The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t look that dominant to start this season. That says more about the 2017-22 Dodgers than it does about this year’s team.
Over a span of six seasons, the Dodgers won 100 games four times. One of the seasons they failed to reach 100, they posted a .717 winning percentage and won a World Series in the COVID-shortened season. For most of this season, the Dodgers were good, but not at that 100-win pace.
They might make a run at 100 wins after all and be well in the mix for a World Series title. The Dodgers won their ninth straight game on Tuesday night and are just 4.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves for the best baseball record. The Dodgers are a -250 favorite at BetMGM on Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Brewers, who lead the NL Central.
The Dodgers are also close behind the Braves in World Series odds. Atlanta is +325 to win it all and the Dodgers are second in line with +450.
A key to the Dodgers’ title hopes is Clayton Kershaw, who is Wednesday night’s starter. Kershaw was again very good and was in the Cy Young race before an injury kept him out of the game all July. He had a successful return against the Colorado Rockies last week, allowing a run in five innings. The Dodgers’ pitching start wasn’t great and they didn’t add a front-line starter at the trade deadline (Eduardo Rodriguez was due to come off the Detroit Tigers, but he wouldn’t waive his no-trade clause), so Kershaw will spend the rest of be the team’s trump card for the season.
The Dodgers begin to make their move. They are at 72-46 and another 100-win season is within reach. It’s not one of the best Dodgers teams in recent years, but it’s still good enough to win a title.
Here’s the first look at Wednesday’s sports betting:
Rest of the MLB schedule
There are four afternoon games in MLB. The best game between the matinees is the Tampa Bay Rays at the San Francisco Giants. The Rays and Giants split the first two games of the series, and they both have a -110 chance of winning game three on Wednesday.
There’s a good pitching game in Toronto, where Aaron Nola of the Philadelphia Phillies takes on Kevin Gausman of the Toronto Blue Jays. The Blue Jays are a -150 home favorite.
What’s the best guess?
I take on the Houston Astros at -115 against the Miami Marlins. The Astros have Justin Verlander on the mound and he has a 1.95 ERA for the past month. Marlins starter Jesus Luzardo has been struggling a bit lately, making Houston even easier to play.
