Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Toronto Blue Jays: World Series Game 2 Odds, Prediction
The Toronto Blue Jays struck first in the World Series as they take a 1-0 lead over the L.A. Dodgers into Saturday’s Game 2 from the Rogers Centre.
Addison Barger blew Game 1 open in what became a nine-run sixth inning for the Jays, giving Toronto their first World Series victory in 32 years.
It’s L.A., however, that enters Game 2 as -145 favourites to win on the MLB odds, with the total pegged at 7.5.
Betting Analysis
Despite taking the first game of the World Series, Toronto remains a +120 underdog on the MLB futures board, while the Dodgers are -145 favourites. It’s a minimal improvement on the series line after the Blue Jays entered Game 1 at +180, while Los Angeles was -220.
The Over has hit in three of four regular season and playoff games between these teams this season. Across those four games, the average game total is 10 runs, which makes sense given the offensive firepower in both lineups.
This remains a dangerous Dodgers squad as they are 9-1 straight up in their last 10 road games. However, they’re up against a Toronto team that is 9-2 SU in their last 11 home dates.
After three hits in Game 1, Alejandro Kirk is a +400 co-favourite with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (two hits in Game 1) to lead the series in hits.
My value play is George Springer to lead the series in home runs at +1000. Springer has four home runs in the playoffs and with Bo Bichette playing second base, that keeps Springer in the designated hitter role and allows him to focus on launching some Springer dingers.
Los Angeles Dodgers
It was a surprisingly rough performance from Blake Snell in Game 1. The Dodgers ace got out of early trouble by not allowing a run in the first inning despite loading the bases, but the Jays eventually broke through, with Snell giving up five earned runs over five innings.
Pulling Snell was the turning point of the game as Toronto beat up on L.A.’s struggling bullpen. The Dodgers were outscored 9-0 in the sixth inning and by the time Shohei Ohtani hit a two-run homer in the seventh, it was too late.
L.A. will turn to another elite starter for Game 2, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto getting the ball. Yamamoto has been a force for the Dodgers in the postseason, posting a 1.83 ERA across 19.2 innings pitched over three starts. Keeping Yamamoto in the game as long as possible and avoiding the bullpen will be key for L.A. in Game 2.
Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto let an early opportunity with the bases loaded get away from them but when they got on the board in the fourth inning, the floodgates opened. Barger’s grand slam, the first ever pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history, was part of an 11-0 run for the Jays across the fourth and sixth innings.
Bo Bichette returned to the lineup after missing almost two months, collecting a hit and a walk in two at-bats. Bichette played second base for the first time in the majors and looked solid with some key defensive plays.
It will be Kevin Gausman on the mound for Toronto in Game 2. Gausman has a solid 2.00 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 18 innings pitched in the postseason. He last pitched an inning of scoreless relief out of the bullpen in the Blue Jays’ Game 7 ALCS victory over Seattle.
LAD
TOR