The Los Angeles Dodgers struck first in the 2020 World Series by doing what they do best, bashing the baseball. L.A. rode home runs from Cody Bellinger and Mookie Betts to an 8-3 win.
Now, the Dodgers hope to carry that momentum into Game 2 and will be the MLB betting favorites to take a 2-0 series lead, despite going up against the Tampa Bay Rays’ former Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell.
We break down the baseball odds with our best Rays vs Dodgers picks and predictions for Game 2 on Wednesday, October 21 (8:09 p.m. ET).
Tampa Bay Rays vs Los Angeles Dodgers betting preview
Odds to Win Series
Rays: +325
Dodgers: -425
Starting Pitchers
Blake Snell LHP (2-2, 3.20 ERA) vs Tony Gonsolin RHP (0-1, 9.95 ERA)
While Snell’s overall numbers this postseason aren’t bad, they don’t really tell the whole story either. Snell has battled his command and has a strikeout-walk ratio of less than 2:1. He’s also lasted more than five innings just once, and he’ll need to be better if the Rays hope to even the series.
Gonsolin, on the other hand, is making just his third career postseason appearance and the Dodgers’ rookie has certainly had his ups and downs to this point in the playoffs. Gonsolin started Game 2 of the NLCS and pitched three strong innings before the wheels fell off and he gave up two runs on two hits in Game 7. Gonsolin’s biggest problem has been walks, having given up six free passes in 6 1-3 innings of work.
Weather
If the roof is open at Globe Life Field, it should be a nice night for baseball in Texas. Temperatures will hover around the 80s with roughly a 10 mph wind coming in from left. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Side Pick
The biggest edge either team has in the World Series is the Dodgers’ lineup and that showed in Game 1, as they totaled 10 hits and drew seven walks in their series-opening win — and they did all that without getting much from the red-hot Corey Seager. It just shows you that, if this lineup gets rolling, then they are really hard to stop. They’re even tougher when you don’t have your sharpest stuff on the mound, and Snell certainly hasn’t been his sharpest self this postseason.
Meanwhile, Roberts should have a short leash with Gonsolin, maybe one time through the order or so and then you can expect Dustin May, Julio Urias, or a combination of both. And while the Rays have an opportunistic offense, they struggle when playing from behind.
Just as the Rays had too much value to ignore, the script had flipped for Game 2: at the low price of -135 the Dodgers are now the ones with the value.
PREDICTION: Dodgers (-135)
First Five Inning Total Pick
We took the Over first five in Game 1 and we’re going back to the well for Game 2, thanks to another low number. The first five inning total is once again 4, and that’s likely due to the fact that Snell is on the mound and that the Rays don’t hit for a good average.
But, as previously mentioned, both Snell and Gonsolin have had trouble keeping runners off the base paths.
Snell has a 4.50 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and is allowing opponents to hit .288 off him in his postseason starts against teams not called the Blue Jays. While Gonsolin’s biggest problem has been walks, having given up six free passes in 6 1-3 innings of work.
Those numbers don’t bode well for the pitchers, since the Dodgers are too hot right now and the Rays love to take advantage of mistakes.
PREDICTION: Over 4 First Five Innings (-117)
Total Bases Prop Pick
Unfortunately, Randy Arozarena might finally be cooling down. The Rays’ outstanding rookie outfielder has just one hit over his last three games, and in fact, he’s just 3-for-21 in his last five games (all three hits are dingers, of course). So, it might be time to move from one hot bat to another, and that bat belongs to Mookie Betts.
Not only is the former AL MVP robbing home runs left and right, he is making an impact it with the stick too. (Honestly, he looks like the best player in baseball right now). Betts is 7-for-16 with three walks over his last four games with a double and a home run. Plus, he leads off, so getting as many at-bats as possible is great for a total bases prop. Oh, did we mention we’re getting plus money on this?
PREDICTION: Mookie Betts Over 1.5 Total Bases (+107)
Rays vs Dodgers betting card
- Dodgers (-135)
- Over 4 First Five Innings (-117)
- Mookie Betts Over 1.5 Total Bases (+107)
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