Game 6 goes down in Houston on Tuesday night. The Braves are currently up 3-2, but momentum seems to have shifted to the Astros, who won Game 5 handily (giving Atlanta its first home loss of the postseason in the process).
Below are the up-to-date betting odds for Game 6, per online bookies. As you'd expect, the lines are close both ways.
Moneyline | Spread | Run Total | |
---|---|---|---|
Houston Astros | -121 | +1.5 (+160) | Over 9 (+100) |
Atlanta Braves | +111 | -1.5 (-180) | Under 9 (-120) |
2021 MLB World Series Game 6 — Run Total Betting Pick
Houston started Game 5 almost zombie-like after allowing a Grand Slam in the first inning. Then, in true Halloween spirit, the Astros rose from the dead and its vaunted offense came alive from there on out. They collected 12 hits on nine runs to stay in the series, forcing it back home. In the return game, they have a favorable matchup, too.
The Braves are giving the starting pitching nod to Max Fried. The last 27-year-old lefty last appeared in Game 2 and the Astros had their way with him. In the matchup, Houston tagged him for six runs on seven hits. Freid's ERA in the postseason is up to 5.40 now — a far contrast from his regular-season mark of 3.04. It's completely possible that fatigue has caught up to Fried after 32 starts and almost 190 innings thrown in 2021.
Speaking of fatigue, Houston's game 6 starter is likely feeling the same effect. Only three days after throwing almost four innings in Game 5, the Astros are putting Luis Garcia on the mound again. Garcia's control was off in that single appearance, evident by his 72 pitches thrown. It's a troubling sign, compounded by the fact Garcia only has one short-rest day start in his brief two-year career.
With both Fried and Garcia worn down, we think the offensive bats will reign supreme in Game 6. And for Houston, they finally get back their designated hitter spot that was absent during the three-game stretch in Atlanta. Bet the over with confidence here!
2021 MLB World Series Game 6 — Moneyline Betting Pick
Right before the Fall Classic began, we predicted that the Braves would defeat the Astros in seven games. Do you think our betting opinion has changed after five championship games? Nope, we're sticking with our guns! Obviously, for that exact scenario to play out, Houston has to win Game 6. We believe that's the likely outcome because as we said earlier, momentum is now on their side, while pressure has mounted on Atlanta big time.
Let's address the elephant in the room: the city of Atlanta are known chokers. Who remembers the Falcons blowing a 28-3 lead to Tom Brady in the Super Bowl? Or how about Georgia losing the NCAAF title to a rookie quarterback inserted at halftime? Heck, what about these same Braves losing a 3-1 series lead to the Dodgers in last year's NLCS? Those demons have to be seeping into the minds of current-day Atlanta Braves.
Psychological factors aside, we've said from the get-go that the Astros are the more talented team of the two. That hasn't changed, but now their sense of urgency has made it painfully clear. The fact Houston got three RBIs from catcher Martin Maldonado — a guy with a 1.72 hitting average this season — last game shows the desperation they're playing with.
We can't overstate the lasting effects of Game 5 enough. On one hand, Houston has their confidence back after a comeback win in which every player contributed to. Then on the opposite end, Atlanta has to be thinking to themselves "here we go again." With all that in mind, take the more experienced Astros to win here.
But hey, despite showering Houston with praise for much of this article, our Atlanta in seven prediction remains. In Game 7, all bets are off and everyone is nervous (even a battle-tested roster like the Astros). In that scenario, we're still giving the slight edge to the Braves' pitching staff.
How To Bet 2021 MLB World Series
Need a one-stop shop for getting baseball odds online? Welp, you'll get just that, plus more, at one of the bookmakers listed underneath. These betting sites have a full list of World Series Game 6 odds beyond the two we covered in this article. That includes props such as exact margin of victory or which player hits a home run first, among many other MLB bets.
But the "buck" doesn't stop there! Join one of the below bookies right now and you could earn hundreds to thousands of dollars in free play — all before you place a Game 6 wager! Free money can be redeemed through sign-up bonuses available to first-time players only. The underneath table has full details on what bonuses are currently available. Be sure to claim your prize before Tuesday's game so you can wager "on the house."