World Series Game 1 Astros vs. Dodgers Predictions 10/24/17
Will the Dodgers take Game 1 of the 2017 World Series when they host the Astros Tuesday night at 8:00PM ET?
The Odds: Astros vs. Dodgers, 8:00PM ET, Tuesday
According to oddsmakers, Los Angeles is a -172 money line favorite to win tonight. Houston, meanwhile, is a +157 money line underdog to pull off the upset. As for the total, the number sits at 7 runs.
Houston finished the regular season with a 108-65 record and went 54-32 on the road. Los Angeles, meanwhile, also won over 100 games to finish 111-59 on the season. The Dodgers were an outstanding home club in 2017, posting a 61-24 record at Dodger Stadium.
Houston Astros
Dallas Keuchel will start Game 1 of the World Series for the Astros on Tuesday versus the Dodgers. Keuchel is the obvious choice with Justin Verlander having pitched on Friday. He will be taking the ball on an extra day of rest when he opposes Clayton Kershaw at Dodger Stadium, while Verlander will go in Game 2 Wednesday on regular rest.
Keuechel gave up four runs in 4 2/3 innings for Houston in a 5-0 loss to the Yankees on Wednesday in Game 5 of the ALCS. Keuchel did strikeout eight and walked just one, but he also gave up seven hits while not making it out of the fifth innings. In his career, Keuchel has dominated the Yankees, but he just didn’t have his best stuff or command last Wednesday.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Clayton Kershaw would start Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday. The Dodgers could give Kershaw extra rest by using him in Games 2 and 6, but they’d have more flexibility in how they’d use him over the rest of the series by giving him the ball in Game 1. It’s doubtful that they’ll try pitching in Game 4 on three days’ rest, but using him in Game 5 would allow him to potentially pitch in relief in Game 7. Roberts didn’t talk about the rest of the rotation, but it seems likely that Yu Darvish will pitch in Game 2, followed by Rich Hill and Alex Wood.
Our Prediction
The Dodgers are nearly unbeatable when Kershaw takes the mound. They’re 47-9 in his last 56 starts overall. They’re also 48-10 in his last 58 home starts and have won 47 of 57 when he starts on four days of rest.
The Astros, meanwhile, have also been a great bet when Keuchel takes the mound. They’re 11-3 in his last 14 road starts and 20-8 in his last 28 outings overall. That said, they’re 1-4 in their last five road games and 1-6 in their last seven postseason games. Houston has also struggled to win in Los Angeles, going 1-6 in its last seven road games versus the Dodgers.
2017 World Series Game 1 Predictions: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5
