The Tampa Bay Rays rallied to score two runs in the bottom of the ninth to win 8-7 against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, evening up the 2020 World Series at two games apiece.
That means we're back to square one Sunday evening with a starter rematch from Game 1 where Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers defeated Tyler Glasnow and the Rays by a score of 8-3.
MLB betting lines have the Dodgers as -160 favorites while the Over/Under has ticked up to 8.
We break down the baseball odds with our best Dodgers vs. Rays picks and predictions for Game 5 on Sunday, October 25 (8:08 p.m. ET).
Los Angeles Dodgers vs Tampa Bay Rays betting preview
Odds to Win Series
Dodgers: -200
Rays: +170
Starting Pitchers
Clayton Kershaw LHP (3-1, 2.88 ERA) vs Tyler Glasnow RHP (2-2, 6.08 ERA)
Kershaw has arguably been the best MLB pitcher over the last decade, making eight All-Star teams and winning three Cy Young Awards, but poor postseason performances have been a black mark on his career. That said, he's coming off an absolute gem in Game 1 of this series, giving up just two hits and one run through six innings.
Glasnow went 5-1 with a 4.08 ERA and a whopping 14.3 strikeouts per nine innings across 11 regular starts in 2020. The imposing right-hander is coming off a rough outing in Game 1, where he struggled with his control and gave up six runs before getting the hook midway through the fourth inning.
Weather
The World Series will be taking place under the retractable roof of Globe Life Park in Arlington, TX, so weather will not play a factor. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Runline Pick
MLB bettors, including yours truly, have been burned by the postseason version of Kershaw in the past. But he's still one of the greatest pitchers in recent memory and is coming off an excellent performance in Game 1.
All it takes is one great World Series to create a legacy (nobody remembers Mike Schmidt as the guy who went 1-for-20 at the plate in the 1983 Fall Classic) and this could be the year. Expect another strong outing from Kershaw against a Rays side that is batting just .214 this postseason and strikes out more than any team in the majors.
Glasnow can be an overpowering pitcher but has looked vulnerable lately, giving up 14 earned runs through 17 2-3 innings over his last four starts. While the righthander racks up strikeouts he also gives up a lot of long balls, surrendering seven home runs over his 23 2-3 innings this postseason. That's bad news against the Dodgers, who lead the majors with 1.91 homers per game across both the regular season and postseason in 2020.
The Dodgers have gone 54-22 on the moneyline this year and an incredible 45 of those 54 wins (83 percent) have come by multiple runs. The Rays have only lost 27 times all year but 20 of those defeats came by more than a run. If you think Los Angeles will win Game 5 — and we do — then taking them on the runline makes the most sense.
PREDICTION: Runline Dodgers -1.5 (+100)
Over/Under Pick
There were 15 total runs scored last night and 11 runs hit the board in Game 1, but as we get closer to the last few baseball contests of the year expect a very tense atmosphere and a lower scoring Game 5.
Kershaw went 6-2 with a 2.16 ERA and 0.84 WHIP during the regular season and has pitched to a 0.84 WHIP across four playoff starts as well.
Although five runs were scored in the final three innings of Game 4, only four total runs were plated between innings 7-9 in the previous three games of the series. The Dodgers bullpen had an incredible 2.74 ERA and 1.04 WHIP during the regular season while Rays relievers combined for an ERA of 3.37. Expect both bullpens to bounce back and take the Under.
PREDICTION: Under 8 (-110)
Player Prop Pick
We've been cashing in on Randy Arozarena prop bets all month long so why not hammer it again? The 25-year-old made us money again on Saturday, going 3-for-4 from the plate and clubbing his ninth home run of the postseason.
While most of Tampa Bay's lineup has been struggling at the plate, Arozarena has been stellar, batting .377 with nine homers, three doubles and a triple through 18 postseason games. There's little reason to bet against the Rays breakout slugger now.
PREDICTION: Randy Arozarena Total Bases Over 1.5 (+140)
Dodgers vs Rays betting card
- Runline Dodgers -1.5 (+100)
- Under 8 (-110)
- Randy Arozarena Total Bases Over 1.5 (+140)
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