The World Series continues in New York as the Yankees take on the Los Angeles Dodgers for Game 3.
Down 2-0 in the series, the Yankees are in what amounts to a must-win situation at home. They’re hoping to avoid a 3-0 deficit that few teams overcome. History offers some hope — the last two times the Yankees trailed 2-0 to the Dodgers in a World Series, they staged a comeback to take the series. So, there’s some hope for the Bronx Bombers.
With Game 3 on the line, this matchup sets up a huge clash between two of baseball’s iconic teams in what is shaping up to be one of the most entertaining World Series we’ve seen in a long time.
Moneyline: New York Yankees -145 | Los Angeles Dodgers +120
Spread: Yankees -1.5 (+145) | Dodgers +1.5 (-175)
Total: 8.5 runs
With home-field advantage, the Yankees are favored by the bookmakers despite trailing 2-0 in the series. For Los Angeles, a win would practically clinch the championship. Game 3 could be pivotal for either team’s path in this insane World Series showdown.
The Yankees are undeniably in a pressure-filled situation.
Returning to the Bronx offers a familiar advantage, where key players like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton typically perform at their best.
Judge, in particular, has been dominant at Yankee Stadium this season. He’s batting .328 with 31 home runs at home, making him a crucial player as New York looks to claw back into the series. Sure, he hasn’t been his normal self in the series, but if he gets hot, it’s lights out for the Dodgers.
The Yankees have historically turned around tough series at home, and their crowd could play a factor in energizing the team and rattling the Dodgers just as the Dodgers did to them back in Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers have been on a roll, winning both World Series games in Los Angeles and eight of their last ten postseason matchups. That’s the type of momentum you need to win it all.
Powered by consistent hitters like Freddie Freeman and Tommy Edman, their offense has been dynamic and nothing less than difficult for opposing pitchers to contain. Freeman, already a front-runner for World Series MVP, has two home runs (one of them a walk-off Grand Slam) and a triple across the first two games, continuing to find gaps in opposing defenses. Freeman’s hot streak poses one of the biggest challenges for New York, as he thrives in high-pressure moments and is a serious threat to add more to his postseason tally.
If the Yankees can contain Freeman, they might just have a chance.
There’s no doubt that the pitching duel between Walker Buehler and Clarke Schmidt is the primary factor influencing Game 3’s odds and outlook.
Buehler, the Dodgers’ starting pitcher, enters with shaky postseason numbers. He holds a 5.23 ERA on the season and a rough road record with a 6.53 ERA.
Though Buehler’s postseason experience is notable, he has shown struggles in recent starts, especially against patient batting lineups like the Yanks. Buehler’s high contact rate has also been a problem, and New York’s hitters, with one of the lowest chase rates in MLB, could be set to take advantage of his tendency to pitch on the edges.
Schmidt, on the other hand, has been a reliable if unspectacular starter for the Yankees.
Known for his steadiness, he’s given up more than 3 earned runs only once this season. With a 2.85 ERA, he’s demonstrated he’s got consistency.
While Schmidt isn’t necessarily overpowering, his job for Game 3 is to limit damage early and give New York’s hitters the chance to capitalize on their opportunities against Buehler. Schmidt’s performance could be enough to hold the Dodgers’ powerful bats in check, especially given that the Yankees won’t need him to go deep into the game if he can set up their bullpen.
The Yankees Moneyline (-155) is our pick for Game 3.
This selection comes down to the pitching matchup and the Yankees’ urgency. Buehler’s road struggles and vulnerability to high-contact lineups make this a difficult start for him against one of the most disciplined lineups we’ve ever seen.
New York’s tendency to draw out at-bats and make the most of mistakes should play a big role, especially with the confidence boost of being back at home in Yankee Stadium.
With Judge and Stanton leading a lineup capable of producing the big moments they need to stay in this series, we’re backing the Yankees to claim their first win in the series and keep their hopes alive. They’ll walk away from this game 2-1 and have renewed energy to take this game to Game 4.
Betting on New York to win here feels like the safest play given the circumstances. Yankees on the moneyline should be a pretty decent bet, considering the combination of home advantage and Buehler’s season-long struggles on the road.