The Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros will begin the 2021 World Series on Tuesday night with Game 1 from Houston. It’s time to continue our MLB odds series and make a Braves-Astros World Series Game 1 prediction and pick.
The Braves and Astros will battle for Game 1 on Tuesday night, with each team throwing one of their hottest starting pitchers to kick off the World Series. Atlanta will throw veteran ace Charlie Morton, a former Astro and key part of the 2017 World Series Championship team. The Astros will throw Framber Valdez, who has became their ace following the injury of Justin Verlander and the decline in performance from Zack Greinke. Game 1 of the 2021 World Series is sure to be a battle as each team will be looking to take a series lead. Freddie Freeman and Jose Altuve will each look to be a catalyst for their respective offenses as each team will look to bounce the opposing starter early.
Here’s how the bookmakers have set the Braves-Astros odds for Game 1 of the World Series.
MLB Odds: Braves-Astros Odds to win World Series Game 1
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Atlanta Braves +1.5 (-182), +116 ML | SP: Charlie Morton
Houston Astros -1.5 (+150), -136 ML | SP: Framber Valdez
Why the Braves can win World Series Game 1
Any time the Braves have Morton on the mound, they know they have a shot to win. The savvy veteran still throws hard, and has a wicked curveball to keep opposing hitters off balance. He was as good as ever in 2021, posting a 14-6 win-loss record to go with a 3.34 ERA and 216 Ks in 185 innings. Morton has plenty of postseason experience to boot, as this will be his third career World Series appearance and second in as many seasons (2017 w/ Houston, 2020 with the Tampa Bay Rays). The Braves should be in good shape on the mound Tuesday evening.
Then there's the Braves offense, led by Freeman and Austin Riley. Freeman and Riley carried the offense all season long, but it was Eddie Rosario who knocked out the Los Angeles Dodgers with his fantastic NLCS MVP performance. Rosario proved to be the toughest out in the lineup for the Dodgers, as he set a record for hits by a Braves player in a postseason series, and also delivered the big home run in Game 6 that put Atlanta in the lead and they never looked back. Atlanta also presumably gets Jorge Soler back in the lineup for Game 1 and Game 2 as a DH in Houston, so that will be big as well.
Why the Astros can win World Series Game 1
The Astros come into this series having scored 27 more runs than the Braves during the postseason. Albeit they didn't face the Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers, two teams who may have had the best pitching in the majors this season, Houston lit up the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox offensively. They have a deep lineup, and lots of plate discipline to drive up pitch counts and get into opposing bullpens.
Altuve, Carlos Correa, Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez have been a four-headed monster at the plate this postseason, and you can't forget about Alex Bregman either. Valdez will look to give Houston some quality innings to give their offense a chance to go out and get them a series lead in Game 1.
Final Braves-Astros World Series Game 1 Prediction & Pick
Morton has the postseason experience and moxie, so ride with him and the Braves tonight in Houston.
FINAL BRAVES-ASTROS WORLD SERIES GAME 1 PREDICTION & PICK: Braves +116 ML
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