

After sweeping Arizona, Los Angeles had four days off before the arrival of the Cubs, who narrowly survived an exhausting five-game NLDS with Washington. They made a 10-hour flight to the West Coast - complete with an unplanned layover in Albuquerque - with a depleted pitching staff, and the Dodgers promptly took charge of the series.

The Dodgers outscored the Cubs 28-8 overall, and Chicago couldn't score a run except on homers - one of the Los Angeles pitching staff's few weaknesses. The Dodgers' bullpen has been indomitable, posting an 0.94 playoff ERA and striking out 32 batters in 28 2/3 innings, even setting a postseason record during Game 5 at Chicago with the bullpen's 23rd consecutive scoreless inning.

Los Angeles routed Chicago even without Seager, who stayed home to rest his back. If he can return for the World Series, he adds yet another dimension to a lineup that has proven extraordinarily resourceful all season.

Seager might even be the Dodgers' logical designated hitter in the AL ballpark to rest his back, Roberts said.

''If he can swing the bat and isn't compromised physically, then that makes sense,'' Roberts said.

After winning the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2016, Seager led the Dodgers with 159 hits during the regular season, batting .295 with 22 homers and 77 RBIs. He went 3 for 11 with four walks and two RBIs in the division series, batting second in the lineup in all three games.

But Seager tweaked his back during a slide in Game 3 of the NL Division Series against Arizona, and Los Angeles left him off the NLCS roster in favor of Charlie Culberson, who had only 15 plate appearances for the Dodgers in the regular season while spending most of the year in Triple-A Oklahoma City, unable to crack LA's deep lineup.

Culberson improbably came through with several big plays against the Cubs, going 5 for 11 and playing strong defense.

Chris Taylor also played shortstop at Wrigley Field, and the versatile co-MVP of the NLCS made big plays of his own.

''That's not an easy thing to do, to replace Corey,'' Roberts said. ''We're hopeful that he'll be back for Game 1, but if it doesn't go as we expect, then to have those two guys to fill in is something.''

Culberson seems certain to make the Dodgers' World Series roster as insurance against another injury for Seager. If Seager is healthy, the odd position player out could be veteran outfielder Curtis Granderson, who has struggled mightily in the playoffs, going 1 for 15 with eight strikeouts.

''With Curtis, we've just got to look into the matchups and see if it makes sense,'' Roberts said. ''We're going to go with whoever makes sense on that particular night.''

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Giants reassign pitching coach Dave Righetti, other staffers
October 21, 2017

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The San Francisco Giants have reassigned longtime pitching coach Dave Righetti from manager Bruce Bochy's field staff to special assistant to the general manager, working under Bobby Evans.

The club announced Righetti's role change to the front office Saturday, along with bullpen coach Mark Gardner moving into a special assignment job assisting in pitching evaluations. Assistant hitting coach Steve Decker is now a special assistant in baseball operations.

Evans said the club is interviewing for a pitching coach and hitting coach. He said it was too soon to say whether hitting coach Hensley Meulens would remain in his role but that at least one hitting coach position is open with Decker being reassigned.

''Ultimately a change for us in the clubhouse is really an opportunity just to put a new voice with our pitching staff and try to keep pushing to the heights that we aspire as an organization and a club,'' Evans said. ''Changes sometimes are needed as much for the sake of that new voice as anything. That was really the priority here. Change can be for the good of both your staff and your players sometimes. This is certainly not going to eliminate Dave Righetti's voice in this organization, in some ways it may even enlarge his voice, but it gives the players a daily perspective on perhaps new ways to approach the game or new ways to approach their work.''

Righetti's 18 years as pitching coach marked the longest run in the position in San Francisco history. He was one of only five Giants coaches since 1900 with at least 10 years on the staff.

San Francisco went 64-98 for a last-place finish in the NL West and avoided the franchise's first 100-loss season since 1985 during the final weekend of the regular season. The Giants, long defined by dominant pitching, had a 16th-ranked 4.50 team ERA and lost ace Madison Bumgarner for nearly three months after his dirt bike accident in Colorado. Right-hander Johnny Cueto also was out for significant time on the disabled list with various injuries.

The Giants won the World Series in 2010, '12 and '14 - making this season all the more shocking given a roster that looked as if it could contend coming out of spring training.

''It does raise the level of attention to change when you struggle as much as we have,'' Evans said. ''You're always contemplating making changes to try to help keep pushing your guys and make sure that you continue to have different perspectives and new voices and reflections on how to get the most out of them.''

The 58-year-old Righetti, a left-hander who pitched 16 seasons in the majors and was the 1981 AL Rookie of the Year, threw a no-hitter for the Yankees against the Red Sox on July 4, 1983.

Evans discussed the role change with Righetti in September and they have since spoken by phone multiple times.

''His heartbeat is in uniform as a coach, that's his heartbeat,'' Evans said. ''But he also loves this organization and loves our players and our pitchers, particularly, and wants to make an impact and wants to be open to how that could look in a different role. I'm sure it's still hard to imagine even for us Dave not in uniform. But at the same time there's so much that he can offer in this new role.''

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Puerto Rican players bond over hurricane
October 21, 2017

NEW YORK (AP) When the Houston Astros' owner offered Carlos Beltran charter aircrafts to send relief aid to Puerto Rico and evacuate cancer patients from the island after Hurricane Maria, the Puerto Rican slugger quickly thought about ''the chat group.''

He wanted to send word to other Puerto Rican teammates and coaches with the Astros, as well as friends from other teams, that one of the airplanes was available to pick up family members who couldn't return to the mainland because of the lack of commercial flights.

The ''chat'' Beltran was referring to was the WhatsApp group that All-Star catcher Yadier Molina created just before of this year's World Baseball Classic.

Six months after finishing as runner-up for the second straight time in the international tournament, the friendships and bonds among the Puerto Rican players have only strengthened, especially after the devastating storm that hit Puerto Rico on Sep. 20 and left much of the island without electricity and running water.

''We keep in touch all the time, always encouraging each other,'' Beltran said. ''This has been a special year, because many of them have had great seasons, but also we've been united by this tragedy.''

The situation in Puerto Rico, where at least 49 people were killed by the storm and thousands lost their homes, has been on the mind of all the players during the playoffs, where Beltran's Astros face the New York Yankees on Saturday night in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series.

''With what's going in on in the island, we're closer than ever,'' said Javier Baez, the Chicago Cubs second baseman whose team was eliminated by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series. ''We never stopped chatting after the WBC. Many of us are good friends, like brothers. We send messages and help each other out.''

That's what Beltran did after the hurricane, starting a crowdfunding campaign that raised $1.3 million to send 300,000 pounds of supplies to Puerto Rico. But he needed transportation to get the aid there, and Astros owner Jim Crane offered the planes.

''His generosity has no bounds,'' Beltran said.

The 40-year-old designated hitter brought his parents to Houston, where they stayed with him until last week. They live in the northern town of Manati. The aftermath was so dire that he had to wait five days after the storm to finally hear from them.

During the past month, Beltran has been focusing on two goals: helping his homeland and playing the postseason with the Astros. That's also the case with other players such as his teammate Carlos Correa and Enrique Hernandez, the Dodgers utilityman who tied an MLB record with three homers during Thursday's 11-1 win over the Cubs.

''My body's here, but my mind's kind of back home. It's hard being away from home with what's going on,'' Hernandez said after the series-clinching win.

In Correa's case, his family didn't want to leave Puerto Rico, so the Astros shortstop sent them generators for their home and supplies for his hometown of Santa Isabel in the southern coast of the island.

''Focusing on baseball those first days was stressful, about a week without news from your family,'' Correa said. ''But once you got the word that they were OK, I've been able to focus in my job.''

Beltran displayed a Puerto Rican flag during the player introductions in New York before Game 3 of the ALCS against the Yankees.

''I wanted to express my support and show that we're dealing with a very difficult situation in the country,'' he said. ''As a player, those first weeks were hard, but you cannot step away from your duties as baseball player amid the current situation in Puerto Rico and with our families there.''

And they can count on the chat.

In particular, Baez highlighted the role of Molina, their ''leader'' who has been in Puerto Rico for the past two weeks helping with the relief efforts. After the St. Louis Cardinals got eliminated from playoff contention, the catcher sent a note to all those playing in the postseason wishing them the best of luck.

''Molina is the one who created the group. He's the one who created the bond and he's always there for us,'' Baez said. ''We all have huge respect for him, even more for the veteran players, especially Yadier and Beltran, who are always keeping us in the right path.''

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Kershaw attempting to set aside postseason demons
October 20, 2017

It has been 29 long years since the Los Angeles Dodgers were part of the World Series, a drought perhaps best summed up by this factoid:

Clayton Kershaw was seven months old when the Kirk Gibson-led Dodgers knocked off the Oakland Athletics for the 1988 crown.

And now it is Kershaw's time to shine in the postseason spotlight. The ace left-hander with the three Cy Young Awards and the 2014 National League MVP in his trophy case will have the opportunity to quiet some of his career demons, regardless of whether the American League representative is the Houston Astros or New York Yankees.

Kershaw is an unstoppable force in the regular season. But "Postseason Kershaw" hasn't been so dominant and Thursday's 11-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series improved his playoff ledger to 6-7 with a 4.40 ERA in 21 career appearances (17 starts).

Kershaw knows the chatter -- he hears it regularly from fans and through questions tossed out by the media -- but all he is focused on is what happens in the next series.

"I think at the end of the day, yeah, winning the World Series is really all that we play this game for," Kershaw said. "All the individual stuff is great, but at the end of the day I just want to win a World Series."

Kershaw's performance in two NLCS starts against the Cubs was fine -- he went 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA -- and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts named him the starter for Game 1 of the World Series while the team was still celebrating its NL pennant.

Los Angeles posted the best record in the majors (104-58) during the regular season and was dominating for a large part of the season. But the feeling around the club is that this squad needs to finish the deal with a world championship.

Third baseman Justin Turner and closer Kenley Jansen each had opportunities to leave as free agents before staying put, and Turner felt there was more to achieve when he elected to remain in Los Angeles.

"It's incredible. Kenley and I talked about it in our press conference when we signed back here," Turner said. "We talked about unfinished business and wanting to bring a World Series back to Los Angeles.

"We had a bad taste in our mouth the last four years, you know, not finishing what we started."

This version of the Dodgers is more than star power.

When mainstay first baseman Adrian Gonzalez had to go on the disabled list with back issues, rookie Cody Bellinger became a force and slugged 39 homers. Versatile Chris Taylor was rescued from the Seattle Mariners' Triple-A team in the summer of 2016 and batted .288 with 21 homers and 17 steals this season and then shared NLCS MVP honors with Turner.

Enrique Hernandez finds a spot in the Game 5 lineup and ties league championships records of three homers and seven RBIs.

All-Star shortstop Corey Seager was unavailable for the NLCS with a back injury and Charlie Culberson received an opportunity and went 5-for-11 with three extra-base hits.

Manager Dave Roberts will have some roster decisions to make as he says Seager is expected back for Tuesday's World Series opener.

"He's doing everything he can to get healthy," Roberts said. "We expect him back for Game 1. So obviously when you have a guy like Charlie Culberson that can fill in like that, made some spectacular defensive plays, some big hits, it was great to see from Charlie, but obviously we're hoping to get Corey back for the World Series."

Los Angeles is loaded with key players and has a solid cast of utility players and relievers. But the presence of one guy will overshadow them all.

Will it be regular-season Kershaw or "Postseason Kershaw" out there on the mound trying to deliver the franchise to that long-awaited World Series crown?

After all, Kershaw resided in a cradle when the Dodgers last celebrated a title.

"Who knows how many times I'm going to get to go to the World Series," Kershaw said. "I know more than anybody how hard it is to get there. So I'm definitely not taking this one for granted."

[StarDust Bum]

World Series Cheat Sheet
October 23, 2017

A pair of 100-win teams will meet for the World Series title as the Dodgers and Astros hook up for an anticipated thrilling matchup. Los Angeles is coming off its first pennant since 1988, while Houston captured its first-ever American League pennant as the Astros are in their first World Series since 2005.

The Dodgers (104-58) began the season at 10-12 before winning 23 of their next 31 games. Los Angeles took complete control of the National League West division with an incredible 56-11 run from June through late August. Six different Dodgers clubbed at least 20 home runs, led by rookie outfielder Cody Bellinger’s 39 dingers. The pitching staff dominated all season long as Clayton Kershaw paced the Dodgers with 18 victories and a 2.31 ERA, both tops in the NL, while closer Kelsey Jansen finished tied for first in the NL with 41 saves.

The Astros (101-61) missed the postseason in 2016, but were poised to take that next step in 2017 and didn’t blow the opportunity. Houston started 29-12 at the quarter-pole mark, while finishing the first half at 60-29, capped off by a 19-1 blowout of Toronto. The Astros lost 22 of their next 40 games, while having to deal with the catastrophic effects of Hurricane Harvey hitting the Houston area. That storm resurrecting Houston’s season, as A.J. Hinch’s team finished 22-8 down the stretch, one game shy of the best record in the AL behind Cleveland.

Los Angeles put together a terrific postseason by winning seven of eight games to rebound from last season’s NLCS loss to Chicago. The Dodgers swept the Diamondbacks in three games of the NLDS, while scoring 20 runs in those victories. Los Angeles had another shot at Chicago in the NLCS and didn’t mess around by winning, 4-1, while limiting the defending champion Cubs to one run in three of those wins. Kershaw beat the Cubs twice, as the three-time Cy Young winner allowed three earned runs in 11 innings of work.

Houston took care of its home-field advantage in the playoffs by winning all six games at Minute Maid Park. The Astros eliminated the Red Sox in four games of the ALDS, but had their hands full with the upstart Yankees in the ALCS. After capturing the first two games from New York at home, the Astros’ offense fell flat in the Bronx by scoring only five runs in three consecutive losses. Houston rebounded at home with back-to-back wins, including a tremendous pitching effort from Charlie Morton in the Game 7 clinching 4-0 shutout of New York.

The team owning home-field advantage has won six of the last eight World Series, as Game 1 takes place at Chavez Ravine on Tuesday. Home squads are 6-2 in the previous eight series openers, as the Indians grabbed Game 1 last October against the Cubs, but ended up losing in seven games. The OVER has cashed in four of the past five World Series openers, as the four-year OVER streak ended in Cleveland’s 6-0 shutout of Chicago in 2016.

Kershaw (18-4, 2.31 ERA) has his first crack at a World Series start in Game 1, as the Dodgers posted a magnificent 26-4 record in his 30 appearances this season. It doesn’t matter where Kershaw pitches, he has dominated everywhere, as his home ERA was actually a touch higher than the road (2.82 to 1.99). Since going 0-2 in the 2014 playoffs against the Cardinals, the Dodgers own a 7-2 record in Kershaw’s last nine playoff starts.

Rich Hill (12-8, 3.32 ERA) has turned into the second starter in this rotation behind Kershaw as the veteran southpaw has finally found a home in Los Angeles. Hill tossed nine no-hit innings against Pittsburgh in late August, while the Dodgers have won each of the left-hander’s last five starts. Yu Darvish (4-3, 3.44 ERA with L.A.) has stepped up recently as the former Rangers’ ace has allowed one earned run or fewer in five consecutive starts, while tossing a pair of gems in road victories over Arizona and Chicago in the first two rounds.

Dallas Keuchel (14-5, 2.90 ERA) took home the 2015 AL Cy Young winner, but he couldn’t help the Astros get past the Royals in the ALDS that season. Keuchel overcame a neck injury in early June following a fast start to the season as the Astros have split his last 14 starts. Keuchel dominated in his first two starts of the playoffs at home, but couldn’t deliver in his last appearance in Game 5 at New York by giving up four earned runs in 4.2 innings of a 5-0 defeat. The southpaw has been listed as an underdog of +130 or higher since the start of 2016, losing at Boston in May 2016, while allowing eight earned runs.

Justin Verlander (15-8, 3.36 ERA) proved to be the biggest prize that was moved during the season as the Astros acquired the former MVP and Cy Young winner from the Tigers in late August. Since Verlander joined the Astros, Houston owns a perfect 8-0 record in his eight starts, while striking out 21 in two victories over New York in the ALCS. Verlander last took the mound in the World Series with Detroit back in 2012, getting lit up for five earned runs in four innings of an 8-3 loss at San Francisco.

The Dodgers and Astros used to face each other every season when Houston was a member of the National League, but these teams haven’t hooked up since 2015. In that series in August at Minute Maid Park, Houston pulled off a three-game sweep of Los Angeles, which included a victory over Kershaw in the series finale. Houston hasn’t played at Dodger Stadium since 2012 when Los Angeles grabbed two of three meetings.

In interleague play this season, the Astros posted a 15-5 record, while the Dodgers put together a dominating 16-4 mark. Houston mainly faced the NL East, while Los Angeles took on the AL Central, but each team crossed into the other Western division for their rivalry series with the Astros facing the D-backs for four games and the Dodgers meeting up with the Angels.

Props – Per BetOnline.ag

Series Price
Houston +146
Los Angeles -166

Series Outcome
Houston in 4 games 16/1
Houston in 5 games 7/1
Houston in 6 games 13/2
Houston in 7 games 11/2

Los Angeles in 4 games 8/1
Los Angeles in 5 games 6/1
Los Angeles in 6 games 7/2
Los Angeles in 7 games 4/1

When Will Series End?
Game 4 – 6/1
Game 5 – 11/4
Game 6 – 2/1
Game 7 – 2/1

[StarDust Bum]

World Series: How the Astros and Dodgers match up
October 23, 2017

A position-by-position look at the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers going into the World Series, starting Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium:


First Base:

Astros: Yuli Gurriel. The 33-year-old rookie from Cuba has made a pretty smooth transition to the majors after signing a $47.5 million, five-year contract. A right-handed hitter with pop, he's solved a problem spot for Houston at first base and provided a clutch bat in October, batting .366 in the AL playoffs.

Dodgers: Cody Bellinger. The runaway favorite for NL Rookie of the Year, Bellinger set an NL rookie record with 39 home runs - second in the league this season to Miami slugger Giancarlo Stanton (59). Bellinger made his debut April 25 and wound up leading the team in RBIs (97) and runs (87). His natural power belies a lean build, and he's shown an excellent glove at first base. His father, Clay, was a light-hitting backup on championship teams with the Yankees.

Edge: Dodgers.

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Second Base:

Astros: Jose Altuve. Size matters not. The 5-foot-6 (and that's generous) dynamo is one of the best players in the game. Altuve batted .346 this season, winning his second straight batting crown and third overall. He clocked 24 homers, stole 32 bases and had 204 hits to lead the AL for the fourth season in a row, making him a top contender for MVP along with giant Yankees rookie Aaron Judge. Altuve put on a show in the playoffs, too, hitting .400 with five homers to go with acrobatic defense and daring baserunning. That performance included three home runs in the Division Series opener against Boston, two off Chris Sale. At the plate, Altuve hammers even the hardest heat.

Dodgers: Logan Forsythe or Chase Utley. After two productive seasons with Tampa Bay, the right-handed-hitting Forsythe was obtained in an offseason trade but dipped to .224 with six homers and 36 RBIs. He has a good eye and is batting .316 in his first postseason. The 38-year-old Utley, a six-time All-Star from 2006-14, remains a hard-nosed player who sees time against righties. Utley homered in his first World Series at-bat with Philadelphia in 2008 and has a wealth of postseason experience. He's 0 for 9 with four strikeouts this year, though.

Edge: Astros.

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Shortstop:

Astros: Carlos Correa. The first pick in the 2012 amateur draft out of Puerto Rico, the 23-year-old Correa is one of baseball's brightest young stars. The 2015 AL Rookie of the Year is an outstanding athlete who has power to all fields and can really play shortstop.

Dodgers: Corey Seager. Another one of the game's top young talents, the 23-year-old Seager was last season's NL Rookie of the Year and finished third in MVP voting. A two-time All-Star already, Seager is expected back in the lineup after missing the NL Championship Series against the Cubs with a back injury. His older brother, Kyle, is a fine third baseman for the Seattle Mariners.

Edge: Astros.

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Third Base:

Astros: Alex Bregman. Drafted second overall in 2015 out of LSU, Bregman batted .284 with 19 homers, 71 RBIs and 39 doubles this year in his first full major league season. He hit .190 in the playoffs but did have two homers, two doubles and five RBIs. He's a converted shortstop with good skills at the hot corner.

Dodgers: Justin Turner. The red-bearded bopper, a part-time player with minimal power early in his career, was cast off by the Orioles and Mets. He caught on with the Dodgers in his native Southern California, remade his swing and morphed into a very dangerous hitter who earned his first All-Star nod this year. Turner was co-MVP of the NLCS after socking a game-winning homer, and he's a .368 career postseason hitter with five homers and 24 RBIs in 26 games. What a find.

Edge: Dodgers.

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Catcher:

Astros: Brian McCann or Evan Gattis. A seven-time All-Star from 2006-13, the 33-year-old McCann was traded by the Yankees last offseason to make room for Gary Sanchez behind the plate. After an 0-for-20 slump, McCann delivered a couple of big hits in the final two games of the ALCS to help beat New York - which must have felt good. He isn't quite the hitter he used to be, but McCann remains a steady presence and respected leader. The brawny Gattis offers raw power from the right side and sometimes catches against lefties.

Dodgers: Austin Barnes or Yasmani Grandal. With an .895 OPS in 262 plate appearances and athletic defensive skills behind the dish, the surprising Barnes appears to have wrested much of the playing time away from Grandal at this point. Barnes almost certainly will catch the Series opener, though Grandal could get back in there against some right-handed pitching. He has 49 home runs over the past two seasons but is hitting .093 with one homer and 19 strikeouts in 43 career postseason at-bats - only five this October.

Edge: Astros.

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Left Field:

Astros: Marwin Gonzalez. The versatile switch-hitter can play all over the diamond and earned a regular role this year with a breakout season. Gonzalez batted .303 with 23 homers and a team-high 90 RBIs, but struggled at the plate during the playoffs.

Dodgers: Enrique Hernandez, Andre Ethier or Curtis Granderson. Hernandez, another utility player by trade, brings instant energy and a live right-handed bat that lands him in the middle of the lineup against lefties. He had a career night and a magical moment in the NLCS clincher at Wrigley Field, with three home runs and a record seven RBIs. The slumping Granderson might not be an automatic start against righties, but that's where the depth on Los Angeles' versatile roster really comes in handy. Enter the 35-year-old Ethier, an old pro who homered in the NLCS after missing most of the past two seasons with injuries.

Edge: Astros.

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Center Field:

Astros: George Springer. With rare power at the top of the lineup, the athletic Springer had 34 homers and 85 RBIs this season and made his first All-Star team. He hit nine leadoff home runs, most in the majors, and can definitely go get it in center field. Springer batted .412 with a homer and two doubles in the ALDS but only .115 (3 for 26) in the ALCS.

Dodgers: Chris Taylor. Another versatile player who has excelled after being pulled off the scrap heap by the opportunistic Dodgers. Taylor, like Turner, also changed his swing to generate more power and it paid off. The former Seattle shortstop came out of nowhere this season to establish himself as an everyday leadoff hitter, batting .288 with 21 homers, 72 RBIs and 17 steals. He helped fill in at shortstop for Seager during the NLCS and took home co-MVP honors with Turner after compiling a 1.248 OPS with two homers and four extra-base hits in five games.

Edge: Astros.

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Right Field:

Astros: Josh Reddick. Winner of a 2012 Gold Glove, Reddick spent the final two months of last season with the Dodgers after being traded from Oakland. He signed a $52 million, four-year contract with Houston in the offseason and batted .314 with 13 homers and 82 RBIs. He hit .375 in the ALDS but went 1 for 25 against the Yankees, finally snapping a long hitless skid late in the series.

Dodgers: Yasiel Puig. Bursting with tools and talent, Puig was aptly nicknamed ''The Wild Horse'' by revered broadcaster Vin Scully. The enigmatic outfielder from Cuba was runner-up for 2013 NL Rookie of the Year and a starter in the All-Star Game the following season. But he fell out of such favor with the Dodgers that they demoted him to the minors last year. He's bounced back with the best full season of his career (28 homers, 74 RBIs), and put up huge numbers in the NL playoffs with a 1.169 OPS. Puig's speed, rocket arm and powerful swing still come with some discipline issues, cocky antics and bat flips that rankle opponents. But his approach at the plate has matured and he's playing consistently excellent baseball lately. Seems to be having plenty of fun, too.

Edge: Dodgers.

---

Designated Hitter:

Astros: Gattis or Carlos Beltran. Gattis is a throwback who doesn't wear batting gloves and looks like some kind of mountain man. He swings his lumber like a club and has an incredible back story that brought him to the big leagues after he just about gave up baseball and was working odd jobs to barely make ends meet. The 40-year-old Beltran, one of the game's greatest postseason performers, returned to Houston this season hoping for his first World Series ring. The respected switch-hitter went 1 for 12 with four strikeouts in the ALCS but has embraced his leadership role of wise and savvy veteran.

Dodgers: Ethier, Grandal or Hernandez. With AL rules in play when the World Series shifts to Houston for Game 3, the Dodgers will have plenty of options at DH. Ethier or Grandal could offer left-handed pop against a right-handed pitcher. Hernandez seems a lock to be in the lineup against lefties, at least. Seager might also show up in the spot, depending on how he's moving defensively.

Edge: Astros.

---

Starting Pitchers:

Astros: For a team that went all seven games in the ALCS, the Astros are in good shape with their solid rotation. They can start left-hander Dallas Keuchel (14-5, 2.90 ERA) in the opener and fellow Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander in Game 2 on regular rest. Verlander is 4-0 with a 1.46 ERA this postseason, including his first career relief appearance. The ALCS MVP is 9-0 with a 1.23 ERA and 67 strikeouts in nine outings for Houston since agreeing to a trade from Detroit that was completed only seconds before the Aug. 31 midnight deadline for postseason eligibility. Charlie Morton (14-7, 3.62) and Lance McCullers Jr. (7-4, 4.25) combined to shut out the Yankees in Game 7. They both have good stuff and would make fine options for Games 3 and 4 in any order - if the Astros don't need to use them too much out of the bullpen early in the series. McCullers, an All-Star in July, features a wipeout curveball and appears to be rounding back into form following an injury-plagued second half.

Dodgers: It all starts with Clayton Kershaw (18-4, 2.31 ERA, 202 Ks), who has waited his entire career for this moment, a chance to pitch in the World Series. The three-time Cy Young Award winner goes in Game 1 on regular rest at home. He won the NLCS clincher at Wrigley Field with a stingy outing, but has had his share of postseason struggles. The left-hander with five ERA titles and seven All-Star selections is 6-7 with a 4.40 ERA in 21 playoff games, including 2-0 this year. After that comes lefty Rich Hill (12-8, 3.32), who pitches well at home. Yu Darvish (10-12, 3.86, 209 Ks) was obtained from Texas at the July 31 trade deadline to give the rotation a right-handed ace and he delivered in the NL playoffs, winning both his starts. Left-hander Alex Wood (16-3, 2.72) hasn't had a chance to pitch much in this postseason following the best year of his career.

Edge: Even.

---

Bullpen:

Astros: On paper, this is where Houston comes up woefully short. While the Astros have several capable relievers with successful track records, including Chris Devenski, Will Harris, Luke Gregerson and closer Ken Giles, manager A.J. Hinch has been hesitant to use some of them in big games lately. A few lack much October experience, and the group as a whole hasn't performed very well when called upon. Instead, the creative Astros have used starters such as Verlander, McCullers, Brad Peacock and Collin McHugh to fill gaps in the mid-to-late innings. Whether they can keep that up remains to be seen.

Dodgers: Anchored by Kenley Jansen, perhaps the most dominant closer in baseball, the Dodgers have a deep bullpen that's been a big reason for their success. Los Angeles relievers have thrown 23 straight scoreless innings in the postseason, dating to Game 2 of the Division Series against Arizona. Jansen and setup man Brandon Morrow look untouchable right now, combining for 15 strikeouts and one hit allowed in nine scoreless NLCS innings. The unit, which helped the Dodgers compile an NL-low 3.38 ERA this season, has only been augmented by starter Kenta Maeda and the midseason additions of left-handers Tony Cingrani and Tony Watson. Because of that lights-out bullpen, manager Dave Roberts doesn't even ask his starters to go very far.

Edge: Dodgers.


---

Pick: Astros in 6.

[StarDust Bum]

World Series - Best Bets
October 23, 2017

2017 World Series Futures and Series Props
Houston Astros vs. L.A Dodgers

We've finally got to the Fall Classic for 2017 and it should be an exciting one between the Astros and Dodgers.

Both teams were absolutely dominant for long stretches of 2017 and absolutely deserve to be here. L.A does enter the World Series on more of a roll having gone 7-1 SU in eight playoff games so far and are the prohibitive favorites to win it all, 29 years after their last World Series title in 1988.

Houston has never won a World Series in franchise history, but getting a championship 12 years after their first World Series appearance as an organization would be tremendous vindication for a franchise that underwent a massive rebuilding project at the beginning of this decade to peak right now.

Series prices and various props are another way to have action on this World Series and there are a few that I like.

Let's get right to them as we look to cash a few more tickets for the 2017 MLB campaign.

Odds per - BetOnline.ag

World Series Winner: Houston Astros (+146)

The Dodgers will be the more popular pick here and have already seen significant support since this number was released, but I can't pass up the value here with the underdogs from Houston. The Astros were an offensive juggernaut for nearly all of 2017, and the fact that they finished the year as the best playoff team – that made it to at least the LDS - hitting team against southpaws is an advantage for them in this series that many are overlooking. Three of the first four starters for L.A are southpaws and with the potential for five of the seven games featuring a lefty on the hill to start for L.A, this Astros team that's teed off on lefties could get their offense rolling early on. Houston also was the best hitting team against righties in baseball this year and the one starter – Yu Darvish – for L.A that is right-handed, is a guy that these Astros hitters know very well from his time in Texas.

Conversely, for all the dominance the Dodgers showed in 2017, they were a below-the-middle-of-the-pack offensive team against righties. With Houston's only southpaw starter being Dallas Keuchel, those splits working in Houston's favor could play a huge role in Games 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7.

With more pressure being on L.A in this series given their extensive payroll, this talented Houston team should be able to be looser out there from the start, and having found their offense again in the last two games against New York in the ALCS, this Houston team is simply too dangerous offensively to not like the value at this price.

Odds per - BetOnline.ag

World Series Handicap Play: Houston Astros -1.5 games (+250)

Along those same lines with Houston, if they are able to steal one of the first two games in L.A, the rest of the series really sets up well for them. Houston was 53-28 SU on the road this year (tied for best in MLB), and while many will point to their three straight losses in New York last round as cause for concern, getting at least one of the first two in L.A against two lefties may I add isn't a longshot by any means.

Games 3, 4, and 5 are all back in Houston, and running off three straight at home isn't unheard of for this team. The Astros are a perfect 6-0 SU at home in these playoffs and four of those six wins have been by multiple runs. They've got the offense that can put up crooked numbers in a hurry – even on L.A – and while calling the Astros to win in five may be a stretch (Astros in 5 is listed at +700 if you're interested), I would not be surprised to see it happen.

But if Houston needs at least six games to win it all – and cash this bet – they project out to have ALCS MVP Justin Verlander on the hill for that Game 6 in L.A. We've all seen how dominant Verlander has been for the Astros in these playoffs, and I wouldn't like betting against him in any start this series. At +250, the value is there to back Houston to win before this reaches Game 7.

Odds per - BetOnline.ag

World Series MVP Picks: George Springer (20/1) and/or Carlos Correa (25/1)

I'm sticking with the Houston theme and going with two of the catalysts in their offense that are typically 1st and 4th in the batting order. Eleven of the past 13 World Series MVP's have been position players as they've got more opportunities to impact the game(s) then a single starter or closer does, and no matter who you lean on, taking a position player is probably the way to go.

Springer is the leadoff guy for the Astros and if he's able to get it going by getting on base and continually putting pressure on the Dodgers staff because of it, the Dodgers are in deep trouble. Springer's speed on the basepaths, power in the box, and ability to hit the ball anywhere on the field make him a guy L.A has to be supremely worried about in this series. Springer can be a little loose with pitch selection at times and can go into slumps with multiple strikeouts, but his .301 average vs lefties this year bodes well for him to get it going early in this series and force action right down the lineup. Oh, and he's an elite center-fielder on defense that will no doubt have one or two highlights with the glove in this series. I'm buying Springer at 20/1 odds (Bet $100 to win $2,000)!

In Correa's case, he's another guy that absolutely pounds left-handed pitching to the tune of a .391 average, and with those kind of numbers and him batting clean-up, Correa's in a great spot to do a lot of damage in this series if the Astros are to win. Correa was one of the cornerstones of Houston's rebuild years ago and while the other guy up the middle of the infield in Jose Altuve is likely to get the regular season MVP – and subsequently more love for World Series MVP odds (7/1) from bettors – this World Series could very well end up being Correa's coming out party on the big stage and cement his status as one of the best young players in the game today. Place another buy order, this time at 25/1 odds.

[StarDust Bum]

WS opens in L.A. with high temps
October 23, 2017

LOS ANGELES (AP) The fastballs aren't the only things hitting triple digits at the World Series.

This Fall Classic is going to feel like summer.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros will meet on what's expected to be a 100-degree Tuesday at Dodger Stadium, beginning possibly the warmest World Series ever.

An October heat wave slugged Southern California on Monday, with the temperature reaching 104 degrees shortly after lunchtime in Chavez Ravine. It was still blazing when the Dodgers and Astros showed up at Dodger Stadium for brief late-afternoon workouts that stretched into the early evening.

The heat isn't likely to bother the players much: Both of these warm-weather teams are used to sweating it out all summer long.

''Love it,'' said Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner, a Southern California native and the co-MVP of the NL Championship Series. ''I'd rather be playing in the heat than in the snow, so it's great.''

Still, the players didn't take the field Monday until the sun was partly blocked by the left field grandstands, and they took batting practice after sunset - when it was still a toasty 94 degrees. Similar heat is expected Tuesday.

''This weather is always beautiful,'' said Dallas Keuchel, the Astros' Game 1 starter. ''It's that dry heat, so it's going to be hotter than normal to play. At the same time, I like to sweat. I like to get that perspiration and make sure I have a firm grip on the ball. It's the World Series, so if it's a little bit hotter than usual, that's fine with me. There's no place I'd rather be.''

Game 1 has a chance to be the warmest World Series game on record. Back in 2001, the temperature was around 94 degrees in Phoenix for the Oct. 27 World Series opener between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the New York Yankees. The Chase Field roof was left open, and the temperature had dropped to 76 degrees by game time.

Some forecasts expect Los Angeles to be hotter than 94 degrees for the first pitch at 8 p.m. EDT on Tuesday - and there's no roof on Dodger Stadium.

''Never would I have expected that at the end of October, going into November,'' Dodgers center fielder Chris Taylor said. ''That's LA for you, though.''

The Dodgers are in the World Series for the first time since 1988, and the temperature feels just fine to the boys in blue.

''Everything is hot in LA!'' Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen said with a grin. ''The Dodgers are hot. Everybody is excited. It's been a while since Kirk Gibson. Of course it's hot today.''

The Astros are also used to a little bit of heat - and in East Texas, they've got humidity that can wear out most Californians.

''It'll be hot, but I don't think anybody is going to be thinking about the weather too much,'' Houston right-hander Will Harris said. ''I'm pretty sure our training staff will be on us with making sure we're hydrated, and they may have some cold rags in the dugout.''

The 56,000 Dodgers fans will be more vulnerable to the elements when they crowd into their venerable stadium to witness the end of their team's 29-year World Series drought. Dodgers outfielder Curtis Granderson offered advice to fans and teammates alike.

''Hydration is going to be key, and trying to cool off is going to be key,'' Granderson said. ''But I think if you would poll everybody, everybody would definitely like it to be a little bit warmer than they would be cold.''

The World Series hasn't visited the three open-air ballparks in the southern half of California since 2002, when the then-Anaheim Angels won it all.

The sun is scheduled to set about one hour after the first pitch in each of the first two games, so the heat will drop after that. But the temperatures could even knock out the marine layer - the thick air mass caused by cooling temperatures near the Pacific Ocean and often blamed for fly balls falling short of the fence from San Diego to Oakland.

''I think it's going to benefit the hitters,'' Dodgers utilityman Kike Hernandez said. ''The hotter it is here, the better the ball carries.''

The Astros are familiar with a whole different level of heat combined with humidity during their long, hot summers in Houston, but the roof is usually closed at Minute Maid Park, where the air-conditioned temperature is always around 73 balmy degrees. The weekend forecast in Houston calls for temperatures perhaps topping 80 degrees.

Yet there's no denying some players will be slightly more comfortable in the heat than others: Turner and Keuchel are among several regulars on each team who sport thick, lustrous beards.

So would a heat wave be enough to send Keuchel looking for relief in a barbershop?

''If it's hot enough for four wins, I'll shave it for sure,'' Keuchel said with a laugh.

[StarDust Bum]

Tuesday’s game

Houston @ Los Angeles

Astros are in World Series for 2nd time; last time was in 2005 when they were NL champs and lost to the White Sox. Dodgers are in their first World Series since 1988. Expected to be very hot for the 5:00 local time first pitch in LA- may be 100 degrees. No DH for the games in LA.

Keuchel is 4-2, 2.55 in his last six starts; over is 6-3 in his last nine starts. Houston is 10-3 in his road starts this season- he didn’t pitch against the Dodgers this year. Keuchel is 4-1, 2.59 in six career playoff games (5 starts).

Kershaw is 3-0, 3.38 in his last five starts; over is 5-3 in his last eight starts. Dodgers are 14-2 in his home starts this season, Kershaw didn’t pitch against Houston this year; he is 6-7, 4.40 in 21 career playoff games (17 starts).

[StarDust Bum]

At long last, Kershaw in World Series
October 23, 2017

LOS ANGELES (AP) In the Twilight Zone of October, the clock turns back at Dodger Stadium.

To the mound, to the moments that defined World Series champions. Orel Hershiser, steely and standing tall.Fernando Valenzuela, eyes to the sky.The great Sandy Koufax, the very picture of pitching.

And that brings us to Game 1 on Tuesday night, when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Houston Astros. Up on the bump, on baseball's biggest stage, we finally get to see Clayton Kershaw.

About time, right?

Kershaw has done most everything an ace can accomplish - three Cy Young Awards, five ERA crowns, three strikeout titles, a seven-time All-Star who's also won an MVP trophy and thrown a no-hitter.

Now, against a backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains majestic at sunset, the lefty and his Dodgers make their pitch for the ultimate prize.

''I think that's the final piece for him,'' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

Said Kershaw: ''Who knows how many times I'm going to get to go to the World Series? I know more than anybody how hard it is to get there. So, I'm definitely not taking this one for granted.''

To those Kershaw plays with, he's got nothing left to prove. A model of consistency, the Dodgers see him as money every time he takes the mound.

It seems almost like an insult to many, in fact, to suggest anything otherwise.

Yet there is that one nagging set of stats that can't be overlooked: 6-7 with an unsightly 4.40 ERA in the playoffs.

Now, it's no shame to struggle in the postseason. All-Stars Chris Sale, Corey Kluber and Max Scherzer all got banged around this month.

Hall of Famers Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson and Tom Glavine, for all of their many accolades, each had losing records in the postseason. Those guys also helped pitch their teams to championships.

''You remember watching. You remember who went to the World Series,'' Kershaw said.

Kershaw has excelled at times in October.

He hung tough in Washington last season in the deciding Game 5 of the NL Division Series, earning his only big league save.

He threw six sharp innings last week in the clincher at Wrigley Field to dethrone the Cubs in the NL Championship Series. That made him 2-0 with a 3.63 ERA in three postseason starts this year, although he was tagged for four home runs in a win over Arizona.

But a truly signature moment, that's still missing. His opponent in the World Series opener, Astros lefty Dallas Keuchel, already has a couple.

Keuchel won the AL wild-card game at Yankee Stadium two years ago with six shutout innings. He won the opener of this year's ALCS, tossing seven brilliant innings vs. the visiting Yankees.

Kershaw, as always, is eager to get going.

''There's always butterflies,'' he said before Monday's workout at Dodger Stadium. ''I think this time is when the butterflies and anxiousness is more so. Once you throw the first pitch it all goes away, at least for me.''

As for soaking in the atmosphere, that's not his style. Not right now.

''I think I'm just going to try to win tomorrow and I'll let it sink all in when we win. And if we don't do that, I'll let it sink in when we lose,'' he said.

Kershaw is 3-2 against the Astros, dating to when they were a National League team. Houston star Jose Altuve is 6 for 15 lifetime off a pitcher known for his sharp slider and pinpoint fastball.

''He's got every weapon you would fear,'' Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. ''He's got some hardware on his shelf at home.''

At 29, Kershaw could walk away after this Series and head straight to Cooperstown. He's 144-64 with a 2.36 ERA overall after going 18-4 with a 2.31 ERA this year.

''All the individual stuff is great, but at the end of the day I just want to win a World Series,'' he said last week, adding with a smile, ''If we win, I might retire, so I might just call it a career.''