Best MLB Bets Today | MLB Picks, October 27

The most unprecedented World Series matchup we’ve seen in years begins on Friday. The Arizona Diamondbacks will travel to Texas to battle the Rangers. Texas was a team expected to be in the running in October, but very few believed Arizona had any chance to make the postseason.

Arizona deserves to be treated with respect based on what they’ve done thus far in the playoffs. They swept Milwaukee and Los Angeles before beating the Phillies in seven games. The Diamondbacks may be a team of destiny, and we will find out over the next week.

Arizona Diamondbacks @ Texas Rangers

• Time: 5:07 PM ET
• Starting Pitchers: Zac Gallen (ARI) vs Nathan Eovaldi (TEX)
• Moneyline: Diamondbacks (+142) | Rangers (-168)
• Run Line: Diamondbacks +1.5 (-146) | Rangers -1.5 (+122)
• Total: Over 8 (-120) | Under 8 (-102)

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. See other MLB Sportsbook for more betting opportunities!

My Pick: Rangers -1.5 (+122)

The Arizona Diamondbacks are playing with nothing to lose heading into the World Series. However, their run should come to an end against the Rangers. Texas is an excellent team with the offense to dominate Arizona.

The reason the Diamondbacks were so successful against the Phillies wasn’t just because they outplayed their opponent. The Phillies offense was horrendous, and there is no excuse for Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos, Trea Turner, and Kyle Schwarber getting a combined one hit in games six and seven.

The Rangers consistently hit against Houston’s best pitchers. They have a shaky bullpen, but they shouldn’t have to get into it much with Nathan Eovaldi on the mound. Playoff Nate is built for the big October moments.

His playoff history dates back to 2018 when he recorded a 1.61 ERA and a 0.81 WHIP with the Red Sox during their World Series run. He has also been excellent this season in the playoffs, with a 2.87 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP.

Zac Gallen will take the ball for Arizona, and he hasn’t figured things out in October. He has a 5.24 ERA in 22.1 innings with a 1.48 WHIP. His K/9 rate is shockingly low at 5.24. This is one of the most talented pitchers in baseball, but he has struggled in the playoffs and on the road.

Game 1 of the World Series is the most pressure Gallen has faced in his career. He is also on the road in a hostile environment against a great offense. The Rangers have batted .265 in the playoffs with a .344 team OBP. They have also blasted 22 homers and have a ton of momentum with players like Adolis Garcia and Corey Seager.

Ketel Marte has been great for the Diamondbacks. Corbin Carroll came alive later in the Phillies series, but the Rangers deserve the nod at home. The moneyline price is juiced, and the Diamondbacks deserve respect, so we’ll lean toward the run line for the plus price.

The Phillies easily covered the run line in the first two games of the NLCS at home. Their fate will be similar in the first contest of the World Series.

Nathan Eovaldi Over 5.5 (+104)

Nathan Eovaldi has been one of the best pitchers in the playoffs this season. If there is one pitcher we trust with a prop bet, it’s Nathan Eovaldi. He has made four starts in the playoffs and exceeded 5.5 strikeouts in three of the games.

The one game where he didn’t hit the total was in his second start versus the Astros. It’s always hard to fool a lineup in back-to-back games, so this makes sense. The Diamondbacks offense was nonexistent until Games 6 and 7 of the NLCS.

We should see Eovaldi for an extended start in this game. The pressure is lower in Game 1 regarding managerial decisions, so even if Eovaldi struggles, he shouldn’t have a very short leash.