Phillies vs. Astros Game 1 Odds
| Phillies Odds | +140 |
| Astros Odds | -166 |
| Over/Under | 6.5 (-124 / +102) |
| Time | 8:03 p.m. ET |
| TV | FOX |
The Phillies and Astros were separated by 19 wins in the regular season, but they still faced similar paths in getting to the World Series. In Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Round, the Phillies trailed the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 in the top of the ninth inning. The Astros trailed the Seattle Mariners 4-0 and then 7-2 in Game 1 of the ALDS.
The Phillies scored six runs in the top of that ninth inning and prevailed by a 6-3 final score. That sparked the run as Philadelphia has won nine of its 11 postseason games. Houston rallied in the bottom of the ninth on a three-run home run by Yordan Alvarez. The Astros still have yet to lose this postseason and are 7-0 overall.
Now, something must give as these two teams with two combined losses in the postseason face off. One of them must lose four games while the other will be crowned World Series champions.
You may be excited for the start of the World Series in general, but you can make it more fun by betting a same-game parlay. Here is what I have come up with.
The Parlay (+878):
- Bryce Harper to Record 2+ Total Bases
- Yordan Alvarez to Record 2+ Total Bases
- Aaron Nola over 5.5 Strikeouts
Same-Game Parlay – Phillies vs. Astros Game 1
Bryce Harper to Record 2+ Total Bases
Bryce Harper has been the talk of baseball since he was a 16-year-old baseball prodigy in Las Vegas. However, few could've predicted Harper what he has done this postseason. He is hitting .419 with five home runs, 11 runs batted in and 1.351 OPS. His home run in the bottom of the eighth inning in Game 5 of the NLCS sent the Phillies to the World Series.
Harper enters the World Series riding a 10-game hitting streak. Here, we need just need two bases, which works well because Harper can get there multiple ways. Of his 18 hits this postseason, 11 of them have gone for extra bases with six doubles and five home runs. He also has seven multi-hit games in his last 10 games.
Harper has not seen much of Justin Verlander as he has spent his entire career in the National League while Verlander has been in the American League. However, he is 2-for-5 against him in limited at-bats. Whether Harper doubles, homers, or just gets two singles, he is an excellent candidate to record two total bases.
Yordan Alvarez to Record 2+ Total Bases
Yordan Alvarez was one of my favorite hitters to bet on this season as he was one of the most consistent hitters in the major leagues. He finished sixth with 37 home runs and second with a 1.019 OPS. He averaged 2.13 total bases per game this season and it was plus money most of the year.
In the postseason, Alvarez has been fine, although not as dominant as he was in the regular season. He is hitting .241 with two home runs, eight runs batted in and a .889 OPS. An 0-for-7 game in the 18-inning marathon against Seattle will hurt the average a bit. However, Alvarez still has seven hits in seven postseason games and four of them have gone for extra bases.
Alvarez is 1-for-3 against Aaron Nola and he beat up on right-handed pitching this season. He hit .299 with 16 doubles, 27 home runs, and a 1.030 OPS against right-handers this season. He is coming off a two-hit outing in game four against the Yankees. I like him to continue his momentum in game one of the World Series.
Aaron Nola Over 5.5 Strikeouts
Aaron Nola has made two starts against the Astros in his career. He has yet to allow a run in 12 2/3 innings and he has 19 strikeouts as well. His last start against the Astros was pretty memorable for Phillies. Amidst the team slumping, Nola tossed 6 2/3 innings of two-hit ball and struck out nine. In the process, he ended the Phillies' 10-year playoff drought and launched this magical run.
In the regular season, Nola was a consistent source for strikeouts. He finished fourth in the major leagues with 235 strikeouts. In Game 1, we need six strikeouts from Nola, which he has covered in all three of his postseason starts. He also record six strikeouts in 25 of his 32 starts in the regular season
Nola is a workhorse for the Phillies and he pitched at least six innings in two of his three starts this postseason. He was well on his way towards reaching the sixth inning before a rough fifth inning in game two of the NLCS. The longer Nola goes, he will be more likely to record six strikeouts and hit this over.
