Brandon Lee
Game Details
Oct 24 '17, 8:05 PM in 2h
MLB | HOU vs LAD
Play on: OVER 7 +110
Game Analysis
10* FREE MLB PICK (Over 7)
You look at the two Game 1 starters in Clayton Kershaw and Dallas Keuchel and expect a pitcher's duel, but I think we are going to see some offense here. This isn't your typical October night in LA. A heat wave has hit the area and temps are going to be 90+ when the game starts.
The ball is going to travel a lot more than you would expect and these are two loaded lineups that have both hit left-handed starting well. Keep in mind the Dodgers scored 4 or more in 4 of their 5 games vs a very good Cubs rotation and Houston had 4 or more in 3 of the last 4 vs the Yankees. OVER is 5-0 in the Astros last 5 road games vs a left-handed starter and 8-3-1 in their last 12 interleague road games.
OVER is 5-1-1 in the Dodgers last 7 home games and 6-2 in Kershaw's last 8 starts after a game where they scored 5 or more runs. Give me the OVER 7!
Game Details
Oct 24 '17, 8:05 PM in 2h
MLB | HOU vs LAD
Play on: OVER 7 +110
Game Analysis
10* FREE MLB PICK (Over 7)
You look at the two Game 1 starters in Clayton Kershaw and Dallas Keuchel and expect a pitcher's duel, but I think we are going to see some offense here. This isn't your typical October night in LA. A heat wave has hit the area and temps are going to be 90+ when the game starts.
The ball is going to travel a lot more than you would expect and these are two loaded lineups that have both hit left-handed starting well. Keep in mind the Dodgers scored 4 or more in 4 of their 5 games vs a very good Cubs rotation and Houston had 4 or more in 3 of the last 4 vs the Yankees. OVER is 5-0 in the Astros last 5 road games vs a left-handed starter and 8-3-1 in their last 12 interleague road games.
OVER is 5-1-1 in the Dodgers last 7 home games and 6-2 in Kershaw's last 8 starts after a game where they scored 5 or more runs. Give me the OVER 7!
FREE plays but worth sharing in here ...
Eric Schroeder;
So once a week veteran handicapper Chris Jordan and I meet at Green Valley Station for lunch or dinner, and talk about sports, business, bad beats, money... you get the drift, right? Sunday night the two of us sat down while watching the New England Patriots to talk World Series.
Chris has always been a mentor to me in this business, and so I wanted to get an idea his philosophy and approach toward the Fall Classic, and lo and behold I was a little taken aback when I heard his choice for the World Series.
So, when I told him I thought the Houston Astros pitching staff would be much better, bought him a shot of Patron, and told him it would be over in six games - he suggested an online challenge.
Dueling "columns" if you will, for our followers, as to who will win the World Series. So before you go and read Chris' obviously ridiculous reasons why the Los Angeles Dodgers will win - which they won't - let me give you some real reasons why the Astros will become the 2017 World Series Champions.
Game 1 motivation ... did you know the Astros have never won a Series game? They were swept by the Chicago White Sox in 2005, in their only previous appearance. So I think one of the most important things will be getting to Clayton Kershaw in the first game and stealing the momentum and homefield edge immediately. Houston starter Dallas Keuchel is a stellar 1.78 ERA in his five career postseason starts and just went 1-1 in the Astros’ ALCS series victory over the Yankees. The 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner is set to make his first World Series start, and he knows how important this game will be.
Speaking of Kershaw ... Dodgers lovers who think they're going to get quality wins from their beloved ace should think again. Kershaw is 6-7 with a 4.40 ERA in 21 postseason games. And while I know he's gone 2-0 this October, I don't think the lefty ace with three Cy Young Awards will look like the dominant regular-season pitcher he is. The lineup I'm about to mention, it's pretty good.
Power-packed lineup ... Jose Altuve (.400, 5 homers), Yuli Gurriel (.366) and Carlos Correa (9 RBIs) did well in the playoffs. And there is a due theory with Alex Bregman, Josh Reddick, Marwin Gonzalez, Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran, who all hit under .200 the first two rounds. Houston was the best offense all season, and if there is one thing it can do well, it's get to good pitching. Houston struggled in the first few games against the Yankees, but it came alive when it mattered.
Emotional edge ... It's been quite a fall for several cities, including Miami, Las Vegas and Houston. From hurricanes to a shooting, these are cities that are looking for revival. Vegas is seeing it with its hockey team, and H-town is looking for a World Series crown. And behind Verlander's arm, plus Dallas Keuchel, plus Charlie Morton, plus Lance McCullers Jr... I think a call to arms will be huge, as each starter will remember this is more than a Series win for the organization, it's for a city needing some love.
Your Series bet is on the Houston Astros, as they're going to steal this from Los Angeles in five games.
5* ASTROS in the SERIES
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Chris Jordan;
The other day I get a text message from the kid, Eric Schroeder, requesting we meet for our weekly chat ASAP because he wants to discuss the World Series. I, of course, reply with: #ThisTeam and add a bitmoji that has me in Dodgers gear.
I can't say what his reply was, but there were more four-letter words exchanged than I've seen from him since I got him aboard with the site last year. He's a cute kid, got a beautiful girl who dances in a production show on the Strip and in just one year being on this site, has purchased a beautiful home in Anthem Hills.
But I had to remind him who Daddy is! He needed to be put into his place, and reminded the difference between Mentor and Mentee.
Don't let him fool you with his blabbering up above here, the Los Angeles Dodgers are going to win the World Series - end of story.
You see, while he is enamored by the home record, the pitching staff and the offense, I reminded him Sunday night, while sipping a little tequila at Green Valley Station, about his pick on the Astros, who may be in the Fall Classic, but are there by default thanks to a lack of competition.
Come on, you really think the way the Astros played in the Bronx, they would have escaped the clutches of the Cleveland Indians had the Tribe been there? I think not. The Yankees caught the Tribe off guard, and really, at time, outplayed Houston.
Statistics reveal a lot, and the Astros are hitting just .247 in the postseason, after an abysmal .187 against the New York Yankees in the ALCS. They hit just four home runs in that series, and had no choice but to depend on their pitching. I'm not impressed. That lineup now gets to face Los Angeles' one-two punch - Clayton Kershaw and Yu Darvish - and the best bullpen in the bigs.
Los Angeles has the best ERA of all playoff teams, with a 2.28 clip. The entire staff has a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 81-to-12, and the relievers have prodced an ERA of 0.94 during the playoffs. Of the 14 home runs the Dodgers staff has allowed, their bullpen has given up just one. The relievers strikeout-to-walk ratio is an astounding 32-to-2, while producing a 3-0 record.
Houston has great arms, I know this. Both starting rotations are pretty much even on paper. But if the Dodgers' impressive lineup that beat up the Cubs gets into the Astros' bullpen, it's going to be ugly. Houston's relievers have a 5.03 ERA in the postseason, having allowed 31 hits, 19 earned runs and eight home runs.
And let's talk about my guy Kershaw, who is 6-7 with a 4.40 ERA in 21 postseason games. How about the fact he is 2-0 this October, and we're talking about a guy who owns three Cy Young Awards, five ERA crowns and seven All-Star selections. This is long overdue for him, and he isn't about to tank at home.
Finally, I love Dave Roberts, and give him the edge in the managerial department. I love his decision-making. If you listen to his press conferences and interviews, you can feel the passion he has for HIS PLAYERS. Not for him, not for the organization - for his players. And don't get me wrong, he has pride, and he cares about the team as a whole. But he is a players' manager.
The second-year manager, who has two N.L. West crowns under his belt, has been extremely creative with the big-budget Dodgers, and profoundly strategic to get maximum value from each and every person on the roster. And most of all, what his players appreciate most, is Roberts gives his guys consistency with decision-making. There are no surprises with him, as he never wavers - win or lose. And that provides confidence in his players.
Behind an unpredictable and explosive lineup, the 1-2 pitching punch and a stifling bullpen, the Dodgers will win the World Series in Game 6 at Chavez Ravine.
5* DODGERS in the SERIES
Eric Schroeder;
So once a week veteran handicapper Chris Jordan and I meet at Green Valley Station for lunch or dinner, and talk about sports, business, bad beats, money... you get the drift, right? Sunday night the two of us sat down while watching the New England Patriots to talk World Series.
Chris has always been a mentor to me in this business, and so I wanted to get an idea his philosophy and approach toward the Fall Classic, and lo and behold I was a little taken aback when I heard his choice for the World Series.
So, when I told him I thought the Houston Astros pitching staff would be much better, bought him a shot of Patron, and told him it would be over in six games - he suggested an online challenge.
Dueling "columns" if you will, for our followers, as to who will win the World Series. So before you go and read Chris' obviously ridiculous reasons why the Los Angeles Dodgers will win - which they won't - let me give you some real reasons why the Astros will become the 2017 World Series Champions.
Game 1 motivation ... did you know the Astros have never won a Series game? They were swept by the Chicago White Sox in 2005, in their only previous appearance. So I think one of the most important things will be getting to Clayton Kershaw in the first game and stealing the momentum and homefield edge immediately. Houston starter Dallas Keuchel is a stellar 1.78 ERA in his five career postseason starts and just went 1-1 in the Astros’ ALCS series victory over the Yankees. The 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner is set to make his first World Series start, and he knows how important this game will be.
Speaking of Kershaw ... Dodgers lovers who think they're going to get quality wins from their beloved ace should think again. Kershaw is 6-7 with a 4.40 ERA in 21 postseason games. And while I know he's gone 2-0 this October, I don't think the lefty ace with three Cy Young Awards will look like the dominant regular-season pitcher he is. The lineup I'm about to mention, it's pretty good.
Power-packed lineup ... Jose Altuve (.400, 5 homers), Yuli Gurriel (.366) and Carlos Correa (9 RBIs) did well in the playoffs. And there is a due theory with Alex Bregman, Josh Reddick, Marwin Gonzalez, Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran, who all hit under .200 the first two rounds. Houston was the best offense all season, and if there is one thing it can do well, it's get to good pitching. Houston struggled in the first few games against the Yankees, but it came alive when it mattered.
Emotional edge ... It's been quite a fall for several cities, including Miami, Las Vegas and Houston. From hurricanes to a shooting, these are cities that are looking for revival. Vegas is seeing it with its hockey team, and H-town is looking for a World Series crown. And behind Verlander's arm, plus Dallas Keuchel, plus Charlie Morton, plus Lance McCullers Jr... I think a call to arms will be huge, as each starter will remember this is more than a Series win for the organization, it's for a city needing some love.
Your Series bet is on the Houston Astros, as they're going to steal this from Los Angeles in five games.
5* ASTROS in the SERIES
----------------------------------------------
Chris Jordan;
The other day I get a text message from the kid, Eric Schroeder, requesting we meet for our weekly chat ASAP because he wants to discuss the World Series. I, of course, reply with: #ThisTeam and add a bitmoji that has me in Dodgers gear.
I can't say what his reply was, but there were more four-letter words exchanged than I've seen from him since I got him aboard with the site last year. He's a cute kid, got a beautiful girl who dances in a production show on the Strip and in just one year being on this site, has purchased a beautiful home in Anthem Hills.
But I had to remind him who Daddy is! He needed to be put into his place, and reminded the difference between Mentor and Mentee.
Don't let him fool you with his blabbering up above here, the Los Angeles Dodgers are going to win the World Series - end of story.
You see, while he is enamored by the home record, the pitching staff and the offense, I reminded him Sunday night, while sipping a little tequila at Green Valley Station, about his pick on the Astros, who may be in the Fall Classic, but are there by default thanks to a lack of competition.
Come on, you really think the way the Astros played in the Bronx, they would have escaped the clutches of the Cleveland Indians had the Tribe been there? I think not. The Yankees caught the Tribe off guard, and really, at time, outplayed Houston.
Statistics reveal a lot, and the Astros are hitting just .247 in the postseason, after an abysmal .187 against the New York Yankees in the ALCS. They hit just four home runs in that series, and had no choice but to depend on their pitching. I'm not impressed. That lineup now gets to face Los Angeles' one-two punch - Clayton Kershaw and Yu Darvish - and the best bullpen in the bigs.
Los Angeles has the best ERA of all playoff teams, with a 2.28 clip. The entire staff has a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 81-to-12, and the relievers have prodced an ERA of 0.94 during the playoffs. Of the 14 home runs the Dodgers staff has allowed, their bullpen has given up just one. The relievers strikeout-to-walk ratio is an astounding 32-to-2, while producing a 3-0 record.
Houston has great arms, I know this. Both starting rotations are pretty much even on paper. But if the Dodgers' impressive lineup that beat up the Cubs gets into the Astros' bullpen, it's going to be ugly. Houston's relievers have a 5.03 ERA in the postseason, having allowed 31 hits, 19 earned runs and eight home runs.
And let's talk about my guy Kershaw, who is 6-7 with a 4.40 ERA in 21 postseason games. How about the fact he is 2-0 this October, and we're talking about a guy who owns three Cy Young Awards, five ERA crowns and seven All-Star selections. This is long overdue for him, and he isn't about to tank at home.
Finally, I love Dave Roberts, and give him the edge in the managerial department. I love his decision-making. If you listen to his press conferences and interviews, you can feel the passion he has for HIS PLAYERS. Not for him, not for the organization - for his players. And don't get me wrong, he has pride, and he cares about the team as a whole. But he is a players' manager.
The second-year manager, who has two N.L. West crowns under his belt, has been extremely creative with the big-budget Dodgers, and profoundly strategic to get maximum value from each and every person on the roster. And most of all, what his players appreciate most, is Roberts gives his guys consistency with decision-making. There are no surprises with him, as he never wavers - win or lose. And that provides confidence in his players.
Behind an unpredictable and explosive lineup, the 1-2 pitching punch and a stifling bullpen, the Dodgers will win the World Series in Game 6 at Chavez Ravine.
5* DODGERS in the SERIES
Millerlocks
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Mike Davis;
7-Unit Play Denver +2 over Utah
I will come back with another small underdog on the road tonight as Denver heads to Utah. This is a basketball team that is truly intriguing as they have all of the tools to be a very solid team this season. The addition of Millsap is huge and he will allow Jokic to blossom into a potential superstar. I look for Jamal Murray to have a big season at the point with Nelson and Mudiay in supporting roles. Gary Harris can flat out play and he will be relied upon heavily at the shooting guard position.
I like this matchup tonight as Utah breaks in a new point guard in Ricky Rubio and they begin their first season in a while without Gordon Heyward. On top of that, Rubio's backup is injured and this team is a bit thin in the back court. Their strength is in the front court but they are no match for the front court of the Nuggets. The Nuggets are really strong with Millsap and Jokic starting up front and a guy like Faried coming off of the bench. The key to beating Denver this season will be having a strong back court; the Jazz don't have that and the Nuggets will win this game fairly comfortably.
Take Denver
7-Unit Play Denver +2 over Utah
I will come back with another small underdog on the road tonight as Denver heads to Utah. This is a basketball team that is truly intriguing as they have all of the tools to be a very solid team this season. The addition of Millsap is huge and he will allow Jokic to blossom into a potential superstar. I look for Jamal Murray to have a big season at the point with Nelson and Mudiay in supporting roles. Gary Harris can flat out play and he will be relied upon heavily at the shooting guard position.
I like this matchup tonight as Utah breaks in a new point guard in Ricky Rubio and they begin their first season in a while without Gordon Heyward. On top of that, Rubio's backup is injured and this team is a bit thin in the back court. Their strength is in the front court but they are no match for the front court of the Nuggets. The Nuggets are really strong with Millsap and Jokic starting up front and a guy like Faried coming off of the bench. The key to beating Denver this season will be having a strong back court; the Jazz don't have that and the Nuggets will win this game fairly comfortably.
Take Denver
