World Series Game 1 betting preview: Can Atlanta steal the opener of the Fall Classic in Houston?
For the full series odds, click here
2021 World Series - Game 1
Atlanta at Houston, Tuesday, 8:09 p.m. ET
Game Odds, presented by DraftKings Sportsbook
Atlanta: (+120)
Houston: (-140)
Total Runs: 8
How We Got Here:
It’s here, the "Fall Classic" has finally arrived. The National League's team of the 1990s faces the American League's new villain and dominant team of the last half decade. Houston is looking to win its second World Series title in five years and try to prove 2017 sign stealing scandal was not a fluke. While Atlanta is trying to win their first title since 1995.
Game 1 features veteran sensation Charlie Morton, who, ironically, was the winning pitcher for Houston in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series. Morton has been an absolute stud this season, going 14-6 with 3.36 ERA on the year. Atlanta was the least likely team to come out of the NL to start the postseason having the worst odds to win the pennant going into the playoffs. However they advanced by defeating Milwaukee 3-1 in the National League Division Series, before knocking off the defending World Series champion 4-2 in
the National League Championship Series.
Now the 88 win Atlanta ball club finds itself just one series away from winning the Fall Classic. They did all of this without their best pitcher (Mike Soroka) and most talented position player (Ronald Acuna).
As for Houston, they have shut the jeering fans' boos and heckles with their astounding play all year. Without George Springer they lead the American League in batting average and runs.
Houston (95-67) downed the Chicago 3-1 in the ALDS, before beating Boston 4-2 to clinch their third AL title in five years.
With the roof closed inside Minute Maid, the Astros have the best home field advantage in baseball- even without the sign stealing mechanism. It’s going to be rocking in Houston tonight. Houston is 55-31 at Minute Maid Park this year, including 4-1 in the playoffs. They will start young left Framber Valdez. Valdez has given up seven runs in 15 innings pitched this postseason. The young lefty will make it challenging on Atlanta’s power hitting left-handers Freddie Freeman, Eddie Rosario, and Joc Pederson.
Prediction and Pick:
This is a tough game to handicap. But I have to take the value with Atlanta here. There is a lot of familiarity on both sides, but Morton has been on this stage before and Valdez has not.
Atlanta also has lights out guys in the bullpen who have been pitching tremendously with AJ Minter and Tyler Matzek. Any of those guys can come into pitch in a high leverage situation to get both lefties or right handers out. Matzek specifically was phenomenal in the Game 6 close out win against LA, throwing two innings of scoreless relief.
Atlanta's lineup has been on fire and they steal game one in Houston with their ace on the hill.
Give me Atlanta in Game 1.
The pick: Atlanta (+120)
Follow Austin on Twitter @AMontgomeryLive
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