Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Friday 10/19/18
LEADING OFF: Dodgers face Miley for real, Granderson's grin
MLB Breaking News | 18th October 2018
FOR REAL THIS TIME
Wade Miley is ready for take two. The Brewers left-hander figures to see more than one batter in Game 6 of the NL Championship Series when he tries to help Milwaukee stave off elimination, down 3-2 to the Dodgers. Miley goes back to the hill two days after being lifted one batter into Game 5 in a designed move by manager Craig Counsell. Miley hasn't given up a run in 10 1/3 innings this postseason. The Dodgers are going with lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu in a rematch of Game 2 starters.
GRANDY'S NEW GRIN
Curtis Granderson is still smiling, even with a big chunk of his front right tooth buried somewhere in the infield at Dodger Stadium. The Brewers outfielder chipped a tooth during Game 5 when his helmet came off and bumped him in the mouth on a headfirst slide into second base. Los Angeles infielders Justin Turner, Manny Machado and Brian Dozier tried to help Granderson locate the missing piece of his tooth, but they came up empty. Granderson posted a photo on Instagram on Thursday showing off his new grin and promising to be ''cheesin' hard for game 6 tomorrow!''
WELCOME BACK
Boston got a boost when first baseman Mitch Moreland returned to the lineup Thursday night, a positive sign for the Red Sox as they play on in October. Moreland injured his right hamstring in Game 2 of the AL Division Series against the Yankees and didn't start again until Game 5 of the AL Championship Series in Houston, 11 days later. He immediately came through with two hits off Astros ace Justin Verlander. Moreland, a 2016 Gold Glove winner, made pinch-hitting appearances in each of the first four ALCS games.
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers Preview and Predictions 10-19-2018 in MLB
The Los Angeles Dodgers are one win away from a second straight trip to the World Series, but they will have to earn that victory on the road. The Dodgers will try to close out the best-of-seven National League Championship Series when they visit the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday for Game 6.
"It wasn't as easy maybe as last year to get to this point," Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw, who pitched a gem in Game 5, told reporters. "I realize we've got some work to finish it off and get back. It doesn't really matter how you get there, but thankful that we are here now, for sure." The Dodgers fell behind 2-1 in the series after dropping Game 3 at home but turned up the pitching over the next two contests and limited the Brewers to a total of three runs in 22 innings in the two wins. "We were unable to score enough runs, really, I think that was the bottom line of the three games here," Brewers manager Craig Counsell told reporters. "We gave ourselves a chance through obviously 12 innings (Tuesday) and six innings (Wednesday) to try to put ourselves in a good spot, and they've done a good job of holding us down offensively." Milwaukee will try to find a way to push some runs across against left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu while making some history by tossing lefty Wade Miley at the start in back-to-back games.
TV: 8:39 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (1-0, 1.59 ERA) vs. Brewers LH Wade Miley (0-0, 0.00)
Ryu tossed seven scoreless innings to earn a win over the Atlanta Braves during the NL Division Series but was not quite as sharp in Game 2 at Milwaukee. The South Korea native was reached for two runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision. Ryu did not allow more than two runs in any of his last five starts going back to the regular season and has yet to be reached for more than three earned runs on the season.
Miley started Game 5 but threw only five pitches, issuing a walk to Cody Bellinger, before being replaced by right-hander Brandon Woodruff in a surprise move designed to give Milwaukee a matchup advantage. "It's not my job to question it," Miley told reporters. "We're trying to get to the World Series. This is the strategic side of it. I was in. Everybody bought in." Miley dominated Los Angeles in Game 2, scattering two hits over 5 2/3 innings without factoring in the decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. Brewers star RF Christian Yelich is 3-for-20 without an extra-base hit in the series.
2. Los Angeles RHP Pedro Baez has thrown 6 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed a total of two hits with 10 strikeouts in six postseason appearances.
3. Milwaukee navigated Game 5 without using relievers Josh Hader, Corey Knebel or Jeremy Jeffress, and all three should be ready to go Friday.
PREDICTION: Brewers 4, Dodgers 2