World Series Game 2: Can Astros Salvage a Split in LA?

Verlander Battles Hill in World Series Game 2

The fans at Dodger Stadium will see what should be another pitching duel tonight in the 2017 MLB World Series. The Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers will throw the first pitch at 8:09 pm EST. FOX Sports will televise the game across the globe. Los Angeles left-hander Clayton Kershaw threw a masterpiece in the Dodgers’ Game 1 victory Tuesday night. He threw seven innings, gave up one run, no walks, 11 strikeouts in a 3-1 win for the Dodgers. Oddsmakers opened the Dodgers as -113-moneyline favorites versus the Astros, while the game’s total opened at 7.5. The line is now the Astros -112-moneyline favorites. The total has dropped to 7 Under -125.

Astros Looking to Get out of LA With a Split

Right hander Justin Verlander will take the mound for the Astros to start this game. Verlander is 19-8 this season with a 3.16 ERA. In four appearances, three of them starts, in this postseason, Verlander has a 1.46 ERA over 24 2/3 innings. He has struck out 24 with six walks. Every time Verlander has taken the mound this fall, the Astros have won. Verlander went a combined 15-8 with a 3.36 ERA for the Detroit Tigers and the Astros in the regular season. He is 9-0 with a 1.23 ERA in a Houston uniform. That is regular season and postseason combined. At 34, Verlander can rely on the mental side of his game even more. That is something his years of experience with the Tigers will play vital.  The physical side has returned him to being an elite pitcher after a couple of down years (for Verlander).

Dodgers Turn to Experience as Well in Revitalized Rich Hill

Rich Hill  is who starts for the Dodgers. Left hander Hill is 12-8 with a 3.30 ERA so far this season. Hill, who is 37, has made just six previous postseason appearances. He will be making his World Series debut tonight. He was banished to independent baseball just a few years ago. Hill has now resurrected his career by leaning on his curveball more than ever. He is changing arm angles to keep hitters off balance also. The revival began when he returned to being a starting pitcher for the Long Island Ducks in 2015. His stuff was eye-opening enough for the Red Sox to give him a shot. He bounced quickly from Boston to the Oakland A’s. Now he is in Dodger Blue. Hill has quickly turned himself into a feel-good story.  

Bullpen

Houston’s relievers have pitched 7.1 innings in the last 3 games.
LA Dodgers’s relievers have pitched 8.1 innings in the last 3 games.

World Series Supergrid

Title	Stat	Rank	Stat	Rank
Away Team Overall Scoring vs Home Team Overall Defense	5.41	1	3.51	2
Away Team Away Scoring vs Home Team Home Defense	5.92	1	3.27	1
Home Team Overall Scoring vs Away Team Overall Defense	4.80	12	4.27	7
Home Team Home Scoring vs Away Team Road Defense	4.97	11	4.70	15

Head To Head Detail

World Series Betting Trends

Houston Astros
Houston is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games
Houston is 13-6 SU in its last 19 games
Houston is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Houston’s last 9 games
Houston is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Houston is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston’s last 5 games when playing LA Dodgers
Houston is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers
LA Dodgers is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
LA Dodgers is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Dodgers’s last 5 games
LA Dodgers is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Dodgers’s last 5 games when playing Houston
LA Dodgers is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Houston

Houston Astros

Los Angeles Dodgers

Houston Astros

Los Angeles Dodgers

  Next up: Houston home to Los Angeles Friday, October 27 Get your MLB Playoff odds at Bovada today.