The Braves are two wins away from winning the World Series for the first time since 1995. Five pitchers combined on a two-hit shutout in Game 3 as Atlanta won 2-0 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
The Astros averaged 6.3 runs in the first 12 games of the postseason before their bats went silent on Friday. Houston also is trotting out forgotten man Zack Greinke to make the Game 4 start.
Prior to Game 3, you could have gotten -110 for the Over on 8.5 runs total. The Astros have scored at least five runs in 10 postseason games this October, a record. The Braves hit the second-most homers in baseball. But Mother Nature had other ideas, and the pitcher’s dominated on Friday as only two runners touched home plate.
The Astros looked like they were swinging limp noodles against Ian Anderson and the vaunted Braves bullpen. Officially they got two hits, but it was more like 1 1/2 hits, with one of them a blooper that split the defense. To see them get shut out on this big stage prompts many questions.
What’s wrong with Carlos Correa? Since his “watch-checking” homer in the AL Championship Series he hasn’t had many big moments with the lumber. Then there’s Alex Bregman, who had a weak groundball single in the ninth on Friday, but otherwise has been an easy out in this Fall Classic.
Both Correa and Bregman will need to have good at-bats in the next two games in Atlanta, or the Astros may not get this series back to Houston.
As for the Braves, they were able to get enough out of Anderson in Game 3 to spare the bullpen much work. That should play in their favor in Game 4 if a bullpen game is the plan. The Braves really don’t have much of a choice considering the injury to Charlie Morton. We could see Huascar Ynoa open or even Drew Smyly. Either way, the pitching matchup isn’t going to be anything close to World Series caliber.
So with that info, we can expect a lot of runs in this game. Both offenses have had strong games while the Astros struggled in the NL park last night. Atlanta has the momentum from last night and can get closer to winning the series in Game 5 at home, rather than have to go back to Houston. The Braves have the lefty bats to jump on Greinke early in this game and if the bullpen takes care of business, it could be a pretty easy win.
Prediction: Braves ML ; Over 8.5