2011 World Series Game 3 Free Pick
(The Spread) – Will tonight’s Game 3 be a high-scoring affair in Arlington like most expect?
ST. LOUIS: The Cardinals come into this game having blown a golden opportunity to take a 2-0 series lead on Thursday. Closer Jason Motte blew his first save opportunity of the postseason as the Rangers came back with two runs in the top of the ninth to erase a 1-0 St. Louis lead and earn a split in the series. Now St. Louis turns to their weakest starter in Kyle Lohse, who is 0-2 thus far in postseason starts.
TEXAS: Thanks to excellent base running and defense, the Rangers managed to escape St. Louis with a 2-1 victory in Game 2 and a 1-1 split in this best-of-seven series. Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus killed the Cardinals all night with outstanding defense and timely base running as they were the catalysts for Texas’ victory. Now, with momentum in their back pocket and home field advantage for the next three games, the Rangers hand the ball to Matt Harrison in Game 3.
View Current World Series Odds
ODDS: With the series now shifting to Texas, odds makers have installed the Rangers as -182 money line favorites in Game 3 on Saturday night. The Cardinals find themselves as +171 money line underdogs tonight, while the over/under total for this game is currently sitting at 9.5 runs.
FREE PICK: Everyone expects a high-scoring game tonight, which is understandable. We’ve yet to see the bats come alive in this series and both teams can drive in runs (especially with sluggers like Albert Pujols and Nelson Cruz on each side). Given the pitching matchup and the way the ball flies out of the park in Arlington, the over makes sense. That said, one of the reasons why the first two games have been low-scoring is because these two teams have never faced the opposing pitchers before. It’s taking batters one or even two times through the lineup to get their timing and pitch recognition down, and by that time it’s already the sixth inning in a low-scoring game. Thus, I recommend taking advantage of the inflated run total and going with the under. According to latest MLB trends, the under is now 5-1 in the Cardinals’ last six World Series games and 4-1 in their last five contests against the American League. The under is also 5-0 in the Rangers’ last five Fall Classic games and 4-0 in their last four games versus the National League Central.
2011 WORLD SERIES GAME 3 FREE PICK: CARDINALS/RANGERS UNDER 9.5
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