The Braves are one victory away from a World Series championship. Can they close the deal at their home ballpark? Read this article to find out our predictions.
The team that had 88 wins and was far from a favorite entering the postseason is now just one win away from becoming the 2021 world champions of baseball. The Astros will be a difficult team to put away, but things are looking good in Atlanta right now as the Braves hold a 3-1 series lead.
Let’s look at the game preview and MLB betting odds for Game 5 of the World Series.
TOP #3 Sports Betting Sites to Bet on MLB
200% Crypto Bonus
Bonus Code “JOIN200”
* New customers only. Minimum Deposit of $100
250% Welcome Bonus
Bonus Code “WELCOME1”
1st Time Deposit
250% Welcome Bonus
Bonus Code “WILD250”
1st Time Deposit
Betting Odds & Betting Lines
Bovada sets the Moneyline for the Astros at -115 and the Braves at -105.
BetUS has not yet released odds for this game.
Braves Preview: Rely on the Bullpen
The Braves are going to go no holds barred from winning on Sunday. The last thing they want to do is send this series back to Houston and allow the Astros to gain momentum in front of their home fans. With Atlanta expected to implement a bullpen game once again due to the loss of Charlie Morton, expect Brian Snitker to turn to his best arms early and often.
The “Night Shift,” the nickname bestowed upon the Braves back end of the bullpen, has looked outstanding in the World Series. We will see the likes of Luke Jackson, A.J. Minter, Tyler Matzek, and Will Smith in Game 5 at some point as the Braves try to clinch the World Series championship.
Astros Preview: Get Back to the Basics
The Houston Astros feature one of the best offenses in baseball, yet it seems like almost the whole team is struggling right now. While there are a couple of exceptions, a .206/.291/.298 overall team slash line is not going to get the job done.
The hard reality is that the Astros hitters need to figure it out on Sunday or lose in the World Series for the second time in three years. The team needs to get back to the basics. These players are talented and experienced, and with some tinkering in the batting cage, they could completely turn this series around.
Game 4 Players to Watch
LHP Framber Valdez is the scheduled pitcher for Houston. Dusty Baker is hoping the left-hander can give him at least five solid innings of work on the mound. If Valdez can hold the Atlanta offense at bay, that could lead to a confidence boost for the whole team.
Braves Shortstop Dansby Swanson smashed a clutch home run in Game 4. Between Swanson’s excellent defense and solid offense, he is a key contributor for this team and will look to help lead the Braves to a Game 5 win.
If the Braves end up winning, it seems likely that the final out will be on a ground ball to Swanson. The ball always seems to find him in the pivotal moment, and you better believe he will be ready to make the play.
Prediction: Who Wins Game 4?
My MLB betting pick is for the Braves to wrap up the series on Sunday night. If I’m being completely honest, I was looking for a way to put my faith in the Astros for Game 5. But right now, this offense is in shambles, the bullpen has been questionable, and Valdez was far from excellent in his first start of the series.
Could the Astros pull out the victory and send the series back to Houston? Absolutely. But right now, this Braves squad is fired up, and I believe they can clinch the World Series at home in Game 5.
