MLB League Championship Preview
Published October 15, 2020 by Sol FH
It's game 4 for the Braves vs. Dodgers and Game 5 between the Astros vs. Rays, tonight from 22:00 GMT.
What a terrific MLB playoff it has been so far, despite the circumstances. Seeing America's pastime being played in virtually empty stadiums still takes some adjusting to, and we all hope that things will be back to peanuts and Cracker Jack, at least at some point next year.
We are now inching close to the World Series and there are four teams that all have the ability to make it to the big show, but first, we've got two key games tonight.
Astros vs. Rays, 22:00 GMT
The first game, between the Houston Astros and the Tampa Bay Rays, at 22:00 at Petco Park, will be Game 5. The Rays are up 3-1 and have the chance to advance to the grand finale tonight.
The Astros were down 3-0 going into Game 4 and were able to pull off a miraculous win, even after the Rays began what could've been a rally in the top of the ninth to win 4-3. Houston started the game scoring in the 1st and 3rd innings, followed by a pair of runs in the 5th. The Rays were only able to score in the 4th ( 2 runs) and a final run in the top of the 9th, as mentioned.
Starting pitchers had not been listed at the time of writing this article, but, for the Rays, it seems like Josh Fleming would be the best choice. The lefty went 5-0 with a 2.78 ERA and 25 strikeouts during the regular season. He still hasn't been used in the postseason, surprisingly.
AL Championship Odds & Prediction
The leading bookmaker, bet365 Sport is offering odds on every game in the MLB postseason and punters are literally helping online sportsbooks to break monthly earnings records across the US. If the Astors can pull off the miracle and get a series win, bet365 Sports is offering odds at 10.00 for the win. If the Rays can do what's expected of them and take the series, odds are set at 1.066.
The Rays have been far too strong to allow the Astros to take them further down the track and should put an end to things, tonight.
Braves vs Dodgers, 1:00 GMT
What we saw in Game 3 of the NL Championship Series could've been the beginning of the end for the Atlanta Braves. After a soul-crushing, humiliating 15-3 loss to the LA Dodgers, the Braves will need to bounce back and try to fend off LA's heavy-hitting.
Going to the mound for the Dodgers will be 3-time Cy Young winner, Clayton Kershaw. The Braves pitchers were beaten last night, but the big right-hander Bryse Wilson will kick things off at Globe Life Field.
NL Championship Odds & Prediction
888Sport has posted odds in favor of another LA win, despite the series being led by the Braves. The odds for the Dodgers are at 1.44 and 2.90 for the Braves.
The odds in this article at the bookmakers' mentioned above were accurate at the time of writing, October 15, 11:30 GMT.
