Our World Series Game 2 Prediction is for the teams to score more than 8.5 runs as the Yankees try to even the series in Los Angeles against the Dodgers.
The Dodgers won a wild Game 1 when an injured Freddie Freeman evoked memories from the Dodgers’ last full-season championship in 1988 when Kirk Gibson hit a Game 1 walk-off, sparking the Dodgers to upset the heavily favored Athletics in five games.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone is being heavily criticized by fans and the media for using Nestor Cortes in the highest of high-leverage spots despite Cortes:
- Being a starting pitcher for most of the past five years
- Not pitching since Sept. 18 as he nursed a tender elbow
- Being a worse option than sidearming lefty reliever Tim Hill
In fairness, Freeman is 3 for 8 with a home run in his career against Hill. But before last night, Freeman was 1 for 3 against Cortes with a double.
Now the Yankees are down a game having wasted their ace Gerrit Cole and blowing two late leads.
Offshore Odds: Dodgers Favored to Take a 2-0 Series Lead
| Team | Run Line | Money Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yankees | 1.5 (-163) | +129 | O 8.5 (-122) |
| Dodgers | -1.5 (+143) | -140 | U 8.5 (+102) |
Yankees Try to Rebound With Unfavorable Pitching Matchup
New York will send lefty Carlos Rodon to the mound. He pitched solidly in the ALCS vs Cleveland.
His numbers against Los Angeles do not bode well, particularly against Kiké Hernandez (3 for 6 with 3 home runs), and Chris Taylor (5 for 9 with 1 home run). Shohei Ohtani is 1 for 3 vs Rodon with a home run.
In the positive column for the Yankees, Giancarlo Stanton’s postseason home run barrage continues after a majestic shot in Game 1 to give the Yankees a short-lived lead.
Boone’s inexplicable gaffes are a significant problem for New York. If he used Cortes because the front office analytics told him to do so, it’s bad. If he did it of his own volition, it’s worse.
Dodgers’ Yamamoto Will Try To Earn His Massive Paycheck
The Dodgers will counter with $325 million righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Yamamoto missed a chunk of his first MLB season with shoulder woes but has been healthy and pitching well since his return.
New York has had limited exposure to the Japanese righty. Jazz Chisholm is 1 for 4 with a home run against him. Aaron Judge faced Yamamoto twice and was 1 for 2 with a double.
The Dodgers’ relentless offense showed itself in Game 1 and has done so throughout the postseason. If Yamamoto can give them five or six innings, they will eventually get to Rodon given his propensity for surrendering home runs.
World Series Game 2 Prediction: Taking the Over for Runs Is the Wise Strategy
The Dodgers are likely to win, but the Yankees have been resilient all season. Given the shakiness and odd decisions both managers tend to make, hedging is the wiser strategy. Take the over 8.5 runs.
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