The 2021 World Series returns to Texas with the Atlanta Braves holding a 3-2 advantage over the Houston Astros. Atlanta took the first two games at home to build a 3-1 advantage before Houston’s offense came to life in Game 5 to extend the series.
Tuesday’s first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. EST inside Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX. Houston is favored (-125), and the over-under total is at nine runs.
What to Know – Atlanta Braves
Atlanta had all the momentum leading into Game 5, and that was elevated in the first inning when Adam Duvall hit a grand slam to give the Braves an early 4-0 lead. That lead quickly evaporated as the innings progressed, and Atlanta ultimately couldn’t keep up with the Astros’ offense that poured on nine runs. The Braves are 3-4 away from home during the postseason.
Left-hander Max Fried is the expected starter for the Braves. Fried aims to bounce back after his first outing against this Astros lineup, where he surrendered six earned runs over five innings in Game 2. Through the playoffs, the 27-year old has a 5.40 ERA and 1-2 record over four starts.
The Braves got home runs from Duvall and Freddie Freeman in Game 5, highlighted by the four-run shot by Duvall. Eddie Rosario continues to lead the Braves in batting average (.411), runs batted in (11), and runs scored (10). Freeman leads Atlanta with four home runs in the postseason.
What to Know – Houston Astros
Houston fought back from a four-run deficit to extend the series and bring the Fall Classic back to Houston for at least one more game. The Astros scored runs in five different innings to hand Atlanta their first home loss of the postseason. Houston owns a 5-2 record at Minute Park this playoff.
The Astros hand the ball over to Luis Garcia to even the series and push it to a Game 7. In his last outing, Garcia held the Braves offense to one run over 3.2 innings, allowing three hits, four walks, and six strikeouts. The 24-year old right-hander sports a 7.62 ERA in four postseason appearances.
Houston made some changes to the lineup after getting shutout in Game 3 and manufacturing two runs in Game 4. Those changes, which included sliding Carlos Correa up in the lineup and Alex Bregman down, paid off. Correa collected three hits and a pair of RBI, while Bregman added an RBI single of his own.
The Pick is In
Atlanta won’t admit it, but that was a deflating loss Sunday night. The Braves had all the momentum after the grand slam in the first but immediately left the door open for Houston with the Astros plating two runs in the top of the second.
Houston’s offense came alive on Sunday, and the confidence will carry over at home against a pitcher they’ve already had success against. The Astros might still be behind the series, but Houston flipped the series momentum with their victory Sunday night.
Betting Pick: Houston Astros ML
