Dodgers and Rays Playing Well Entering 2020 World Series
The 2020 World Series sure does look like a good one on paper. The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Tampa Bay Rays get into action on Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas.
TIME: 8:11 p.m. ET. TV: FOX; BETTING LINE: Dodgers -160 / TOTAL 7.5 Under -113
Clayton Kershaw gets another opportunity to set aside his postseason demons when he takes the ball for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He takes a lot of heat for having a high ERA and giving not pitching to his standards in the postseason.
These teams compiled the best regular-season records in the majors this year and this is the first time in the wild-card era this has happened. They will be on the field for the first neutral-site Fall Classic in history. Most of the focus will be on Kershaw as Los Angeles seeks its first World Series title since 1988.
The left-hander is considered one of the top pitchers of not only his era, but all-time. He is a sure-fire Hall of Famer. His postseason performances have been filled with blemishes.
Kershaw is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and 2014 National League MVP. He is just 11-12 with a 4.31 ERA in 35 career postseason appearances (28 starts). He has made five World Series appearances, with four starts, and is 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA. He looks to turn that around in the 2020 World Series.
The 32-year old Kershaw let out a short sigh during his Monday press conference when asked about his postseason struggles.
“I think every year is different,” said Kershaw, who is 2-1 with a 3.32 ERA in three 2020 playoff starts. “Obviously, postseason, you have that experience to draw on, so just trying to learn from that as best you can.
“At the same time, every year is different, every team is different. The Rays are a different team than the Astros (in the 2017 World Series) or Red Sox (in the 2018 World Series). I’m going to prepare like I always do and be as ready as I can be and be excited about another opportunity to get it done.”
Kershaw went 6-2 with a 2.16 ERA in 10 starts in the 2020 regular season. The ace will be trying to handle a versatile Rays’ lineup that doesn’t rely on star power. American League Championship Series MVP Randy Arozarena is having a postseason for the ages with seven homers in 55 at-bats.
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Rays Have to Keep Pitching Well
Tampa Bay tabbed right-hander Tyler Glasnow to start the opener. Former Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell set for Game 2.
Glasnow was raised in the Los Angeles area. He used to regularly make trips to Dodger Stadium growing up. The 27-year-old admitted it is surreal to be facing Kershaw in the World Series.
“It’s unbelievable,” Glasnow said at a press conference. “I grew up watching him pitch. It’s a special moment for sure.”
Glasnow is just hoping to make an impact in the 2020 World Series. The Rays will play in the Fall Classic for just the second time in franchise history. Tampa Bay lost in five games to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008.
Glasnow struck out 91 in just 57 1/3 innings over 11 starts during the regular season. He went 5-1 with a 4.08 ERA and served up 11 homers.
In the postseason, Glasnow is 2-1 with a 4.66 ERA in four starts. He has fanned 25 and served up six homers in 19 1/3 innings.
Dodgers slugger Cody Bellinger is 2-for-2 with two homers and a walk off Glasnow in his career.
Bellinger hit the decisive homer in the seventh inning of the NLCS. Los Angeles advanced with a 4-3 win over the Atlanta Braves.
He exchanged celebratory forearm slams with Enrique Hernandez after the homer and said he dislocated his right shoulder.
“I think it’s the third or fourth time I’ve done it,” Bellinger said Monday. “The next day’s the same. I already expected how I was going to feel. I feel good right now.”
This, That, and a Dart Throw
Bellinger, Mookie Betts and NLCS MVP Corey Seager will pace the powerful Dodger offense.
The squad smashed 16 homers in the NLCS against a good Braves pitching staff. Seager had five homers and 11 RBI’s. Los Angeles recovered from a 3-1 deficit to advance.
The Rays held a 3-0 edge in the ALCS before the Houston Astros reeled off three wins in a row to force a Game 7. Tampa Bay won the finale 4-2 on Saturday night.
This is the Dodgers’ third World Series appearance in the past four seasons. They lost in seven games to the Astros in 2017 and in five games to the Red Sox in 2018.
The Dart Throw: Dodgers 4, Rays 3
2020 World Series Matchup
| Dodgers | Category | Rays |
| 49-25 | W/L | 52-20 |
| 28-11 | HOME | 27-11 |
| 21-14 | AWAY | 25-9 |
| 38-36 | ATS | 43-29 |
| 19-20 | ATS HOME | 21-17 |
| 19-16 | ATS AWAY | 22-12 |
| 32-39 | O/U | 33-32 |
| 19-19 | O/U HOME | 14-19 |
| 13-20 | O/U AWAY | 19-13 |
2020 World Series Betting Odds & Trends
| Los Angeles Dodgers |
|---|
| LA Dodgers is 16-8 ATS in its last 24 games |
| LA Dodgers is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games |
| The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Dodgers’s last 6 games |
| LA Dodgers is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home |
| LA Dodgers is 10-2 SU in its last 12 games at home |
| The total has gone UNDER in 7 of LA Dodgers’s last 9 games at home |
| LA Dodgers is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Tampa Bay |
| The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Dodgers’s last 5 games when playing Tampa Bay |
| LA Dodgers is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay |
| Tampa Bay Rays |
|---|
| Tampa Bay is 12-6 ATS in its last 18 games |
| Tampa Bay is 13-5 SU in its last 18 games |
| The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Tampa Bay’s last 9 games |
| Tampa Bay is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games on the road |
| The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Tampa Bay’s last 16 games on the road |
| Tampa Bay is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing LA Dodgers |
| The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay’s last 5 games when playing LA Dodgers |
| Tampa Bay is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers |
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