The Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers open the 116th World Series Tuesday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. First pitch is scheduled for 8:09 p.m. ET (on FOX). As the top seed, the Dodgers will be the home team in the first two games of the 2-3-2 format. Below, we analyze the Rays-Dodgers World Series Game 1 MLB betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
The Rays (40-20 regular season) and Dodgers (43-17), the top seeds in their respective leagues, both needed seven games to win their League Championships. The Rays defeated the Houston Astros, while the Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves.
L.A. is making its third World Series trip in the last four years but is seeking its first title since 1988 when Kirk Gibson hit one of the most memorable home runs in baseball history. Tampa Bay is 0-1 in the Fall Classic, losing its only appearance – 4-1 to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008.
Rays vs. Dodgers: Projected starting pitchers
RHP Tyler Glasnow vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw
Glasnow finished the regular season 5-1 with a 4.08 ERA (57 1/3 IP, 26 ER) and 91 K in 11 starts. This postseason, he’s 2-1 with a 4.66 ERA (19 1/3 IP, 10 ER) and 25 K in 4 starts.
- Last start: Loss, 6 IP, 4 ER, 8 H, 2 BB, 5 K vs. Astros in ALCS Game 4 last Wednesday – Rays lost 4-3
- Career vs. Dodgers: 0-0, 13.50 ERA (4 IP, 6 ER) in 3 relief appearances as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018
- Career postseason: 2-3, 5.47 ERA (26 1/3 IP, 16 ER) in 6 starts
Kershaw went 6-2 with a 2.16 ERA (58 1/3 IP, 14 ER) in 10 regular-season starts in 2020. He’s 2-1 with a 3.32 ERA (19 IP, 7 ER) and 23 K in 3 playoff starts this fall.
- Last start: Loss, 5 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 4 K vs. Braves in NLCS Game 4 Thursday – Dodgers lost 10-2
- Career vs. Rays: 2-0, 1.88 ERA (14 1/3 IP, 3 ER) in 2 starts
- Career postseason: 11-12, 4.31 ERA (177 1/3 IP, 85 ER) in 28 starts and 7 relief appearances
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Rays vs. Dodgers: Key injuries
None
Rays vs. Dodgers: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Rays 5 Dodgers 2
Money line (ML)
The RAYS (+150) are the play. The price is a bit inflated because of Kershaw and the Dodgers (-167) being more famous, but Kershaw’s postseason struggles are no secret.
While the three-time Cy Young Award winner most likely will land in Cooperstown once his career is over, it won’t be because of his postseason performances. In his last 7 playoff outings, dating back to the 2018 World Series, he’s 2-4 with a blown save and a 5.20 ERA (36 1/3 IP, 21 ER).
Tampa Bay didn’t get here by accident – with a top-notch pitching staff and LF Randy Arozarena, the ALCS MVP, leading the offense. He’s hitting .382 (21-for-55) with 7 HRs and 10 RBIs in 14 postseason games this year.
New to sports betting? Every winning $1 bet on the Rays ML profits $1.50. It will take $1.67 to win $1 when backing the Dodgers ML.
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
Rays +1.5 (-134) | Dodgers -1.5 (+110)
PASS since I’m focusing on the Rays ML and the Under.
Over/Under (O/U)
Back the UNDER 7.5 (-121). If it climbs to 8, make it a STRONG PLAY – 1.5 times your usual wager.
Both relief corps are among the best in baseball. Tampa Bay’s bullpen ranked second in the AL and third in the majors with a 3.37 ERA during the regular season; Dodgers relievers led the NL and were second in MLB with a 2.74 ERA. (The Oakland A’s were first at 2.72.)
Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
Also see:
- World Series Prop Bet Payday: 5 Los Angeles Dodgers prop bets for Game 1
- World Series Prop Bet Payday: 5 Tampa Bay Rays prop bets for Game 1
- 2020 World Series odds, picks, predictions and best bets
| Johnny’s 2020 MLB record | 79-56-1 |
| 2020 MLB postseason / Strongest plays | 15-19 / 6-8 |
| 2020 overall record (all sports) | 121-92-3 |
| Strongest plays (all sports) | 60-36-1 |
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