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

[StarDust Bum]

Plenty of new faces in World Series
October 23, 2017

LOS ANGELES (AP) Carlos Correa is such a fresh face, his first big league hit was assisted by technology.

When he made his debut for Houston on June 8, 2015, Correa hit a three-hopper off White Sox ace Chris Sale and was called out by first base umpire Larry Vanover. About a minute later, a replay umpire in New York overruled the call , and the 20-year-old had an infield single and his first RBI.

''It feels like it was yesterday. Not long ago, I got drafted by a team that lost 111 games in a season, and now we're in the World Series,'' Correa said Monday. ''It's pretty incredible.''

A new generation of ballplayers is featured in the World Series starting Tuesday night. Houston's dynamic infield duo of Correa and the diminutive Jose Altuve sparks the top offense in the major leagues. The tantalizing trio of Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager and Chris Taylor has the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Series for the first time since 1988.

''Media day in Oklahoma City was about two people there, and now I'm here and getting ready for the World Series,'' Bellinger said, surrounding by dozens of reporters in the Dodger Stadium's Dugout Club. ''I could never imagine this.''

Altuve skipped Triple-A and made it to the major leagues on July 20, 2011, after Houston traded Jeff Keppinger to San Francisco. He singled off Washington's Tyler Clippard that night in his big league debut.

Houston finished last in each of his first three seasons. Now Altuve is among four Astros remaining from the team that lost a club-record 111 games in 2013, joined by pitchers Dallas Keuchel and Brad Peacock along with utilityman Marwin Gonzalez.

At 27, Altuve already is a five-time All-Star and three-time batting champion.

''I'm coming from a team that lost a hundred games in a row three years, three straight years,'' he said. ''We made the playoffs in 2015. We didn't make it last year, and after last year we were a little uncomfortable because we were watching the playoff games from home.''

Dallas Keuchel, the Astros' Game 1 starter, thought back to when he met Altuve when they were on the Tri-City ValleyCats in the Class A New York-Penn League in 2009.

''He hadn't really hit puberty yet, and so he sounded different,'' the pitcher said. ''He sounded like he shouldn't even have been playing baseball.''

Correa, the top pick in the 2012 amateur draft, was a first-time All-Star this season, hitting 24 homers and driving in 84 runs despite a torn ligament in his left thumb that needed surgery, causing him to miss 42 games.

Bellinger, son of former Yankees infielder Clay Bellinger, started the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City and made his debut April 25 at San Francisco. He found out about his call-up at 2 a.m. after noticing he had four missed calls from Dodgers farm director Gabe Kapler.

At 21, Bellinger became the youngest position player in Dodgers history selected for the All-Star Game, set a National League rookie record with 39 homers and had 97 RBIs in 132 games. Now he's talking to his dad about his three World Series appearances.

Seager, at 23 the youngest of three brothers who played pro ball, was a unanimous pick as NL Rookie of the Year in 2016 and repeated as an All-Star this season. He became the first Dodgers player since Jackie Robinson in 1947-48 with 30 doubles or more in each of his first two seasons, and his 52 career home runs is already second-most among Dodgers shortstop behind Pee Wee Reese's 122. He missed the NL Championship Series after hurting his back on a slide into second base in Game 3 of the Division Series but is expected to be in the starting lineup for the opener against the Astros.

He thought back to watching on television as Derek Jeter led the New York Yankees to the 2009 title.

''It's pretty easy to fall in love with the guy, on and off the field what he did for that community, what he did for that culture, that team,'' Seager said.

Taylor blossomed at 27 after 2 1/2 unremarkable seasons with Seattle. Traded to the Dodgers in June 2016, he started the season at Triple-A, was called up April 19 and earned the leadoff spot in the batting order. He had three grand slams and finished with a .288 average, 21 homers, 72 RBIs and 17 steals.

''It's crazy how fast things can change in this game, both ways, starting the year in Triple-A, playing in front of like maybe 100 people and then getting to this stage,'' Taylor said. ''It's been an unbelievable journey.''

Correa would like a Series ring to add to his mementos. He has the ball from his first hit, but given the delay, can he be 100 percent sure?

''Maybe it was the wrong ball,'' he said with a laugh and a smile.

[StarDust Bum]

Roberts keeps Dodgers pointed toward glory
October 23, 2017

LOS ANGELES (AP) Dave Roberts' first two years as the Los Angeles Dodgers' manager have gone by in an action-packed blur.

He has watched 195 regular-season wins and survived one awful losing skid. He has won two NL West titles, three playoff series and a pennant. He persevered through his father's death with almost no time to grieve last spring, determined to keep his team pointed toward its championship goal.

And though he played 2 1/2 seasons for the Dodgers, this UCLA product still sometimes feels like a newcomer in blue.

''I'm learning something every day, I think,'' Roberts said recently. ''Being more familiar with the front office, the players, the coaches, I think that all of that has helped me be more comfortable in any situation.''

Roberts relishes the chance to reflect on these two crazy seasons - perhaps at his North County winery - after the World Series, which visits Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night for the first time in 29 years.

But until the Dodgers and the Houston Astros are finished, he'll stay focused on putting his highly paid players in the best positions to chase that trophy. Although he had no managerial aspirations until long after his playing career ended, Roberts has grown passionate about the work.

''I think that I just love the game,'' Roberts said. ''I love to teach. I love the players. ... I think that as your (playing) career evolves and starts to descend, you start changing roles as far as mentor, teammate, role model, and then helping younger players, and just loving the teaching component.''

Roberts is often given credit for balancing the demands of the prodigious baseball minds in the Dodgers' data-driven front office and the hearts of the ballplayers doing the on-field work. He routinely redistributes any praise among his players and the team's large group of executives and coaches - just as a leader should.

And while he was a surprise choice for the job in late 2015, Roberts has been just about as successful as anyone can be in an unforgiving, relentlessly second-guessed profession.

In concert with the front office, he has been innovative and fearless while the big-budget Dodgers honed new strategies to handle pitching staffs and attempted to get maximal value from all their extraordinary assets.

Roberts won the NL Manager of the Year award as a rookie last season while setting a major league record with 606 pitching changes. With a few inspired moves in the NL Division Series against Washington, he helped the Dodgers to the NL Championship Series, where they ran into the destined Chicago Cubs.

After guiding these current 104-win Dodgers past Arizona and Chicago in a 7-1 playoff rampage, the former outfielder has the chance to add another championship ring to the one he earned through his monumental stolen base against Yankees closer Mariano Rivera during the Boston Red Sox's 2004 championship run.

''Doc gets a lot of respect because he played the game, but the biggest thing that he gives us is consistency,'' Dodgers left-hander Rich Hill said. ''If we're winning six times a week or in a losing streak, he's the same guy every day. He's always trying to make everybody better, and he doesn't take days off. Teams feed off that, and the results of it show up when you get to where we are in October.''

Roberts has major advantages in his job: The highest payroll in baseball, a roster studded with talent, and a loyal, vociferous fan base eager for a championship.

He also has incredible challenges: The Dodgers' championship drought, a surplus of talent to keep happy, those enormous expectations brought on by that fat payroll - and a loyal, vociferous fan base eager for a championship.

At 45, Roberts approaches it all with a studied, contagious confidence.

''Doc is a smart man. He always knows what to do in situations,'' said right fielder Yasiel Puig, whose career has been revitalized under Roberts and his coaching staff.

Roberts tries to speak to each of his players every day, even if it's just a greeting. He works the Dodgers' clubhouse like a senior class president, checking in on every relationship and staying abreast of everybody's health. He gave himself a mental break over the weekend, spending a day at home in San Diego and enjoying a favorite wine.

Roberts would be the first manager of Asian descent to win a World Series, and the second black manager to win a title, following Toronto's Cito Gaston. He recognizes the importance of those milestones, but he believes they would mean more to his father.

Waymon Roberts died at 68 during spring training this year. The longtime Marine instilled a work ethic in his son and provided a behavior template that he strives to teach his children and his players.

Before these playoffs began, Roberts said he had ''a good cry'' thinking about how excited his father, who followed the Dodgers vociferously, would have been about this playoff run.

''What would he tell me?'' Roberts said. ''He'd be wearing his big Dodgers blue jacket. He would just tell me how proud he was. Just go have fun.''

[StarDust Bum]

Davis to head World Series umpiring crew
October 23, 2017

Umpire Gerry Davis will work the World Series for the sixth time, including his third time as crew chief, Major League Baseball announced Monday.

The umpires assigned to the 2017 Fall Classic are headed by Davis, whose 136 career postseason games are the most of any umpire in MLB history. His six World Series assignments are now tied with Joe West for the most among the active umpires.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will host the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series on Tuesday night.

Davis, who umpired this year's National League Division Series between the Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks, previously worked the World Series in 1996, 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2012. The St. Louis native is a 34-year big-league umpire with more than 4,500 career games.

The six other World Series umpires named are Phil Cuzzi, Laz Diaz, Dan Iassogna, regular-season crew chief Bill Miller, Paul Nauert and Mark Wegner. It is the third career World Series for Miller, the second for Diaz, Iassogna and Wegner, and the first for Nauert and Cuzzi, who will be behind home plate in Game 1.

All seven umpires who will be on the field during the World Series were assigned to this year's Division Series.

Wegner will serve as the replay official for Games 1 and 2 before joining the on-field crew as the left field umpire for Game 3. Cuzzi will be the replay official from Game 3 through the conclusion of the World Series.

The replay assistant throughout series will be umpire Tripp Gibson, who was on the field for this year's American League wild-card game.

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Tuesday's six-pack

— Mets named Indians pitching coach Mickey Calloway their new manager.

— Red Sox will name Astros bench coach Alex Cora their new manager.

— Last year’s Houston Rockets tried 40+ 3-pointers in half of their 82 games; the team with next highest number in one season was 12 games- the Rockets in 2015.

— UTEP, Oregon State, Georgia Southern have all fired their football coach, and the World Series hasn’t even started yet.

— When Chargers shut Denver out 21-0 Sunday, it was the first time the Broncos had been shut out since 1992.

— Eagles 34, Redskins 24— Kirk Cousins is now 0-9 on weeknights, 0-6 on Monday nights.


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Armadillo: Tuesday's List of 13: Nobody asked me, but……..

13) Statistics are fun, they can be educational, but they can also be really misleading; take the Carolina Panthers’ defensive stats, which should be really good this week, because Carolina’s offense was so terrible that Chicago scored two defensive TD’s early on, then just sat on their 14-0 lead and didn’t even try to score with the ball. Bears had five first downs, gained 153 yards on 37 plays for the whole game, but they won by two TD’s. Very unusual.

12) I’d be curious to know in all the fantasy football leagues around the country, what the teams’ records were in Week 7 that had Aaron Rodgers on them? I had Rodgers on my team when he got hurt in 2013; lets just say things didn’t go too well from that point on.

11) We post the six most popular picks in the Westgate SuperContest each week; thru seven weeks, those picks are just 15-27 vs spread, which means sports books are making a killing so far this season. Handicapping the NFL is a minefield that is very tough to navigate.

10) Cleveland Browns’ tackle Joe Thomas played 10 years and six games without missing a single play, a streak more impressive than Cal Ripken’s iron man streak, but he got hurt Sunday and is now out for the season with a triceps injury. Thomas is a future Hall of Famer.

9) Cubs fired pitching coach Chris Bosio; they won the World Series last year, did Bosio get a lot dumber all of a sudden?

San Francisco Giants also re-assigned most of their coaches, including pitching coach Dave Righetti, who had been in that job since 2000. Giants won three World Series in this decade; maybe they should re-assign the person who put together such an aging roster this past season.

8) Army’s football team has already accepted a bowl bid, to the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec 23. At 6-2, the Cadets are having a breakthrough season.

7) Ole Miss QB Shea Patterson is out for the year after getting hurt against LSU Saturday nite. Been a rough year for the Rebels, who are playing with an interim head coach.

6) Dallas Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey tweaked a leg muscle in San Francisco Sunday; one of the Cowboys’ safeties (Jeff Heath) kicked a field goal, banking it in off the right upright. Cowboys are holding tryouts for a backup kicker this week.

5) This is how competitive pro golf is around the world: In fall of 2016, 30 guys won their cards for the European Tour for 2017 at Q-School. Of those 30 guys, only two have their cards for 2018.

4) Michigan State has a running back named LJ Scott who is pretty good, but he’s been arrested seven times, all for roughly the same thing— unpaid traffic tickets, driving without a license or with a suspended license. How do they keep letting him play? It is mostly harmless stuff, but it shows a lack of respect for rules and sends a bad message that he is playing.

Back in the day, my man Jerry Tarkanian would’ve done this: assign a staff member to take care of his traffic issues for him. Drive him to DMV to pay his fines and renew his license. The better the kid was, the more important it was to keep him eligible and out of trouble.

3) I’m watching 76ers-Pistons game as I type this; game is in Detroit’s new downtown arena and the crowd there is really small. Does every NBA team make money?

2) Denver Broncos have played two road games, scoring one TD on 23 drives; should they explore trading for Eli Manning? Giants are on their bye week; Denver could use a QB. Giants might need to start a rebuilding process.

1) Cleveland Browns should sign Colin Kaepernick; it would diffuse his lawsuit against the NFL, then people could see in plain view whether he is still good enough to keep playing in the league. Plus, there is no way he is worse than the three suspects who’ve been playing QB for the Browns this season. Then they can draft a top-flight QB prospect next April and move on.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Dunkel

Tuesday, October 24

Houston @ LA Dodgers

Game 901-902
October 24, 2017 @ 8:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Houston
(Keuchel) 18.368
LA Dodgers
(Kershaw) 16.851
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Houston
by 1 1/2
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA Dodgers
-175
7
Dunkel Pick:
Houston
(+155); Over




MLB
Long Sheet

Tuesday, October 24

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HOUSTON (108 - 65) at LA DODGERS (111 - 59) - 8:05 PM
DALLAS KEUCHEL (L) vs. CLAYTON KERSHAW (L)
Top Trends for this game.
HOUSTON is 51-51 (-17.2 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
LA DODGERS are 78-33 (+27.4 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
KERSHAW is 26-4 (+15.0 Units) against the money line in all games this season. (Team's Record)
KERSHAW is 35-7 (+19.7 Units) against the money line when the total is 7 or less over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
KERSHAW is 28-4 (+19.9 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
HOUSTON is 108-65 (+14.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
HOUSTON is 54-32 (+13.0 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
HOUSTON is 42-18 (+20.1 Units) against the money line in an inter-league game over the last 3 seasons.
HOUSTON is 38-22 (+10.2 Units) against the money line in road games in night games this season.
HOUSTON is 33-20 (+9.1 Units) against the money line in road games after a win this season.
HOUSTON is 39-25 (+9.0 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
LA DODGERS are 104-122 (-34.3 Units) against the money line in an inter-league game since 1997.
LA DODGERS are 147-105 (-12.2 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

DALLAS KEUCHEL vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
No recent starts.

CLAYTON KERSHAW vs. HOUSTON since 1997
KERSHAW is 3-2 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 2.38 and a WHIP of 1.019.
His team's record is 4-4 (-2.4 units) in these starts. The OVER is 4-4. (-0.2 units)

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MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Tuesday, October 24

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).




MLB

Tuesday, October 24

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Trend Report
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HOUSTON @ LA DODGERS
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston's last 6 games when playing LA Dodgers
Houston is 13-5 SU in its last 18 games
LA Dodgers is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
LA Dodgers is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games

[StarDust Bum]

World Series Game 1 betting preview and odds: Astros at Dodgers

Houston Astros at Los Angeles Dodgers (-170, 7)

The Los Angeles Dodgers haven't won a World Series since 1988, while the Houston Astros have never been crowned champions in their 56-season history. The teams begin their attempts to end their respective droughts when Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw pitches against Houston's Dallas Keuchel in Game 1 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers are in the World Series for the first time since their memorable 1988 slaying of the Oakland Athletics, a series best known for limping Kirk Gibson's decisive Game 1 homer. The Astros lost to the Chicago White Sox in the 2005 World Series and this season's 101-win squad knocked out the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees to reach the Series. "Our guys are battle tested now," Astros manager A.J. Hinch told reporters. "We had no question coming in. I think more people had questions about us than we questioned ourselves. Now we chase the ultimate prize. There's two teams standing. It's a race to four wins now." The Dodgers, who won 104 regular-season games, rolled through the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs with standout third baseman Justin Turner excelling by going 12-for-31 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in the eight games.

TV: 8:09 p.m. ET, FOX

LINE HISTORY: The Dodgers opened Game 1 as -155 home chalk and have since been moved to the current number of Dodgers -170. The total, not surprisingly, hit the board at a very low 7.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (2-1, 2.60 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (2-0, 3.63 ERA)

Keuchel has struck out 25 in 17 1/3 innings over three starts this October and is a solid 4-1 with a 2.59 ERA in six career postseason appearances (five starts). The 29-year-old former Cy Young Award winner scanned the Dodgers' lineup and had no trouble anointing it as the best he'll face all season. "Just seems like production top to bottom, even some of their extra guys, has been there all year," Keuchel said at his Monday press conference. "They are going to be the deepest team we played, hands down. My job is to go out there and get the job done."

Kershaw has served up six homers in three starts this postseason but his career ledger has improved to 6-7 with a 4.40 ERA in 21 appearances (17 starts). The 29-year-old three-time Cy Young winner is 3-2 with a 2.38 ERA in eight career starts against the Astros and has experienced struggles with Astros star second baseman Jose Altuve (6-for-15, four doubles). "He hits everything pretty well. I think he's super aggressive but at the same time he hits a lot of pitches," Kershaw said of Altuve during his Monday press conference. "... He's a tough out. I think he's one of the toughest outs in the game. You just can't give in to him."

TRENDS:

* Astros are 1-6 in their last seven playoff road games.
* Dodgers are 7-1 in their last eight playoff games.
* Over is 7-1 in Astros last eight games vs. a left-handed starter.
* Over is 5-1-1 in Dodgers last seven home games.

CONSENSUS:

The public is siding with Kershaw and the Dodgers in Game 1, with 63 percent of wagers on Los Angeles. Even with the low number of 7, bettors think Kershaw and Keuchel will be on their games, with 59 percent of the public on the Under.

WALK-OFF NOTES:

* The Dodgers' bullpen didn't allow a hit in 29 at-bats in the National League Championship Series against the Cubs and has a 0.94 ERA this postseason.

* Los Angeles SS Corey Seager (back) made the World Series roster and said Monday he's ready to play nine innings.

[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]

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

HOU at LAD 08:00 PM

HOU +155 *****

O 7.0 *****

[StarDust Bum]

Kershaw, Dodgers beat Astros, 3-1
October 24, 2017

LOS ANGELES (AP) No sweat, Clayton Kershaw.

Changing jerseys to beat the 103-degree heat, the Dodgers ace with a checkered playoff history delivered a signature performance, pitching Los Angeles past the Houston Astros 3-1 Tuesday night in the World Series opener.

Boosted by Justin Turner's tiebreaking, two-run homer in the sixth inning off Dallas Keuchel, Kershaw was in complete control against the highest-scoring team in the majors this season.

''Definitely feels good to say it was the World Series, and it feels good to say we're 1-0,'' Kershaw said.

The left-hander had waited his whole career for this moment. And once he took the mound in his Series debut, he lived up every bit to the legacy of Sandy Koufax, Orel Hershiser and the greatest of Dodgers hurlers.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner struck out 11 , gave up just three hits and walked none over seven innings, featuring a sharp breaking ball that often left Houston batters taking awkward swings. His lone blemish was a home run by Alex Bregman in the fourth that made it 1-all.

No matter, with Koufax in the house, Kershaw did his pal proud.

''He was as good as advertised,'' Keuchel said.

A sweltering, pulsating crowd at Dodger Stadium dotted with Hollywood A-listers was filled with Kershaw jerseys, and he drew loud cheers all evening.

Kershaw got one more ovation when he walked through a corridor to a postgame interview. There, fans applauded a final time.

''I felt good. It's a tough lineup over there,'' Kershaw said. ''The way Keuchel was throwing it was up and down a lot, which was good. It got us into a rhythm a little bit. I think for me personally, it helped out a lot.''

Brandon Morrow worked a perfect eighth and Kenley Jansen breezed through the Astros in the ninth for a save in a combined three-hitter. The Dodgers' dominant relievers have tossed 25 straight scoreless innings this postseason.

With both aces throwing well, the opener zipped by in 2 hours, 28 minutes - fastest in the World Series since Game 4 in 1992 between Toronto and Atlanta. Jimmy Key and the Blue Jays won that one 2-1 in 2:21.

It certainly was unusual for this postseason, when games had been averaging 3 hours, 32 minutes - up 18 minutes from two years ago.

Chris Taylor gave the Dodgers an immediate jolt in their first Series game since 1988 when he hit a no-doubt home run on Keuchel's very first pitch. Taylor was co-MVP of the NL Championship Series with Turner, and they both kept swinging away against the Astros.

''Just getting that momentum early is huge,'' Kershaw said. ''And let the crowd kind of feed off that. It was definitely as good a start as we could have hoped for.''

The loss left the Astros still without a single World Series win in their 56-season history. In their only other Series appearance, they were swept by the White Sox in 2005.

Game 2 is Wednesday evening, with AL Championship Series MVP Justin Verlander starting against Dodgers lefty Rich Hill.

Kershaw has almost every imaginable individual accolade on his resume - five ERA titles, an MVP trophy, a no-hitter and seven All-Star selections - but also was dogged by a shaky October past.

He began this outing in the twilight with a 6-7 career playoff record and an unsightly 4.40 ERA. He improved to 3-0 in four starts this postseason.

''I don't know if you can decipher between a postseason start and a World Series start. The adrenaline, I feel like every game is so much more magnified,'' Kershaw said.

A Series opener that served as a showcase for several of the game's best young hitters - Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Cody Bellinger and more - instead was dominated by Kershaw.

''Couldn't be happier for him,'' Turner said.

Facing a team that had the fewest strikeouts in the majors this year, Kershaw fanned more Houston hitters than any starter this season. And he helped the Dodgers, who led the majors with 104 wins and a $240 million payroll, improve to 8-1 this postseason.

''Tonight is about Kershaw,'' Astros manager A.J. Hinch said.

It was 1-all when Taylor drew a two-out walk in the sixth. Turner followed with his drive off the bearded Keuchel .

''Keuchel was really good tonight. He was just a pitch or two less than Kershaw,'' Hinch said.

While it was sticky, the conditions didn't seem to affect either side.

Kershaw, as always, wore his bright blue Dodgers jacket walking to the bullpen to get ready.

''It was hot warming up. But once the game started, the sun went down, it didn't feel that hot,'' Kershaw said.

There is no reliable record for the hottest temperature at a World Series game. But weather data indicates this might've been the steamiest ever.

Notorious for late arrivals, Dodger fans showed up early and the seats in the shaded sections filled up fast. Keeping with the theme, the stadium organist played 1960s hits ''Heat Wave'' and ''Summer in the City'' as Houston warmed up.

When Vin Scully's familiar recorded call of ''It's Time for Dodger Baseball'' boomed over the PA system, the crowd really let loose, with the entire ballpark standing and chanting for the pregame introductions.

Scully drew a huge ovation when he was later shown on the video board, sitting in a box. Several players clapped along for the Hall of Fame broadcaster, who's nearly 90 and spent 67 seasons calling Dodgers games.

Dustin Hoffman, Jerry Seinfeld and Lady Gaga were among the many celebs in the crowd of 54,253, along with Dodgers great Tom Lasorda and part-owner Magic Johnson.

[StarDust Bum]

Dodgers' Turner goes lighter to go deep
October 25, 2017

LOS ANGELES -- Before his plate appearance in the sixth inning on Tuesday, Justin Turner opted to return to a lighter bat, his normal 33 1/2-ouncer. That worked, too, like just about everything else he and the Los Angeles Dodgers have tried this year.

"My first two at-bats I was swinging a little bit bigger bat," Turner said. "And I got beat (inside) a couple of times. So I'm going to switch back. Good thing I did, because I didn't get beat in the third time."

Turner's two-run homer with the lighter bat was his fourth of the postseason, and his second straight game-decider at Dodger Stadium, leading Los Angeles to a 3-1 win over the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the World Series.

His three-run, walk-off home run with two outs in the ninth inning gave the Dodgers a 4-1 victory over the Cubs in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series. The Dodgers finished off that series in five games.

On Tuesday, Turner hit a 1-2 pitch off Dallas Keuchel to break a 1-1 tie and give the Dodgers a 3-1 lead in the sixth inning. It was Los Angeles' first World Series appearance since Kirk Gibson's fist-pumping, walk-off homer triggered their 1988 championship.

The pitch before the homer appeared a little low and outside but it was called a strike, and Turner checked with plate umpire Phil Cuzzi before stepping back in.

"Just asked Phil where he had that pitch," Turner said. "He said it was a good pitcher's pitch. I told him I thought it was a little low and off the plate. And that was it. You step out and you take a deep breath and regroup, and go back to trying to battle one of the best pitchers in the game.

"You can't gripe about it for too long or you're going to be walking back to the dugout."

Turner has made some Dodgers history nine games into the postseason. He has 14 RBIs this October, a franchise record for a single postseason.

His 26 career postseason RBIs are tied with Brooklyn/Los Angeles center fielder Duke Snider for the most in franchise history, and his four homers are one short of Davey Lopes' franchise record for one postseason.

"You look at his career and this guy, I mean, all-time records for RBI," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "He just comes up with big hits. The on-base. The OPS. All those things. The home runs, it's hard to explain.

"But he's that guy that you want in the big spots, and he doesn't scare off."

Turner grew up in Los Angeles with the Dodgers, and before every game he walks through the hallway near the home clubhouse that contains pictures and memorabilia of the franchise greats. The Dodgers are playing this Series on the 70th anniversary of their 1947 NL pennant, when Jackie Robinson was a rookie.

Turner said he ran into Sandy Koufax before the game Tuesday.

"Sandy told me told me today, 162 (regular-season games) is work. Once you get to the playoffs, it's fun," Turner said.

"I thought that was a pretty cool way to look at it, and I agree with him a hundred percent. During the regular season it's work, it's a grind. Once you get onto these stages, it's fun.

"And just to be in the moment and soak it in and take a step back and look around and see almost 60,000 people in Dodger Stadium on their feet going crazy, it's pretty special."

[StarDust Bum]

Turner & Taylor hammer homers in Dodgers' Series opener win
October 24, 2017

LOS ANGELES (AP) T `n T proved dynamite again for the Dodgers.

Chris Taylor and Justin Turner, co-MVPs of the NL Championship Series, produced all Los Angeles' runs on homers in the Dodgers' 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros in the World Series opener Tuesday night.

Taylor wasted no time leading off against Astros ace Dallas Keuchel, stroking an 88 mph fastball on Keuchel's first pitch into left field for a 1-0 lead.

Turner followed suit, lofting a two-run shot in the sixth that put the Dodgers ahead 3-1. Taylor drew a two-out walk to set up Turner's blast.

It was just the latest big October show from the Dodgers' robust reclamation projects.

Taylor and Turner shared the NLCS MVP award after Los Angeles beat the defending World Series champion Cubs in five games. Taylor batted .316 (6 for 19) with two homers, and Turner hit .333 (6 for 18) while going deep twice, including the game-ending three-run homer to win Game 2.

''I never could have predicted this,'' Taylor said. ''The goal coming into this year was to hit for more power and get the ball in the air, but I didn't think it would be this drastic of an improvement.''

Taylor's path to baseball's biggest stage has mimicked Turner's - from the fringes to the spotlight with a swing overhaul. Turner was non-tendered by the Mets after the 2013 season before beginning to add loft to his cuts. He only signed with Los Angeles after then-bench coach Tim Wallach saw him and his revamped swing at a Cal State Fullerton alumni baseball game.

Taylor made a similar adjustment early this year. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Taylor was considered a ''fringy, 4-A player'' with his old approach. His new one has helped put the $240 million Dodgers three wins from their first title since 1988.

Taylor became the fourth player in Game 1 history to homer leading off and first since Kansas City's Alcides Escobar legged out an inside-the-park homer against the Mets in 2015.

''He's the spark plug,'' Turner said of Taylor. ''He's been so much fun to hit behind and watching him become a star, really, on this team.''

Taylor has hit safely in seven of his nine postseason games, including three home runs. The 27-year-old center fielder joined the Dodgers in June 2016 after spending his first two years in the majors with Seattle.

''He's matured a ton,'' Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. ''He's proven to be even more dangerous than obviously he was as a young player.''

Taylor has sparked the offense since he moved into the leadoff spot.

''He's one of the guys who gets overlooked with all the superstars we have on this team,'' Roberts said. ''But he's a big part of this.''

Turner went hitless in his first two at-bats against Keuchel, causing him to switch to a smaller bat. The move paid off when he floated a ball into the first row of seats in the sixth.

''When the ball left the bat, I didn't think it was gone,'' Hinch said. ''But there's no doubt he's pretty locked in, especially in big moments.''

The red-bearded slugger leads the team with four homers in the postseason, one shy of the club record set by Davey Lopes in 1978. He has reached base safely in all nine games in the postseason, and his 14 RBIs lead all players in the playoffs.

[StarDust Bum]

Two mistakes too many for Keuchel
October 24, 2017

LOS ANGELES (AP) Dallas Keuchel stepped on the rubber for the moment he had anticipated ever since he was a kid: throwing his first pitch of the World Series.

And then Chris Taylor turned on a thigh-high 88 mph fastball and sent it high into the left-field pavilion, 447 feet away. Keuchel turned around and looked, stunned by the scorching start on an unseasonably hot night.

''Kind of hit us in the jaw,'' he said. ''I never expected that.''

Then with the score 1-1 with two outs in the sixth inning, Justin Turner lifted an 87 mph cutter at the letters that landed just over the left-field wall for a two-run homer, perhaps boosted by the warm air on a 103-degree night.

On a night when Clayton Kershaw faltered on only one pitch - a tying home run to Alex Bregman starting off the fourth - two slipups was one too many.

Keuchel, the left-hander with the bushy beard and intense gaze, took the loss as the Houston Astros were beaten by the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 Tuesday night.

''Keuchel was really good tonight,'' Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. ''He was just a pitch or two less than Kershaw. He wasn't as fancy with the punch-outs.''

Keuchel had allowed one previous home run on his opening pitch, to Starling Marte on July 26, 2012, in the first plate appearance of the Pittsburgh outfielder's big league career. Taylor had the mindset to swing aggressively at the four-seam fastball.

''Makes it fun when you jump on it like that,'' Taylor said.

Keuchel allowed just one runner past first in the next four innings, helped by three double plays, but his downfall began with a five-pitch walk to Taylor with two outs in the sixth.

Keuchel got ahead of Turner 1-2 in the count, but the power-hitting third baseman with the unruly red beard turned on a cutter. Marwin Gonzalez drifted back but ran out of room.

''If it's 10 degrees cooler, that's probably a routine fly ball in left field,'' Turner said.

Keuchel looked at the videoboard, hand on his left hip, as Turner circled the bases. He did not react when he was removed with two outs in the seventh inning and teammates patted him on the back when he returned to the dugout.

''Kind of frustrated at myself for not making a little bit better pitch,'' Keuchel said. ''The launch angle was really high. It wasn't hit extremely hard by any means. It just got out.''

Even though he homered in his World Series debut, the 23-year-old Bregman took little joy at tying the score.

''What I imagined is us winning, and that's why we can't wait to get here tomorrow and play,'' he said.

Houston players quickly turned their attention to Wednesday, when Justin Verlander starts for Houston against Rich Hill.

''He's been lights out,'' George Springer said.

[StarDust Bum]

Column: Hottest World Series game draws some cool customers
October 24, 2017

LOS ANGELES (AP) The hottest World Series game on record drew some pretty cool customers to Dodger Stadium.

George Lopez shook off the 103-degree heat to wave a huge Dodger flag from on top of the home team's dugout. Fellow comedian Jerry Seinfeld was there to watch, as was Lady Gaga.

Dodger royalty was well represented by a pair of nonagenarians in Tommy Lasorda and Don Newcombe, and one soon to be in Vin Scully. Jackie Robinson's widow, Rachel, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

And then there was Clayton Kershaw, the coolest of them all.

On a night 29 years in the making, the highest-paid player on the highest-paid team delivered his weight in gold in Game 1 for the Dodgers. Kershaw not only won his first World Series game but was linked to the great Sandy Koufax one more time by becoming the first Dodger pitcher to strike out 10 or more in a World Series game since Koufax did it to win Game 7 in 1965.

Koufax was there to take it all in, and it must have seemed awfully familiar.

Seven innings of dominance, with one minor hiccup. No wonder Scully was smiling, finally free to be a Dodger fan after all those years of being the team's voice.

A lot of other people were smiling, too, and they weren't all celebrities. Some 54,253 fans packed their way into sweaty Dodger Stadium for the first World Series here since Kirk Gibson hit the legendary home run in 1988, and were immediately rewarded when Chris Taylor hit the first pitch by Dallas Keuchel into the left field pavilion.

Yes, they bounced beach balls around because this is Dodger Stadium and that's what they do. But they came with an energy born of three decades worth of frustration, and they came ready to be loud.

''This place was the most electric I've ever seen it,'' said Justin Turner, who gave the crowd plenty to cheer for with his sixth inning home run that proved the deciding margin.

They gave Scully a standing ovation when he was shown on the video board between innings. They chanted ''MVP, MVP'' when Turner came up in the eighth inning after hitting the go ahead home run in his previous at bat.

And, unlike Game 1 of 1988, there were no tail lights seen from the cars of fans leaving before the game was over. They stayed until the end, singing along with Randy Newman's ''I Love L.A.'' when it was over.

This was not a game the Dodgers could afford to lose. Not at home, and certainly not with their ace on the mound.

It wouldn't have seemed proper to lose it with Koufax in attendance, either.

''He's in our corner. He's rooting for us,'' Kershaw said. ''I've said it a million times, but he's a special guy. Not too many guys can have that pedigree and be the kind of man he is. And thankful that I've gotten to hang out with him for a little while.''

With a little help from Taylor and Turner, Kershaw made sure a loss wasn't going to happen on his watch. He gave up only three hits, one of them a home run by Alex Bregman that made it a 1-1 game until Turner's sixth inning homer.

It took just 2 hours and 28 minutes, the fastest World Series game in 25 years. Kershaw and Keuchel both pitched like they were trying to get out of the heat, with only the Turner home run separating the two.

''They had two big swings, we had one,'' said Astros manager A.J. Hinch. ''It's 3-1, we get to Game 2. It's no more complicated than that.''

Nothing seems too complicated for the Dodgers this year. They've been as dominant in the playoffs (they're now 8-1) as they were in most of the regular season, and they're playing with a swagger that will make them a difficult team to beat.

The starting pitching is impeccable, and the bullpen is lights out. Anyone in the lineup can hit a home run at any given time, and Turner might be the most underrated superstar you'll ever see.

The Dodgers are on such a roll they even used the weather to their advantage. Turner said he wasn't sure his game winner would go out, but somehow it did.

''If it's 10 degrees cooler that's probably an easy fly ball to left field,'' Turner said.

A hot team on a hot night proved to be an unbeatable combination.

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday’s six-pack

— Dodgers 3, Astros 1— Taylor/Turner homered in quickest WS game since 1992.

— North Carolina PG Joel Berry broke his hand, will miss the start of the hoop season.

— Kansas 93, Missouri 87— This exhibition basketball game raised $1.75M for a hurricane relief fund, but it also shows that Missouri’s talent level has risen dramatically this year.

— Pacers 130, Timberwolves 107— Indiana shot 77% in the second half.

— Magic 125, Nets 121— Brooklyn is 2-2, with an average total of 221 in their games.

— Injured 1B Adrian Gonzalez is away from the Dodgers, is on vacation in Europe with his family, which just seems odd.

*******************

Wednesday’s List of 13: Mid-week musings…….

13) Good news if you like sports and live in the Albany area; Arena Football is coming back to downtown Albany next spring.

Arenaball was big in Albany in the 90’s; the Firebirds won the 1999 Arena Bowl, behind a star WR named Eddie Brown, whose son is current Steelers’ star Antonio Brown. But the league tried to expand to bigger markets; the Firebirds moved to Indianapolis, and later pretty much failed.

Now the rebuilding AFL is back in town; Albany is 6th team in the AFL, mostly eastern teams; hopefully they will add another franchise or two before next season.

12) Couple of quick Arena League memories from 20 years ago:
— Former Ohio State QB Art Schlichter played against the Firebirds here in Albany; him and Major Harris, who played at West Virginia. Schlichter was great in the AFL, but Harris needed to run to succeed and there was nowhere to run in the Arena League. It is a passing league.
— Then there was this other guy who played QB for the Iowa Barnstormers; they won a 77-76 game in Albany one night, a great game. The Iowa QB wound up in the NFL, played in three Super Bowls, just got inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

You may have heard of him…..Kurt Warner

Bottom line…the Arena League is great fun. Glad it is coming back to town.

11) Phoenix Suns have had a season’s worth of drama in a week; they fired their coach, one of their best players asked off the team and is now in exile, awaiting a trade.

After an 0-3 start, with two losses by 40+ points and a 132-130 loss to the Lakers, the Suns went out with an interim coach and without Eric Bledsoe and they beat Sacramento, holding on to win by a point, after leading by 19 after the first quarter. Go figure.

Very curious to see what they get for Bledsoe when they trade him; they don’t exactly have a lot of leverage here.

10) So far in the postseason, Dodger hitters have drawn 46 walks; their opponents? Only 12.

9) Over the last 23 years, Washington Redskins have used 21 different kickers. Oy.

8) This year in the major leagues, there were 6,104 home runs hit, and 40,104 strikeouts.

40,104 strikeouts in 2,430 games; that works out to 16.5 strikeouts per game.

7) Chargers’ WR Keenan Allen has caught 16 3rd down passes this season that resulted in first downs for the Bolts; no one else in the NFL has more than 11 of those catches.

6) Kentucky is favored over Tennessee this week for only the second time in the last 21 years; last time the Wildcats were favored over Tennessee was 2007, when the Vols (+2.5) won 52-50. Tennessee is 19-1 in the last 20 series games, winning the last five in a row.

5) Best three red zone teams so far: Packers-Eagles-Texans, but you have to eliminate Green Bay, with Aaron Rodgers being on the sidelines. Other two teams have a rookie QB and a 2nd-year QB, which is really surprising.

Worst red zone teams: Cleveland-Arizona-Denver/Indianapolis. Broncos are only one of those four teams that haven’t changed QB’s yet this season.

4) Teams with most plays of 20+ yards: Patriots (34), Rams/Vikings (33), Cardinals/Chiefs(32).

Teams with fewest plays of 20+ plays: Ravens (14), Bears/Giants (16), Dolphins (17).

3) With Jay Cutler (ribs) banged up, Miami Dolphins signed former San Jose State QB David Fales as a backup; he has two career NFL completions, for the Bears. He was in camp with Miami, so he knows the offense- they hope the hell they don’t have to play him.

2) ESPN college football analyst Joey Galloway had a really good NFL career; he played 16 years in the NFL, scored 78 TD’s, averaged 15.6 yards/catch. He averaged 19.8 ypc in 2003 for Dallas, leading the league when he was 32 years old.

1) This from the great Gil Brandt on Twitter:

In last 30 years, only 3 NFL QBs won games completing four or fewer passes that day: Chris Weinke (4), Tim Tebow (2), Mitch Trubisky (4). What else did those three QB’s have in common?

John Fox was head coach of all three of those teams at the time.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, October 25

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 again for the 5:00 local time first pitch in LA.

Verlander is 8-0, 1.13 in eight starts for Houston; he also won a game in relief. Four of his last five starts went over total. Astros won all three of his road starts. Verlander allowed 2 hits in 8 IP in a 6-1 win over LA for the Tigers on August 20. He is 11-5, 3.00 in 20 playoff games (19 starts).

Hill is 7-5, 2.77 in 14 home starts this year (5-3, 4.06 on road); he is 3-0, 1.67 in his last five starts. Over is 5-3 in his last eight starts. Dodgers are 10-6 in his home starts this season. Hill didn’t pitch against the Astros this year- he is 1-2, 3.96 in six career playoff starts.

MLB

Wednesday, October 25

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Trend Report
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HOUSTON @ LA DODGERS
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston's last 5 games when playing LA Dodgers
Houston is 13-6 SU in its last 19 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Dodgers's last 5 games when playing Houston
LA Dodgers is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home


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MLB
Dunkel

Wednesday, October 25

Houston @ LA Dodgers

Game 903-904
October 25, 2017 @ 8:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Houston
(Verlnder) 17.032
LA Dodgers
(Hill) 18.186
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
LA Dodgers
by 1
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA Dodgers
-110
7 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
LA Dodgers
(-110); Under

MLB
Long Sheet

Wednesday, October 25

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HOUSTON (108 - 66) at LA DODGERS (112 - 59) - 8:05 PM
JUSTIN VERLANDER (R) vs. RICH HILL (L)
Top Trends for this game.
HOUSTON is 24-26 (-12.6 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters this season.
VERLANDER is 63-77 (-26.1 Units) against the money line in road games in night games since 1997. (Team's Record)
LA DODGERS are 79-33 (+28.4 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
HOUSTON is 108-66 (+13.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
HOUSTON is 27-18 (+7.8 Units) against the money line on the road when the money line is +125 to -125 this season.
HOUSTON is 54-33 (+12.0 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
HOUSTON is 42-19 (+19.1 Units) against the money line in an inter-league game over the last 3 seasons.
HOUSTON is 38-23 (+9.2 Units) against the money line in road games in night games this season.
HOUSTON is 42-22 (+9.2 Units) against the money line after a loss this season.
HOUSTON is 21-13 (+7.9 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
VERLANDER is 12-5 (+7.3 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season. (Team's Record)
LA DODGERS are 156-179 (-63.0 Units) against the money line when playing on Wednesday since 1997.
LA DODGERS are 148-105 (-11.2 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
LA DODGERS is 1-0 (+1.0 Units) against HOUSTON this season
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.0 Units)

JUSTIN VERLANDER vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
VERLANDER is 2-0 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 3.86 and a WHIP of 0.714.
His team's record is 2-0 (+2.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-1. (+0.0 units)

RICH HILL vs. HOUSTON since 1997
HILL is 2-1 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 2.92 and a WHIP of 1.054.
His team's record is 3-3 (-1.4 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 5-1. (+3.8 units)

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World Series Game 2 betting preview and odds: Astros at Dodgers

Justin Verlander has been nothing short of spectacular since coming over from the Tigers. He is 9-0 with a 1.22 ERA (including playoffs) and won the ALCS MVP.

Houston Astros at Los Angeles Dodgers (-115, 7.5)

Dodgers lead series 1-0

Justin Verlander is 4-0 during his stellar postseason run and looks to continue the success when the Houston Astros visit the Los Angeles Dodgers for Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday. Verlander will aim to help Houston knot the series after Clayton Kershaw and Justin Turner guided the Dodgers to a 3-1 victory in Game 1.

Verlander was acquired from Detroit by the Astros to fortify their rotation, and now he's a symbol of a franchise looking for its first World Series title in the wake of a damaging hurricane that ravaged Houston in August. "In any organization, the opportunity to win your first championship is something special, but really with what's going on in Houston now specifically, I think it makes it even that much more special," Verlander said during his press conference on Tuesday. "I mean, given this opportunity, if we come away successful, you leave a legacy and mark on people that won't be forgotten." Kershaw allowed one run and three hits with 11 strikeouts over seven innings while Turner belted a tiebreaking two-run homer (his fourth of the postseason) in Tuesday's victory. "You enjoy it while it happens," Turner told reporters, "and then you go home and you find a way to prepare, and we've got to figure out how to beat Verlander."

TV: 8:09 p.m. ET, FOX

LINE HISTORY: Sportsbooks are giving a lot of respect to Justin Verlander (and they should) opening the Dodgers as very slight -113 home favorites. They have moved very slightly to the current number -115. The total hit the board the at 7.5.

WEATHER REPORT:

It should be another scorcher in Los Angeles Tuesday.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Justin Verlander (4-0, 1.46 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Rich Hill (0-0, 3.00)

Verlander has a stellar 11-5 postseason record, but none of those victories occurred in the World Series, where he went 0-3 with a 7.20 ERA in three career starts for the Tigers. The 34-year-old's arrival in Houston changed the complexion of the rotation, providing the team with a second ace alongside Dallas Keuchel as well as raising the stature of the organization. "We understand the magnitude of his performance and the magnitude of his entrance into our clubhouse," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said at a press conference. "The way he's fit in, the way he's been intellectually curious on how to get better, but let's be honest, ultimately the way he's performed, has been second to none."

Hill is 1-2 with a 3.96 ERA in six career postseason starts and is making his World Series debut. The 37-year-old is trying to keep the moment in perspective after his major-league career appeared to be finished in the summer of 2015, when he signed with the independent Long Island Ducks, but 26 of his 50 career regular-season victories have come since that stint. "I wouldn't change that for anything," Hill said at his press conference on Tuesday. "It was learning, reigniting that fire, reigniting that passion for what we do out there on the field. And really getting back into disassociating yourself with the results, and just understanding that it is a pitch-to-pitch process and understanding that the moment is all that matters."

UMPIRE REPORT: Paul Nauert

Nauert was one of the biggest homer umps in the Majors this season, with the home team going 21-9 (70 percent). When he was calling balls and strikes this season where the home team was listed between -101 and -120 , the home team went 5-0. Nauert was also one of the best Under umpires, going 10-18 against the total. That is interesting considering his low strike rate of 62.04

TRENDS:

* Astros are 8-0 in Verlanders last eight starts.
* Dodgers are 5-0 in their last five playoff home games.
* Over is 5-1 in Astros last six road games vs. a left-handed starter.
* Under is 5-1-1 in Dodgers last seven overall.

CONSENSUS: The public is siding with the red-hot Verlander in Game 2, with the 63 percent of wagers on the Astros. With another hot pitcher on the mound, bettors like the Under here with 58 percent of wagers on it.

WALK OFF NOTES:

* The Dodgers bullpen came in and shut the door behind Kershaw, throwing another two hitless and shutout innings. Since the start of the NLCS the Dodgers bullpen has pitched 19 scoreless innings, striking out 23, allowing just four hits with just one walk.