Houston vs Los Angeles World Series Predictions

In addition to combining for more regular season wins than any two World Series teams in nearly 50 years, the Dodgers and Astros also have three former Cy Young Award winners, the likely AL MVP and another guy with NL MVP-worthy numbers between them. LA has coasted in the playoffs while Houston was stretched to its limits against the Yankees in the ALCS.

On paper, this series has the look of one that could go the distance. 

World Series Odds - HOU (+145) vs. LAD (-165) Play Now

This looks like a tough series to lay $165 to win $100, which is exactly what Vegas is asking you to do if you back the Dodgers. LA has been in cruise control this postseason, rolling Arizona in three straight and defeating the reigning champion Chicago Cubs in five. While it's tough to find any fault whatsoever in a 7-1 postseason record, the Astros present significant problems for the Dodgers in this series beginning with its probable Game 1 and Game 2 starters. 

Power Arms

Playing its first two games on the road, Houston can negate LA's home-field advantage with its pair of former Cy Young winners slated to start those games. Lefty Dallas Keuchel gets the ball in Game 1 where he'll oppose another former Cy Young winner in Dodger lefty ace Clayton Kershaw. Keuchel has been excellent in the postseason going 2-1 with a 2.60 ERA.

In Game 2, Houston will roll out Justin Verlander who has been sensational this postseason, posting a 4-0 record with a 1.46 ERA. 

Houston will find a way to win one at least one of these games before the series shifts back to Minute Maid Park for game 3-5. Given Kershaw's history of postseason struggles and less-than-dominant form so far this postseason, its not reaching at all to predict a pair of Astro wins.

Keuchel and Verlander have looked every bit the part of big-game pitchers this postseason, and the Houston bullpen was solid - particularly in Game 7 against the Yankees. 

Offensive Production

This series will come down to who pitches better, but both these clubs are hard-hitting.

Justin Turner has been money for the Dodgers this postseason hitting .387 with three dingers, while Houston star Jose Altuve has been the toughest out in baseball, posting a .400 average with five bombs, repeatedly coming through in the clutch.

While both teams are juggernauts, I give the Astros lineup a slight edge, as role players like Evan Gattis and Brian McCann make even the bottom of the Houston order dangerous. 

World Series Prediction

As good as the Astros look on paper, they also seem to possess all the intangibles of a World Series champion. This team plays with a ton of confidence and moxie and those qualities are exactly what carried them to victory in the New York series despite the fact that their run production was down and they faced a 3-2 series deficit. I'm not convinced LA is as resilient so it will be interesting to see them face a team that is able to match its talent and star power.

I'll go a step further and say that Houston is the better club here and they win this series in six games. Certainly +145 is nice value for those who share that opinion. 

TAKE HOUSTON (+145) Play Now

Category : Betting Picks

Tag : Bovada , mlb , world series

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