Accuscore's MLB 2020 Championship Series Predictions

Four teams remain in the MLB’s expanded playoffs 2020 and the no.1 seeds from both leagues are still going strong. The Yankees put up an admirable fight against the Tampa Bay Rays, but the American League regular season winners held their ground and took a late 2-1 victory in the deciding game 5 of the divisional series. While being touted as one of the best pitching squads in the league, before the decider it was the Rays hitters coming in strong and outscoring the Yankees heavies in high-scoring fixtures. Pitchers then got the job done in game 5.

The lowest seeded team in the American League, Houston Astros sent Oakland Athletics packing, despite entering the playoffs with a losing record. Astros hitters found their form at the eleventh hour and blasted 33 runs against the A’s struggling pitchers allowing 3-1 win in the series. Astros pitching squad didn’t always impress, but with the firepower available, they seem capable of outscoring their opponents.

The National League was much more predictable and both favorites, Dodgers and Braves blew through without much trouble, sweeping their respective opponents Padres and Marlins in three. The top of the line pitchers were impeccable through the series and solid hitting provided all-around overwhelming displays against the much weaker opponents. But now the top teams face each other and it will be a whole new ballgame.

Accuscore’s Picks and Predictions

The Dodgers are still favorites to go all the way, but the Braves are putting up a remarkable challenge. We raised Braves as one of the dark horses (odds of +1700) in the World Series race before the season and they still have a chance. In the simulations, Dodgers take the series with 60% probability, with 4-2 being the most likely result with 20% probability. There is a tiny ounce of value in picking the Braves to surprise the Dodgers, with odds of +184 | 2.84 available – the value is less than 5% but there it is and at least to start with, the sharp money is supporting Braves as well . Another value bet could be made for Dodgers winning the series in seven games, with odds of +500 | 6.00 available, but the value is less than 2% here.

In the American League, it all seems very even throughout the simulations results. Rays are the favorites but only with a two-percent margin. We are likely to see six or more games with over 60% probability and it is going to be a thrilling series. The oddsmakers indicate Rays a clear favorite, so there’s a good opportunity to play against the house - like plenty of public bets seem to be - and take the Astros to end up in the World Series with odds of +140 | 2.40 available and some 6% of value to be gained compared to simulations and 48% probability to progress.For those loving the long shots, there’s some value in taking the Astros in five or six games, with odds of +800 | 9.00 and +750 | 8.50 – value is around 2-3% here.

With the Championship Series being as close as it is, there’s not much value in picking the World Series winners as of yet – or rather, anymore. Dodgers and Rays are the clear favorites and if we’d have to pick, we would still go with the Dodgers. Their probability to win is around 37% and the odds indicate closer to 40%, so there is no value to be had at the moment. Besides, we already took that value at +335 earlier on!

Expert Betting Analysis: Dodgers vs D-Backs

Written by Rohit Ghosh
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MLB Thursday: LA Dodgers vs Arizona D-Backs – Analyst Picks

With 80 wins already recorded on the season, the LA Dodgers head into Thursday's matchup with the Arizona Diamondbacks playing like title-level squad, making it impossible to keep pace with them in the standings. Their newest addition in Yu Darvish gets his second start for the Dodgers, matched up across from Arizona's Anthony Banda.

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Betting Trends

• The Dodgers are 44-8 in their last 52 overall.
• The Dodgers are 44-8 in their last 52 games on grass.
• The Dodgers are 43-8 in their last 51 games as a favorite.
• The Diamondbacks are 8-2 in their last 10 Thu. games.
• The Diamondbacks are 41-18 in their last 59 home games.

All of Today's MLB Picks: AccuScore's Baseball Picks

Trends vs AccuScore Sim Data

We’re always interested when we our simulation data goes against recent betting trends or Vegas odds makers. That’s exactly what we’ve got in tonight’smatchup with recent trends suggesting the UNDER on the total (9). The UNDER is 7-2 in Arizona’s last nine Thursday games as an underdog.

AccuScore sim data has the OVER as a two-star (out of four) hot trend, with about 54 percent of sims going OVER 9.

Vegas vs AccuScore

Despite the Dodgers playing at a ridiculous level right now, AccuScore sim data suggests a whole lot more value on the home ‘dogs than to Vegas odds. Arizona’s getting +170 on the money line at the time of publication, indicating about a 37 percent chance of winning. AccuScore sim data, however, has Arizona winning close to 49 percent of sims.

AccuScore would have listed the home ‘dogs at about +105, suggesting some good value on the +170 listed in Vegas.

MLB 2023 Playoffs: Rangers still favored by simulations

The MLB playoffs for the 2023 season have already provided quite a bit of surprising results, with plenty of underdogs sending the favorites packing early on. The regular season league leaders Baltimore Orioles of American League and Atlanta Braves of the National League, both with over 100 regular season wins, were ousted by the fierce dogs, the fifth seeded Texas Rangers and fourth seeded Philadelphia Phillies respectively. In addition, behemoths Los Angeles Dodgers, who claimed the second seed in the National League regular season fell to the sixth seed Arizona Diamondbacks – and it was not even close, as the D’backs swept the divisional round series 3-0 as did the Rangers against Baltimore Orioles.

The conference series of MLB playoffs sees the American League regular season second seeded Houston Astros hosting the best-of-seven battle against Texas Rangers and in the National League it is those hungry dogs facing each other in the dog-eat-dog contest between Philadelphia Phillies and the Arizona Diamondbacks. As mentioned before, Diamondbacks took everyone by surprise by sending Dodgers to an early holiday from the MLB playoffs by a clean sweep and the Phillies took down 2021 World Series winners Atlanta Braves 3-1. Reigning World Series champions Astros conquered Minnesota Twins in the divisional round with impressive 3-1 series victory, while Texas swept the shooting star of the season, Baltimore Orioles. Who would have thought, you might ask.

Well, Accuscore’s MLB playoffs predictions did. Texas Rangers were heavily favored by the simulations as an odds-underdog against the Orioles, with odds of -105 to win the series and odds of +600 to complete the sweep in three games. Accuscore’s simulations had Rangers 65.9% favorites to win the series with 20.5% probability to win it in three straight set. Hefty profits from this head-to-head covered some losses in the NL, with both Atlanta and the Dodgers picked to win their respective series in the MLB playoffs. Furthermore, the MLB playoffs predictions indicated Texas Rangers as a value pick for World Series as well, with odds of +700 at the time, currently those odds are slashed to +185 at Draftkings Sportsbook

The MLB playoffs Conference series are on their way and the Rangers have already proven not to be a fluke: they went to Houston and shutout the heavy hitting home team 2-0. Starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery led the way with six strikeouts and five allowed hits during his six innings and left a nice depleted field for the relievers Josh Sborz, Aroldis Chapman and José Leclerc. Jonah Heim’s single towards Mauricio Dubon was enough to allow Evan Carter to reach the home base on the top of 2^nd inning and the insurance score came by the bat of Leody Taveras, who homered to an empty field to make it 2-0 on the top of the 5^th inning.

Houston’s at bats were continuously left guessing by Montgomery and despite recording five hits, six runners were left on base. The pitching for the home team was exquisite despite the loss and veteran Justin Verlander stroke out five batters with an ERA of 1.42 – but it was not enough to secure the victory over the impeccable Rangers.

The second game of the series is played on October 16^th with Nathan Eovaldi stepping up on the mound for the Rangers and Framber Valdez getting the nod for the Astros. The odds are currently standing at +106 for the Rangers and -124 for the Astros at the Fanduel Sportsbook.

Accuscore MLB playoffs predictions indicate a coin flip of a match, with Astros being the moneyline favorites with 51.3% while the side value pick is marginally on the Rangers side with 48.7% and odds of +106 (48.5%).

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MLB Opening Day: Chicago Cubs vs Miami Marlins

The 2018 Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season officially kicks off this week on March 29. With all 30 MLB teams in action Thursday, let's take a closer look at two games and where the value's at. This year's opening day will be the earliest start to the season in league history. 

MLB Opening Day: San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers