- BetOnline now lists Rays as +135 favorites to win 2020 World Series
- Dodgers dip to +220 after Game 2 loss
- Dodgers’ odds may get longer with Clayton Kershaw struggling with back spasms
The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees have spent the entirety of 2020 as World Series favorites. Well, now there’s a new sheriff in town. With the Yankees having been eliminated and the Dodgers in an 0-1 hole against the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series, the Tampa Bay Rays are now your betting favorite to win this year’s World Series.
The Rays, who eliminated the Yankees in five games in the ALDS, have gotten out to a 2-0 series lead in the ALCS over the Houston Astros.
Thanks to solid starting pitching and excellent work from the bullpen, Tampa Bay is just two wins away from the second World Series berth in franchise history. The Rays were beaten in the 2008 World Series by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Tampa Bay Now Favored
According to the latest odds at BetOnline, Tampa Bay is now a +135 favorite to win the title for the first time ever. The Dodgers have fallen to +220, which puts them narrowly ahead of the Braves (+250). The Astros, who have to win four of their next five games in order to advance, are +1300 long shots.
Things just got more difficult for the Dodgers, as well. On Tuesday morning, Los Angeles announced that Clayton Kershaw had been scratched from his scheduled Game 2 start due to back spasms. The Dodgers will now have right-hander Tony Gonsolin on the mound against Braves rookie Ian Anderson.
RHP Tony Gonsolin will start Game 2 of the NLCS. LHP Clayton Kershaw has been scratched with back spasms.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 13, 2020
The Dodgers were -260 favorites to win Game 2 when Kershaw was the scheduled starter. After the pitching change, the Dodgers’ odds to win Game 2 plummeted to -117.
LA’s bullpen wound up conceding a pair of ninth-inning home runs in Game 1 on their way to a 5-1 loss. The Dodgers were in a fine spot to bounce back with Kershaw on the hill in Game 2, but they are suddenly up against it. Whether Kershaw will be healthy enough to pitch in tomorrow’s scheduled Game 3 remains to be seen. Dave Roberts may have to rely more heavily on his bullpen than he expected in this series.
Yarbrough to Face Urquidy in Game 3
Tampa Bay will have a chance to go up 3-0 on Tuesday night in Game 3. Left-hander Ryan Yarbrough will start for Tampa Bay against Astros righty Jose Urquidy. The Rays’ excellent pitching staff has held Houston’s vaunted offense in check thus far.
The Astros have scored just three runs through the series’ first two games after averaging nearly seven runs per game through their first six games of this postseason.
The Astros have racked up 19 hits through the first two games, but they haven’t been able to cash-in on their numerous opportunities to do damage. Two of their runs have come on solo homers, while the third came on a ninth-inning double-play groundout by George Springer in Game 2.
The Rays are -111 moneyline favorites to win Tuesday’s Game 3 as of this writing.
Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith has been a staff writer with GamblingSites.org since early 2017. Taylor is primarily a sports writer, though he will occasionally dabble in other things like politics and entertainment betting. His primary specialties are writing about the NBA, Major League Baseball, NFL and domestic and international soccer. Fringe sports like golf and horse racing aren’t exactly his cup of tea, bu …
