Philadelphia Phillies vs San Diego Padres Game 1 Betting Preview
The World Series is set with the top seeded American League Houston Astros facing the last team to squeak in the NL Wild Card Philadelphia Phillies. Sportsmemo MLB handicapper Eric Pauly gives his Houston Astros vs Philadelphia Phillies World Series betting preview.
World Series Betting Notes, Courtesy of Caesars | |
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Moneyline to Win Series: | Houston Astros -190 vs Philadelphia Phillies +170 |
Odds to Win MVP: | Bryce Harper +500, Yordan Alvarez +600, Justin Verlander +900 |
Series Correct Score | Astros 4-2 (+375), Astros 4-3 (+400), Astros 4-1 (+475), Phillies 4-2 (+600) |
Where: | Minute Maid Park in Houston & Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia |
Houston Astros vs Philadelphia Phillies World Series Analysis
On Friday night, the Astros and the Phillies face off for game one of the World Series. The Astros were the No. 1 seed in the American League and they swept the Yankees to lock in their spot in the Fall Classic.
The Phillies were the No. 6 seed in the NL Playoffs and they beat the No. 3 seed, No. 2 seed, and No. 5 seeds in the National League to make it to the playoffs.
For this edition of the Fall Classic, the Astros have home-field advantage and they are -185 favorites to win the series. The Phillies are +160 underdogs, but they have been underdogs in all three series so far, so this is nothing new to the Phillies. This should be a heck of a series, and I truly believe these two teams represent the two best teams in the Majors.
No Problems in Houston
After cementing themselves as the best team in the American League in the regular season, the Astros walked the walk and they have advanced to World Series again.
Houston did not lose a single game in the postseason and they are on a seven-game winning streak. If the Astros are able to keep this up in this series, it will be one of the most dominant postseason performances in recent memory.
The Astros pitching staff, fielding, and offense have been remarkable so far this postseason. The Astros pitching staff has a 1.88 ERA, a .93 WHIP, and a .178 batting average against in seven postseason games this season.
They have struck out 89 batters so far and they are 4 for 4 in save opportunities. All of their pitchers are healthy and rested, and this pitching staff should be ready to rock on Friday night.
On offense, the Astros have been mashing and getting timely hits when they count. Houston has a .708 team OPS, they have a .227 batting average, and they have 58 hits, and 12 home runs in their seven postseason games.
Phillies Take Huge Advantage of Extra Wild Card Spot
The Phillies were not expected to be in this position, but based on how they have played this postseason, it is hard to imagine that this team was not a shoo-in to make the postseason. The Phillies have been underdogs in every series so far and they have won each series in convincing fashion.
The Phillies have lost just two of their 11 post-season games so far and they have been an absolute blast to watch. However, something to monitor is how the Phillies play on the road. Their two losses in the playoffs both came on the road to the Braves and the Padres.
In the postseason, the Phillies’ pitching and offense have been great. This team makes timely plays, gets timely hits, and their starters have been impressive.
The Phillies’ pitching staff has a 3.06 ERA so far this postseason, but they have a .97 WHIP and a .191 batting average against. A lot of this success is based on their starting pitching. The Phillies have struck out 107 batters in 11 games and they have only allowed 35 runs in 97 innings pitched.
On offense, the Phillies have been scary to face for opposing pitchers. The Phillies have a .749 OPS during the postseason, they have a .237 batting average, 16 home runs, 82 hits, and they have scored 57 runs so far. This team has been able to get the timely hits they have needed and they have a ton of momentum heading into this series.
Houston Astros vs Philadelphia Phillies Prediction
This series will be amazing, and I can see it going to seven games. The Astors look like a juggernaut, but the Phillies have fully embraced the underdog mentality and they will not roll over.
The Astros need to take advantage of their home-field advantage because if they let the Phillies steal a win, this series could get out of hand. The Phillies have been fantastic at home all season long and they have not lost at home this postseason.
Based solely on how these teams played in the regular season, you’d expect the Astros to win this series with ease, and based on the series price, it seems like oddsmakers agree.
However, in the MLB, and all sports, it is impossible to quantify momentum and belief. This Phillies team is loaded with talent and they have been on a fantastic run in the playoffs.
Make no mistake about it, beating the Astros will be tough, but I think the Phillies can do it. The top of their rotation is strong, their offense is great, and I think the Phillies pull it out.
Prediction: Philadelphia Phillies to win the Series +170
Interested in placing a bet on the Houston Astros vs Philadelphia Phillies World Series matchup? Caesars Sports is offering up to a $1,500 risk-free bet for first-time deposits in New Jersey, West Virginia, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Virginia, Tennessee, Arizona, New York and Louisiana.
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Meet the Author
Eric Pauly, @slimeaction on Twitter, graduated from Binghamton University with a degree in Finance. Eric is a die-hard Washington Commanders and New York Knicks fan and enjoys watching and writing about the NFL, NBA and MLB. His favorite gambling movements include hitting a +1000 future on Washington to win the NFC East in 2020 and predicting Jonathan Taylor’s breakout season with a +900 ticket for him to win the 2021 NFL rushing title. Aside from the sports betting industry, Eric also enjoys good eats, dynasty fantasy football leagues, daily fantasy sports and playing the guitar.
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