World Series game 3 preview: Odds, predictions and best bets
The 2023 World Series shifts to Phoenix on Monday evening for Game 3. The Arizona Diamondbacks are 1-1 in this series, having captured home field advantage by splitting two contests in Texas. The Rangers must win at least one game in the desert to get back home with a chance to win their first championship.
You have the chance for a great promo when you register with the Caesars sports betting app. New users get a $1,000 First Bet on Caesars. Use that wager (earned if your first bet loses) on the MLB World Series. Or, turn to one of the best MLB Betting Sites reviewed by the PennLive baseball betting experts to find the one that suits you. Even register at more than one to pile on more bonus betting credits.
After the D’backs split the two games in Texas, oddsmakers at FanDuel list Arizona at +118 but have the Rangers still favored. FanDuel is well known for its excellent selection of promos, especially now when all four major sports are in action. Be sure to take advantage
- Arizona (+118)
- Texas (-142)
Max Scherzer (0-1, 9.45 ERA, 6 K in 6.2 IP) vs. Brandon Pfaadt (0-0, 2.70 ERA, 22 K in 16.2 IP)
No one’s talking about this, but it needs to be said: Scherzer is a liability as a starter in this postseason. Sure, he’ll have a plaque in Cooperstown one day, but Scherzer hasn’t pitched well in almost eight weeks, and he’s still rusty after returning from a shoulder injury. In the postseason, Max has allowed 13 baserunners while only getting 20 outs, and he’s allowed seven runs and a pair of homers. Scherzer may not be hurt, but he’s definitely not the Mad Max any of us remember from his glory days. Bruce Bochy can’t afford to be sentimental in the Fall Classic, and needs to remove Scherzer at the first sign of trouble.
Pfaadt is another young D’back with nerves of steel. He hasn’t shrunk from the moment in October and the big stage. Most importantly, Arizona has won all four of the games Pfaadt has started this postseason. At Chase Field in Phoenix, Pfaadt has pitched 10 scoreless innings and allowed only four hits (no walks). If Texas doesn’t break through against Pfaadt tonight, this series will tilt to the NL champions.
Few players have ever had a sacrifice hit and home run in the same World Series. Veteran Evan Longoria produced a sacrifice in the Game 2 win. Now we need a home run from Longoria to win this three-leg World Series parlay. Ketel Marte has never failed to get a hit in a postseason game (he has a record 18-game PS hitting streak), and Alek Thomas is batting .400 in this series.
- Evan Longoria To Hit A Home Run
- Ketel Marte Total Hits Over 0.5
- Alek Thomas Total Hits Over 0.5
The odds on this parlay are +1300 from Caesars Sportsbook. A $20 bet would win $260
The Diamondbacks lineup is on the same page: every batter is taking the approach of putting the ball in play and trying to hit line drives. In Game 2, the Rangers only managed to strike out two Arizona batters. The D’backs 16-to-4 advantage in hits in that game was the third-highest in World Series history. The Rangers bullpen has actually pitched pretty well, outside of a terrible outing by Martín Pérez. So, it may be better for Bochy to pull the hook out for Scherzer sooner rather than later. The starting pitcher matchup favors the rookie Pfaadt in Game 3.
Expect the Diamondbacks to pull out their power game a bit more on Monday night, with at least a few taters to back a win in Game 3.
Think you know Penn State football? Play the PennLive.com Prop Bet Showdown for a chance to win prizes!
Sidelines Group provides PennLive with original sports betting, lottery and casino content including odds, analysis, predictions and reviews to educate bettors. Please bet responsibly.
If you have a gambling problem and are located in Pennsylvania, call 1-800-GAMBLER or contact the 24-hour helpline chat at https://www.pacouncil.com/chatline.
