The Los Angeles Dodgers began this abbreviated 2020 MLB season as 4/1 shots to win the World Series and now find themselves one win away from cashing in, heading into Game 6 Tuesday night. LA seeks its first World Series title since 1988, while Tampa Bay is just looking to stay alive.
How are we playing Game 6 with our free MLB pick?
MLB World Series Betting Odds
World Series Game 6 betting odds opened Los Angeles at around -145 over Tampa Bay, with an over/under of eight runs. Early betting action then dipped the Dodgers to -140. LA could also be found getting upwards of +135, giving the run and a half on the run line.
World Series Game 6 Rays vs. Dodgers Set-Up
The Dodgers are the designated home team for Game 6. Los Angeles leads this World Series three games to two after taking Game 5 Sunday night 4-2. The Dodgers scored two runs in the top of the first inning and one in the second, staking Clay Kershaw to a 3-0 lead. Tampa Bay pulled to within 3-2 in the third, but LA added a run in the fifth and hung on from there for the victory. The Dodgers won Sunday as -160 favorites on the World Series betting line and covered against the run line at a price of +105. Also, Game 5 played under a total of eight runs, the first game in this World Series to play under. With Sunday’s win, Los Angeles is now 12-5 this postseason, while the Rays are now 11-8.
Game 6 Starting Arms
This pitching match-up is a re-match of Game 2 of this World Series, a 6-4 Tampa win. Gonsolin is 0/2 on quality starts this postseason, with one relief appearance. Last Wednesday, in Game 2 of the World Series, he started and gave up a solo home run to Brandon Lowe in the first inning, threw 29 pitches to get four outs, then got pulled. So over his three appearances this postseason, he’s allowed eight runs on six hits, including three homers, and seven walks through 7 2/3 innings. On the season, Los Angeles is 5-5 when Gonsolin starts, 0-2 this postseason. Game 2 was Gonsolin’s first-ever action against the Rays. The Dodgers will probably go with Gonsolin for an inning or two Tuesday night, then turn the rest of the game over to their bullpen. Lefty Snell is 0/5 on quality starts this postseason, although that’s partly due to a short leash. Last Wednesday, in Game 2 of this Series, he allowed two runs on two hits and four walks through 4 2/3 innings, with nine strikeouts. So over five starts this postseason, he’s allowed nine runs on 18 hits, including five homers, and 14 walks through 24 1/3 innings, with 28 strikeouts. Tampa is 10-6 with Snell this season, 3-2 this postseason. Over his two career starts against Los Angeles, Snell has allowed two runs and two hits through 6 2/3 innings, with 13 whiffs.
Game 6 Batting Splits
Tampa Bay batted .238 this season against right-handed pitching, with a .324 team OBP and a .415 team slugging percentage. The Rays have also been held to three runs or less five times over their last nine games. Los Angeles batted .250/.336/.442 vs. left-handed pitching this season.
The Bullpens
The Dodgers bullpen posted a 2.74 ERA this season, along with a Major League-best 1.04 WHIP and a 3.34 K/BB ratio. Numbers like those are why we ranked this unit as the best bullpen in Baseball this year. However, LA relievers have combined to give up 14 runs through 21 innings of work in this World Series.
The Tampa Bay bullpen put up a 3.37 ERA this season, along with a 1.19 WHIP and a 3.02 K/BB ratio. Numbers like those helped this unit rank among the top three bullpens in Baseball this year. Rays relievers have combined to allowed ten runs over 22 1/3 innings in this Series.
MLB Betting Trends
- The Dodgers are 17-8 against left-handed starters this season.
- The Dodgers are 11-7 this season when favored by -150 or less.
- Tampa Bay is 39-16 against right-handed starters this season.
- Tampa Bay is 14-10 as an underdog this season.
Totals Report
- The Under is 10-9 in Rays games this postseason.
- Overs are 10-7 in Dodgers games this postseason.
- Totals split 14-14 at Globe Life Field during the regular season, but the overs are 10-5 at GLF this postseason.
