The Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros play Game 2 of the best-of-seven World Series Wednesday at Minute Maid Park. First pitch is scheduled for 8:09 p.m. ET (on FOX). Let’s analyze the lines around the Braves vs. Astros odds with MLB picks and predictions.
The Braves took Tuesday’s opener 6-2 but lost starting RHP Charlie Morton to a fractured fibula. They won as slight underdogs (+113) with the Under (8.5) hitting by a hook.
Atlanta jumped out to a 2-0 lead as DH Jorge Soler led off with a solo homer on the third pitch, and 3B Austin Riley added an RBI double in the top of the first inning. They increased the lead to 5-0 on CF-RF Adam Duvall’s 2-run homer in the third.
As for Morton, he took a hard grounder off his lower right leg in the second inning. He would retire 3 more Astros batters (2 in the second and 1 in the third), before exiting with what was diagnosed as a season-ending injury.
Atlanta’s bullpen responded as four relievers scattered 7 hits and allowed just 2 runs over the final 6 2/3 innings to complete the victory.
As for Game 2, Braves LHP Max Fried (14-7, 3.04 ERA regular season) will make his fourth start of this postseason. This will be the first time the southpaw faces the Astros in his five-year career.
- 2021 postseason: 1-1, 3.78 ERA (16 2/3 IP, 7 ER), 19 H, 2 BB, 17 K in three starts
- Career postseason: 1-2, 3.86 ERA (46 2/3 IP, 20 ER), 1.31 WHIP, 47 K in 15 games (7 starts)
Astros RHP Jose Urquidy (8-3, 3.62 ERA regular season) makes his second start of the postseason. The three-year veteran will face the Braves for the first time in his career.
- Last outing: Loss, 1 2/3 IP, 5 ER (6 unearned), 5 H, 2 BB, 1 K in 12-3 ALCS Game 3 rout by Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park Oct. 18
- Career postseason: 1-2, 4.28 ERA (27 1/3 IP, 13 ER), 1.32 WHIP, 25 K in nine games (5 starts)
Braves at Astros odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 8:30 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Braves -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Astros -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Braves -1.5 (+155) | Astros +1.5 (-190)
- Over/Under: 8.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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Prediction
Braves 6, Astros 2
Money line (ML)
ATLANTA (-105) is the STRONGEST PLAY – 1½ times your usual wager. We won with the Braves Tuesday. Let’s do it again!
Fried is coming off one of his worst outings of 2021. He yielded 5 runs on 8 hits and 2 walks in 4 2/3 innings at the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the NLCS Thursday, an 11-2 Braves loss.
Before that, he delivered a 1.50 ERA in his first two postseason starts, allowing just 2 runs in 12 innings and striking out 14.
In his final 11 regular-season starts, starting Aug. 3, Fried went 7-0 with a 1.46 ERA (74 IP, 12 ER) and 2 complete games, while holding opponents to a .183 batting average as the Braves went 10-1 SU (straight up).
Expect that Fried to show up for Wednesday’s Game 2.
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
If you want a little insurance, I could see divvying up part of the ML wager or treading lightly with BRAVES -1.5 (+155).
After all, the Braves are 9-2 ATS this postseason, including 5-1 on the road. Counting the regular season, they are 55-32 ATS on the road.
ATS records:
- Regular season: Braves 78-83 | Astros 77-85
Over/Under (O/U)
BACK UNDER 8.5 (-108) to WIN 0.2 UNITS.
We won on the Under Tuesday. Let’s do this again, too!
O/U records:
- Regular season: Braves 74-78-9 | Astros 86-69-7
- Postseason: Braves 5-6 | Astros 8-3
Before Fried’s rough outing in Game 5 of the NLCS vs. the Dodgers – who were facing elimination – his last 5 road starts all cashed Under tickets.
The Under is 11-5 in his 16 road starts this year, including 8-2 in his last 10.
If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Please gamble responsibly.
| JOHNNY’S RECORD | W-L | SP | ROI |
| SINCE JULY 8 | 73-44 | 29-16 | +23.461 |
| *–SP: Strongest plays; ROI: Return on investment | |||
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