Updated 2018 World Series Odds – October 23rd Edition

Posted by Derrick Harper on October 23, 2018 in

Before any game has been played in the 2018 World Series the current odds are in favor of the Red Sox. They are getting a -135 betting odds line, while the Dodgers are getting a line of +115. Much of this is probably due to the fact that the Red Sox rattled off four consecutive wins against the reigning champion Houston Astros to finish them off in their race to the World Series.

The Dodgers, on the other hand, were pushed to a game seven against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Red Sox have home-field advantage if needed, and a more rested team in general because of their dominant playoff push. Here are some things to watch out for in the series.

Updated 2018 World Series Odds – October 23rd Edition

Pitching duels for the ages

Game one starts out with each club’s ace squaring off against one another. Chris Sale is perhaps the most dominating strikeout pitcher we have today, while Clayton Kershaw would be nearly anyone’s first pick to start a crucial game.

Sale comes with an impressive 13.5 K’s through nine on average, while Kershaw boasts a nearly perfect 0.79 WHIP. These are truly two of the very best pitching on the brightest of stages.

Closers who leave nothing to chance

We know about Kenley Jansen from his historic run into the playoffs last season. The guy was nearly unhittable. Not bad for a guy who started out as a catcher. How about Craig Kimbrel though? Despite being hit around a little bit this postseason, he is a perfect 5 for 5 on save opportunities. When he is called to get the much needed final out, he delivers.

Dynamic hitters are aplenty

Manny Machado delivered a much-needed shot to the arm this postseason, but what about Cody Bellinger, Justin Turner, and Max Mincy? That’s just the Dodgers! What about the Red Sox? They have the most prolific lineup in baseball from the regular season.

The Red Sox are favorites to win the 2018 World Series.

Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez, and Xander Bogaerts can hit in the cleanup spot on any team in the league and happen to hit for the same squad. Neither team has an easy out in the lineup. This will truly be strength versus strength when some of these hurlers take to the mound.

Temperature could be a factor

The difference in temperatures between Los Angeles and Boston could be a huge home-field advantage for the Red Sox. Cold weather teams can play in moderate temperatures, but teams that don’t have a lot of experience in the cold, like say the team from Los Angeles, could struggle.

Keep in mind that Both teams played road games in a covered stadium in their last round. Both teams also happened to eliminate their opponents on the road in those covered stadiums. It will be 51 degrees come first pitch tonight. That’s a shock to a team like the Dodgers who haven’t played in sub 60-degree weather since Spring training.