MLB Baseball Betting World Series Preview
After correctly predicting the outcomes of both LCS matchups in the BetUS Locker Room days before the respective winning teams took the field, I am back to give MLB wagering enthusiasts the low-down – and eventual winner – for what looks to be an absolutely thrilling World Series matchup between the Philadelphia Phillies (99-72 SU, 76-89-6 O/U, 81-90 RL) and Tampa Bay Rays (104-69 SU, 80-90-2 O/U, 92-80 RL).
This comprehensive World Series preview will give BetUS MLB Sportsbook bettors a bird’s-eye view on what to expect from both teams in what has become one of the most improbable World Series matchups of all-time, in large part because of the stunning success of the Rays.
With the first-pitch just over 24 hours away, let’s get down to business.
Lineups
B.J. Upton hit just nine home runs all season before going absolutely bonkers in the playoffs in nearly matching his season total by launching seven so far.
Rays third baseman Evan Longoria is the youngest player in MLB history to hit six home runs in one postseason appearance and veteran first baseman Carlos Pena is also capable of taking any big league pitcher out of the park at any given time. Left-fielder Carl Crawford is back at full strength as well, another plus for the Rays.
Tampa Bay has hit 22 home runs through their first 11 postseason games, fourth most in MLB history and second in AL history. Tampa Bay is also batting .268 as a team as compared to Philadelphia’s .259 team batting average.
Wile the Rays have a formidable lineup and bashed the Red Sox entire pitching staff absolutely senseless, I’ll take the Philadelphia Phillies and their prolific offense against any team in baseball!
Led by consecutive NL MVP’s Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard, not to mention MVP-caliber second baseman, Chase Utley and big-bopping left-fielder Pat ‘The Bat’ Burrell, Philadelphia can undeniably hit with any team in baseball. Tampa Bay has also watch out for red-hot center fielder Shane Victorino and quality right-fielder Jason Werth.
Philadelphia’s prolific hitters may also have some extra motivation after ALCS MVP Matt Garza opened his mouth on Monday – and promptly inserted his foot, saying, “I’ll tell you what,” Garza said. “Facing that Phillies lineup, compared to facing the Red Sox lineup, the Tigers lineup or the Yankees lineup, you get a little bit of a break with the Phillies lineup, especially pitching in Philly.”
Edge: Philadelphia
Starting Pitching
The Rays have a clear advantage in this area, though I will point out the fact that the Phillies have the better team ERA entering the World Series, 3.19 to Tampa’s 3.52.
Every Tampa Bay starter recorded a winning record this season while three starters, (Matt Garza, Scott Kazmir and James Shields), all had respective ERA’s under 4.00.
Tampa Bay’s other two starters, Edwin Jackson and Andy Sonnanstine are also better than every Philadelphia starter besides Cole Hamels.
The Phillies have just one ‘lights out’ starter in southpaw staff ace, Hamels, the best starting pitcher in this series. While No.2, right-hander Brett Myers has been very good over the second half of the regular season, after undergoing a mid-season demotion to the minors, the Phillies could have big problems on the back end of their starting staff, particularly considering how, crafty left-hander, Jamie Moyer has been rocked in both of Philadelphia’s postseason series leading up to this one. I really like how No. 4 starter Joe Blanton has gone after hitters in the postseason and he could be a huge factor for Philadelphia.
Edge: Tampa Bay
Bullpens
The Rays have a plethora of talented pitchers in their bullpen despite the fact that they faltered on more than one occasion against the Red Sox. Dan Wheeler, Grant Balfour, Chad Bradford, J.P. Howell form a formidable quartet that simply put, gets hitters out.
Throw inflame-throwing left-hander David Price, the No.1 overall selection in the 2007 draft, who got the save in Tampa Bay’s game-clincher and the Rays have a huge advantage here.
The Phillies have not lost a single game this season in going an unheard of, 86-0, including the playoffs, in games in which they led entering the ninth inning. Closer Brad Lidge has not blown a single save all season and has not shown anything that would make a person think he’s about to blow one in this series.
Fire-balling right-hander Ryan Madson, Chad Durbin and J.C. Romero are all capable pitchers who can get the ball into Lidge’s hands without giving up much of anything.
Edge: Tampa Bay
Bench
Rocco Baldelli and Cliff Floyd are Tampa Bay’s best backups but Philadelphia can match them with Greg Dobbs, Geoff Jenkins and veteran Matt Stairs are an equal match.
Edge: Even
Manager
Deep-thinking Joe Maddon versus ‘Ordinary Joe,’ Charlie Manuel makes for quite a matchup! Both veteran baseball men are, not only excellent baseball managers, but even better managers of their players and their individual personalities.
Edge: Even
MLB World Series Odds in BetUS Sportsbook
Philadelphia Phillies +120
Tampa Bay Rays -150
Analysis: While the Tampa Bay Rays are the consensus pick to win this series – and are my pick as well – I will emphatically state that the Phillies have more than a fighting chance to surprise, considering how the Phillies have gotten this far without the best home run hitter in all of baseball, Ryan Howard, being on top of his game. If Howard gets hot, don’t be surprised if the Phillies walk away with all the marbles. Those are some big ifs and I always say that good pitching beats good hitting, I went against that conventional wisdom in both LCS matchups – and sure enough – the Phillies and Rays advanced.
In the end though, I think Tampa Bay’s home-field advantage – and spectacular pitching staff will get the job done to help the team win the first World Series title in franchise history.
I like the Rays in seven absolutely thrilling games.
