The Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays continue World Series action Friday night in the best-of-seven game series. Tampa Bay tied the series at 1-1 after winning 6-4 in Game 2 Wednesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 8:08 P.M. Eastern at Global Life Field in Arlington, TX.
The Dodgers open as the early favorite in Friday night’s Game 3 matchup, and the total is set at 7.5.
What to Know – Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers took care of business in the opener but tripped up in Game 2. L.A. was unable to battle back against the Rays, who built up an early 5-0 lead and never looked back. The loss Wednesday was just the fourth loss of the postseason for the Dodgers.
Walker Buehler makes his World Series debut in Game 3 for the Dodgers. The left-hander has battled a blister throughout this season, but in his four starts this postseason, he has tossed 19.0 innings, allowed four earned runs on 15 hits, and 11 walks while striking out 29. Buehler fired six shutout innings in a 3-1 victory in his last start against the Atlanta Braves.
Los Angeles was held hitless through the first 4.2 innings of the ballgame before a Christian Taylor home run broke the hitless streak. NLCS MVP Corey Seager collected two of L.A.’s five hits, including a solo home run in the eighth.
What to Know – Tampa Bay Rays
After a loss in the opener, the Rays bounced back to secure a crucial Game 2 win and avoided falling behind 0-2 in the series. The Rays used timely hitting to propel themselves to victory. Tampa is three wins away from the franchises’ first World Series Championship.
Veteran Charlie Morton takes the mound for the Rays Friday night. Morton has excelled in his postseason appearances, winning all three of his playoff starts this year. The right-hander has pitched 15.2 innings with just one earned run allowed and 11 hits. Like Buehler, Morton was brilliant in his last start, pitching 5.2 innings and scattering two hits in a Game 7 victory over the Houston Astros.
Brandon Lowe had been struggling throughout the postseason, but that all changed Wednesday night when the second baseman sent a pair of pitches over the fence. Lowe’s three-RBI game was his most of the postseason and tied a season-high mark.
The Pick is In
Game 3 poses another fantastic pitching matchup between a bonafide veteran arm and a young flamethrower. Morton’s sparkling postseason success cannot be overlooked. To win, Morton will need to limit the Dodgers offense just like Blake Snell and company did on Wednesday.
L.A. will need to be better at the plate and give themselves ample opportunities to score. The Dodgers should bounce back and take Game 3, so our selection is the Dodgers on the moneyline.
The total has gone over in both games so far, and the current 7.5 total is another figure that both these teams should hit. The pick here would be a small play on the total going over.
