2020-10-25 20:08:00 EDT
The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Tampa Bay Rays meet Sunday in MLB World Series Game 5 action from Globe Life Field.
In this championship matchup thus far, the Dodgers managed to win Game 1 8-3, but Tampa Bay evened it up with a 6-4 win during Game 2. In Friday’s Game 3 the Dodgers retook the series lead with a 6-2 win. In the Saturday Game 4, we had a World Series record eight straight half-innings with a run scored and Tampa Bay posted a walk-off win 8-7. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
The Dodgers had a 7-6 lead going into the bottom of the ninth inning and out-hit Tampa Bay 15-10 on Saturday, but still couldn’t come away with the Game 4 victory. Corey Seager and Justin Turner combined for eight hits with five runs and three RBI in the defeat. Starting pitcher Julio Urias went 4.2 innings with four hits, two earned, one walk and nine strikeouts.
In the Sunday Game 5 starting pitcher role, Los Angeles will send out Clayton Kershaw. In 2020 Kershaw went 6-2 in 10 starts with a 2.16 ERA and 62 Ks in 58.1 innings of work. So far this postseason Kershaw is 3-1 with a 2.88 ERA and 31 Ks in 25.0 innings over four starts.
Over on the Tampa Bay side, Game 4 starting pitcher Ryan Yarbrough posted 3.1 innings with five hits and two earned runs on Saturday. Randy Arozarena continued his playoffs tear with three hits, a solo homer and three runs, while Brandon Lowe posted a three-run homer.
In the Game 5 starting pitcher slot on Sunday, the Rays are going with Tyler Glasnow. This season Glasnow went 5-1 in 11 starts with a 4.08 ERA and 91 Ks in 57.1 innings. This postseason Glasnow is 2-2 in five starts with a 6.08 ERA and 33 Ks in 23.2 innings.
The Dodgers are 5-2 in their last seven playoff games and 43-14 in their last 57 overall. Los Angeles is 20-7 in their last 27 interleague games and 40-13 in their last 53 Sunday games.
Meanwhile, the Rays are 38-15 in their last 53 Sunday games and 45-19 in their last 64 overall. Tampa Bay is 3-5 in their last eight playoff games and the under is 3-0-1 in their last four during game five of a series.
PICK: I feel like the Dodgers are still the safer play here. Kershaw was used relatively sparingly in Game 1 and was effective on one run in six innings. As for Glasnow, he’s coming off an uncharacteristic performance in the Game 1 loss, giving up six walks and six runs over a tepid 4.1 innings. I like Glasnow to bounce back and have a better outing here, but I also like Kershaw to win the duel and put Los Angeles in position for a key Game 5 victory. Should be a tight, tense, lower-scoring game and a fun matchup to watch.
