Trader: Pitcher Strikeout Totals for Game 3 Look Ripe for Opinion Betting
One trader stated that both pitcher strikeout totals appear ripe for some opinion wagering when Max Scherzer of the Blue Jays and Tyler Glasnow of the Dodgers square off, starting for their respective clubs in Game 3 of the World Series tonight in Los Angeles (8:00 p.m. EST).
There will be a lot of betting activity on the Blue Jays
Despite Scherzer's feistiness during the ALCS against the Mariners, when manager John Schneider attempted to remove him from the game in the fifth inning, Phill Gray is looking at Glasgow over 5.5 and Scherzer under 4.5, presuming he is on a short leash.
“There is a big price on the Jays given its a World Series series game, but the matchup does warrant it, at +165,” said Gray, the former head of trading operations at Sports Interaction, and an industry sports betting consultant. “I’d expect that to take some heavy action on the Jays’ side. Dodgers RL -1.5, at -103, the same.
“The Total is up to 8.5 now from the opener 8, and says the public was heavily in on that expecting a slugfest, with contrarian action certainly coming back on that from the pro bettors. There’s a strong pitching matchup, even given Scherzer’s age [41] and Glasnow’s dominance this postseason.
Bichette Back in the Starting Lineup
“There could be some perceived value in the Jays order for HR prices (most popular public prop) – Springer +460 Barger +600 Kirk +700 Bichette +700. Expect a few of those to get hammered from Jays backers.”
Springer remains at DH, while Bichette returns to the lineup, most likely beginning at second base. When he was hurt on September 6 against the Yankees, Bichette led MLB with 181 hits, a.311 batting average, 18 home runs, and 94 RBIs. Due to a knee injury, he was unable to play in the ALDS against the Yankees or the ALCS against the Mariners.
The Most Bet Prop for Ohtani HR
The Jays will probably have to face Yoshinobu Yamamoto again as early as Game 6 if they advance that far after the Japanese starting pitcher dominated them in Game 2 (5-1 Dodgers' win) and became the first pitcher since Curt Schilling (2001) to throw consecutive complete games in the postseason. Schneider's handling of him will continue to have a significant impact on the series.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Shohei Ohtani over 0.5 home runs +155 are the most popular bet props (tickets) at BetMGM. Max Scherzer Under 4.5 Strikeouts -175, Freddie Freeman Over 0.5 Home Runs +375, Bo Bichette Under 1.5 Total Hits, Runs, and RBIs -120, and Over 0.5 Home Runs +310.
Ohtani's one or more home runs, Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s one or more hits, George Springer's two or more total bases, Freddie Freeman's one or more RBIs, and Glasnow's six or more strikeouts are some of the most wagered player props at DraftKings.
The 6-foot-8 Glasnow has pitched 13.1 innings so far this postseason, giving up only one run while recording a 0.68 ERA, 18 strikeouts, and seven hits. Glasnow's record against the Blue Jays is 1-4 throughout his career.
Over the course of the two games in Toronto, Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freeman—the top three in the Dodgers' order—struggled. That won't last for long.
The Turn of MVP Futures
The ML Dodgers are -207 and the Jays are +167 according to DraftKings (RL Jays +1.5 at -115, Dodgers -1.5 at -105). The ML Dodgers are -205, the Jays are +172, the Jays are +1.5 at -120, and the Dodgers are -1.5 (+100) according to FanDuel.
In terms of World Series MVP prospects, Yamamoto's movement is intriguing since, as previously stated, if the series advances that far, he may receive another start in Toronto. With the exception of an HR in Game 1, which was already out of the Dodgers' grasp, Ohtani is +175 at ESPN BET despite being shut down in Games 1 and 2. Yamamoto is at +750, and Guerrero Jr. is at +500.
