The Los Angeles Dodgers have come close in recent seasons to winning the World Series only to come up short. Now, the Dodgers are back for another crack at immortality and a first World Series win since 1988.
Standing in the LA Dodgers’ way are the Tampa Bay Rays. The Dodgers will fancy their chances of winning the World Series after rallying to eliminate the Atlanta Braves in seven games in the NLCS.
The great thing about this year’s World Series is that it truly offers fans the best two baseball teams from the regular season. The Dodgers posted the best record in baseball at 43-17 while the Rays were second-best with a total of 40-20.
World Series Game 1
Arlington’s Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers, is the site of the World Series as the teams play on neutral ground. As of this writing on October 19, neither team has confirmed its starting pitcher for Game 1. By the end of today, that will most likely change with both managers, Kevin Cash and Dave Roberts, picking the best arms they have available to start.
According to sportsbook odds aggregator Oddschecker, the LA Dodgers are the favorites to win the World Series. The Dodgers are -200 to win the Fall Classic while the Tampa Bay Rays are +160.
The red-hot Dodgers go into World Series Game 1 as the favorite. But will they get off to a good start in Arlington?
Can the LA Dodgers win Game 1?
The Dodgers certainly have momentum on their side. They completed Game 7 of the NLCS on Sunday. The Rays finished off the Houston Astros on Saturday in Game 7 of the ALCS. Having one fewer day of rest may actually help the Dodgers in the long run. Although conventional wisdom leads must sports fans to believe having a day off will benefit the Rays.
Of course, the Rays and Dodgers did not meet in the regular season. However, these teams did have common opponents, the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros.
The Dodgers played Houston four times in 2020, winning three times. LA outscored Houston 22-12 in those four meetings with 6.0 or more runs in each game and both teams scoring.
Tampa played the Braves four times as well in 2020. The teams split the games two wins apiece. Games saw 3.0 goals or more in each. In addition, both teams score runs.
World Series Game 1 pick
So, which team takes Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night. The Dodgers are red hot heading into the World Series and Game 1 should go to them. LA won three straight games heading into the World Series overcoming a deficit to Atlanta.
Tampa Bay nearly threw away the ALCS, losing three times in a row and needing a Game 7 to take the series. LA should continue their momentum and win Game 1. Expect runs to be scored in the series opener.
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