In an absolutely wild and crazy Game 4, the Tampa Bay Rays squared the 2020 World Series late on Saturday night. Brett Phillips drove in the tying run, and the winning run came in on a pair of Dodgers errors on the same play in the bottom of the ninth for the 8-7 win in one of the best MLB matchups we’ve seen.
The series is now tied at two games each, as the two teams get together for Sunday’s game 5. The series is now a best-of-three, as whoever wins twice will become World Series champions.
Looking at the MLB odds, the Los Angeles Dodgers are once again favorites in this game. Los Angeles is listed at -159 over Tampa Bay.
Dodgers
Kershaw Taking the Bump
Clayton Kershaw gets another chance to shake the ghosts of the postseason for him. Kershaw is coming off a great outing in Game 1, going six innings and allowing six hits and just a single run.
In the postseason, Kershaw has allowed eight runs in 17 innings. The 32-year-old left-hander is from Dallas, so there is no doubt he wants to win this at home.
Corey Seager is on fire for the Dodgers in the World Series. He is coming off a four-hit game and has been the steady source in the Los Angeles lineup.
He and Justin Turner each had four out of the 15 hits for the Dodgers in the Game 4 loss. Los Angeles will look to get more from their right fielder Mookie Betts, who went 0-5. Betts is 4-for-17 in the first four games.
An offensive key for the Dodgers will need to be Joc Pederson. While he will likely get removed late in the game, Pederson, hitting left-handed, needs to take advantage of facing right-handed pitching. Pederson had two hits in Game 4 and is 3-for-8 this series.
Rays
Glasnow Takes Game 5 for Rays
Tyler Glasnow gets the start for the Tampa Bay Rays. Glasnow also threw in Game 1 and was roughed up. He allowed six runs in the game in just 4 1/3 innings.
The 27-year-old right-hander struck out eight batters but walked six. He has made four starts this postseason, with a 2-1 record. Glasnow went 5-1 during the regular season, with a 4.08 earned run average.
Who in the world is Brett Phillips? Well, the game-winning hit Saturday came in his first at-bat since Oct. 7. He got two at-bats in the divisional series against the Yankees but was not on the Rays ALCS roster against the Astros. Phillips is now 1-for-3 in the 2020 postseason.
The big name for Tampa Bay, of course, is Randy Arozarena. He picked up three more hits in the Game 4 win, including another home run, and scored the game-winning run after drawing a ninth-inning walk.
The Rays would love to see Brandon Lowe continue to heat up. Lowe had a terrible series against Houston but now has three home runs and six runs batted in this World Series. Hunter Renfroe also went deep in the Game 4 win, his first hit of the postseason.
Pick and Prediction
It is going to be hard to top the mayhem that went on Saturday night in Arlington. The Rays have the momentum, but as we know, momentum is only as good as the next day’s starting pitcher. That’s Kershaw, one of the best left-handers to pitch in Major League Baseball.
We all know about Kershaw’s postseason issues. But, we feel he is going to put those behind him. Kershaw leads again, and the Dodgers get him enough help.
In making our MLB picks, we think Los Angeles wins Game 5 and moves ahead 3-2 in the series. Bet the Dodgers -159.
