2021 World Series - Game 2
Atlanta at Houston, Wednesday, 8:09 p.m. ET
Game Odds, presented by DraftKings Sportsbook
Atlanta: (+120)
Houston: (-140)
Total Runs: 8
How We Got Here:
After a solid Game 1 for both Atlanta, and these betting picks, we're onto Game 2 of the Fall Classic.
Game 1 provided tons of excitement, as Atlanta won 6-1. Of course they also took a huge blow losing Charlie Morton to broken fibula in the third inning. Atlanta had to use the big arms in their bullpen, AJ Minter and Luke Jackson full multiple innings. Overall they were able to hold the Astros down to win 6-1.
Now Atlanta will rely on Max Fried on the hill. Fried had a solid 3.04 ERA in the regular season, but his armor has been chipped in the postseason. Last outing, Fried was rocked, in an 11-2 loss to Los Angeles in Game 5 of the NLCS. Now he will have to face the one of the best left handed hitting lineups in the MLB. Houston is due for a bounce back and Atlanta's best bullpen arms won’t be available in this one. Which means Fried is going to have to go deep into the game tonight.
Speaking of Houston, they can’t afford to drop their second straight at home. They will have Jose Urquidy on the mound tonight. The right-hander pitched for only 1.2 innings in a 12-3 loss to Boston in the ALCS, where he got torched for five earned runs (six runs in total) on five hits. That was the right hander's only start this postseason. He will have to face a potent Atlanta lineup that has destroyed right handed pitching this postseason - heck, it seems Eddie Rosario has yet to make an out against a right hander this post season.
Urquidy will probably have a short leash in this one, and Christian Javier will probably be made available to pitch a long stretch in this game if Urquidy is hit early.
Prediction and Pick:
The over 8.5 seems like a sure lock in this game. One, both starting pitchers have struggled in the post season. Two, Houston had the No. 1 offense in the MLB in average, runs scored, and their were third in slugging percentage. That Houston lineup now goes against an bullpen that is used up, so they will not see Minter or Jackson tonight. Fried is going to have to eat innings due to a depleted starting rotation. So Houston will have a chance to pour it on, if they get to Fried.
On the other side of the coin, Atlanta matches up well with Urquidy. Atlanta is averaging 5.3 runs per game in the postseason and they should surpass that mark here. Enjoy the fireworks Wednesday night.
The pick: Over 8.5
Follow Austin on Twitter @AMontgomeryLive
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