World Series: Game Two Picks

What a start to the World Series we had last night. It may not have been the 2-1 type duel that we may have been expecting but it was tight affair with twists and turns. The Washington Nationals surprised the baseball world to take a 1-0 series lead and continue their hot form in this postseason.

Here are Today’s MLB Picks:

Washington Nationals @ Houston Astros

1u – Washington Nationals ML @ +175

- Stephen Strasburg has allowed just four earned runs in 22 postseason innings

- Per statschecker, the Washington Nationals win 55% of their road games

Betting on the Astros to lose two straight at home is a tough call. The Astros have won 107 games this season, and per statschecker are 65-23 at home if you include the postseason. That is a 74%-win rate in their own dome. However, there is no team better equipped to match up with them right now. The Nationals have now won seven straight games and have not lost in over two weeks. Stephen Strasburg is pitching as well as he has at any point in his career. All of the momentum is with the Nationals right now, and I expect to see them capitalize on it with Justin Verlander having a 3.70 ERA in these playoffs. The value here is just too good to pass up in a game I expect to go right to the wire.

1u – Under 7 Total Runs @ -110

- Justin Verlander has allowed just two earned runs in 13 1/3 innings at home in this post season

- Strasburg has a 1.64 ERA in the playoffs

After we saw both starters take a little bit of heat last night, I think we see this one come back to the pitcher’s side. Verlander has been extremely good at home this postseason with the majority of his struggles coming in his two road starts. Strasburg did give up three earned in Los Angeles against the Dodgers, but he has struck out 17 and allowed just four earned runs in 12 road innings in these playoffs so far.

By Ben Rolfe