MLB World Series Picks & Predictions: Rays vs. Brewers (Friday)
Welcome to the Friday baseball slate. We've finally reached the World Series. It may not be the most exciting matchup, but it'll be interesting to see how this offseason unfolds with two smaller-market teams making a run this deep. If we get to Game 6, I'll be there with my best MLB World Series picks; otherwise, thanks for following along this season.
Baseball is the best sport for getting specific with your bets, and there are plenty of angles to attack any given game, with almost every day offering a loaded slate of opportunities. With such a loaded sports calendar, it's the best time of year.
With last week’s game canceled, we didn't end up with any bets. But it's looking like we'll have another winning season, unless I go crazy with props to finish out the year, which I might. Anyways, here are the best MLB picks & predictions for Game 1 of the World Series.
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Friday's Best MLB World Series Picks & Predictions
Last Time: 0-0 | This Season: 41-38
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Milwaukee Brewers
For all the marbles, Game 1 of the World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers begins with Nick Martinez taking on Jacob Misiorowski.
Martinez has been solid in his two postseason starts. It's a small sample, but the Rays won both of his starts after holding the New York Yankees to two runs in 3.2 innings and Cleveland to one run on two hits in 5.1 innings. The Brewers have plenty of experience against Martinez, with William Contreras, Christian Yelich, and Brice Turang combining for over 45 at-bats.
Jacob Misiorowski has had nothing short of a perfect season. The shoo-in National League Cy Young Award winner has made only two playoff appearances but shut down the Padres and the Dodgers despite limited innings pitched.
Misiorowski pitched better at home, with a 1.52 ERA in Milwaukee, and faced Tampa earlier this season, holding them to two runs in six innings. No batter has more than three at-bats against him in their career, but Yandy Diaz does have a home run off the Milwaukee ace.
Overall, this is a pitcher's duel, and we won't reach a high total. These teams are coming off some rest, so it'll be easy to get to these strong bullpens quickly if either pitcher gets in trouble early. Milwaukee's bullpen owns a 1.33 ERA in the postseason, while Tampa’s is 3.60.
The Brewers may have a bit more momentum and have looked better this postseason, but after such a long rest, everything resets. Given the odds are longer for the Rays to cover than the Brewers’ Moneyline, I'm taking a bit of value on Tampa.
Picks: Under 6.5 Runs (+106 at Polymarket), Nick Martinez Under 13.5 Outs Recorded (-110 at bet365) & Rays +1.5 (-146 at FanDuel Sportsbook)