Is this weekend a preview of the World Series?
The Atlanta Braves and Tampa Bay Rays kick off a three-game series in Tampa this weekend as Charlie Morton takes on Tyler Glasnow.
The Braves have the best record in baseball at 58-28 thanks to an incredible summer run. The Braves are 25-5 in their last 30 games and are as good on the road (28-13) as they are at home (30-15).
The Rays have the second-best record in baseball at 57-33 and are the best team in home baseball at 34-13. Tampa is just 16-14 over its last 30 games after an incredibly hot start and enters Friday night’s game on a five-game losing streak. The Rays lost to the Phillies on Thursday.
Besides having the two best records in baseball, the Braves and Rays also have the best World Series odds on BetMGM. Atlanta is +375 to win the World Series while Tampa Bay is +450 to win the first World Series in franchise history.
The Braves are slight National League favorites ahead of the Dodgers (+500 to win the World Series) while the Rays are the clear favorites in the American League. The Rangers are the AL’s No. 2 favorite at +900 to win the World Series.
On Friday night, the Rays are slight favorites to pick up the win. Tampa Bay is -115 to win outright while the Braves are -105. If you want to take the running line, the Braves have +150 to win by two or more points and the point total is 8.5.
Glasnow enters the game with a 4.50 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 36 innings pitched so far this season. Morton has already thrown 90.2 innings and struck out 105 batters, though he’s also walked 40. He has a 3.57 ERA but walks a tightrope with a 1.44 WHIP.
Other MLB Action
Two of baseball’s most iconic franchises face off at Yankee Stadium as the Cubs visit the Yankees this weekend. New York is at -175 to win outright while a Cubs victory on Friday night is at +145.
The battle for Los Angeles is also on the table this weekend as the shorthanded Angels visit the Dodgers. Like the Yankees, the Dodgers are at -175 to win while the Angels are at +145.
A rebound from Cam Young to John Deere?
2023 hasn’t been Cam Young’s year so far, but he enters the second round of the John Deere Classic as the favorite to win the tournament. Young shot a 6-under 65 on Thursday to rank third behind Jonas Blixt’s 62. Young is now +550 to win the tournament on a fairly thin field as the PGA Tour heavyweights take the weekend to cross the Atlantic to begin preparation for the Scottish Open and British Open.
Who cashed the tickets on Thursday?
Three teams won in extra innings on Thursday. The Reds beat the Nationals 5-4 in 10 innings, the Phillies won in 11 innings and the Blue Jays beat the White Sox 6-2 in 11 innings. The Baltimore Orioles smoked the Yankees 14-1