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Welcome to the FTN’s free MLB Picks of the Day, featuring our favorite or best MLB bets today. FTN will be posting a play or two from the MLB card — for free!
Today, Eric Pauly provides his picks.
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Houston Astros at Philadelphia Phillies
Over 8 runs (-102, FanDuel Sportsbook)
After inclement weather postponed Monday’s World Series game, the Astros and Phillies face off for Game 3 Tuesday night. With Monday’s delay, both teams will head into this matchup with two days of rest, which is great for the pitching staffs. Lance McCullers Jr. will take the mound for the Astros, Ranger Suárez for the Phillies.
After winning seven straight games to start the postseason, Houston dropped Game 1 of this series at home. They took Game 2 5-2 and now look to swing the advantage back in their favor. The Astros went 51-30 on the road in the regular season and were one of the best road teams in baseball.
The Phillies stole a win in Houston, so now they head to Philadelphia having stolen home-field advantage from the Astros. The Phillies were 47-34 at home in the regular season and have not lost a home game in the playoffs. If Philly can take Game 3, they would be in a great position to win this series with three straight games in Philly.
McCullers made only eight starts this regular season, and now he will be tasked with shutting down one of the best offenses in baseball on the game’s biggest stage. In the playoffs, the Astros won both of McCullers’ starts and he allowed just three earned runs in 11 innings with 13 strikeouts.
In early October, McCullers faced the Phillies in the regular season and allowed one run on six hits in six innings in a Houston loss. On the road this season, McCullers pitched just 17.2 innings and he had a 3.57 ERA, a .268 batting average against, a .408 slugging percentage against, a 1.58 WHIP and a 3.74 FIP.
Suárez made a relief appearance in Game 1 and he allowed one hit in 0.2 innings of work. In his four appearances this postseason so far, Suárez has allowed three runs on six hits in 9.2 innings of work.
In early October, Suárez made a start against Houston and allowed six runs on seven hits in three innings of work in a loss. Suárez had a great regular season, but he was worse at home. His ERA jumps to 4.27, he has a .272 batting average against, a .410 slugging percentage against, a 4.00 FIP, and a 1.52 WHIP.
McCullers has been good in his limited action this season and Suarez has gotten better as the year progressed, but this is a spot for these offenses to reign supreme. Suárez is not the same pitcher at home as he is on the road and the Phillies have been mashing at home this postseason. 8 is a lot of runs, but I see this game going over.
Bet: Over 8 runs (-102, FanDuel Sportsbook)