Astros Win World Series, Among Favorites to Repeat in 2018

Posted on: November 2, 2017, 02:00h. 

Last updated on: November 2, 2017, 10:50h.

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Expertise: Commercial Gaming.

The Houston Astros jumped out to an early lead and were able to keep the Los Angeles Dodgers offense at bay, winning Game 7 by a 5-1 score to earn the first World Series title in franchise history.

While the game lacked the thrilling back-and-forth action that punctuated much of the series, there was still plenty of drama from start to finish. Houston jumped out to a 5-0 lead, knocking Los Angeles starting pitcher Yu Darvish out of the game in the second inning, the second early exit for Darvish in the series.

Astros Staff Keeps LA Offense in Check

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was able to restore order, coming into the game in relief to pitch four scoreless innings. But while the Astros would be held off the board for the remainder of the game, the Dodgers were unable to take advantage. Despite getting multiple runners on base early in the game, they failed time and again to push runners across the plate.

In the end, Houston also turned to a starting pitcher to close out the game. After a solid start in Houston’s Game 4 loss, Charlie Morton came back to pitch the final four innings of Game 7, allowing just one run and two hits on the way to earning the win.

For many of the Houston players, the win had extra significance, as they hoped it could bring some joy to their fans in a city still recovering from Hurricane Harvey.

“I always believed that we could make it,” said second baseman Jose Altuve. “We did this for them.”

Dodgers Were Favored in Final Game

The result was a minor upset, as bookmakers had Los Angeles listed as a modest favorite playing at home in the decisive game. According to OddsShark, the Dodgers closed as a minus-154 favorite on the money line. The low-scoring affair also paid off for bettors who took the under on the total of 7.5 runs.

One person who didn’t cash in on the results was the mysterious bettor who had won $14 million by correctly betting on the winner of each of the first six World Series games. The unnamed bettor, said to be an Eastern European man under the age of 30, decided not to push his luck further, cashing out his massive winnings instead of letting them ride on Game 7.

While the 2017 baseball season may have come to a close, it’s never too early to start betting on next year’s action, and several sportsbooks are already offering odds on the winner of the 2018 World Series.

Despite their heartbreaking loss, the Los Angeles Dodgers are the early favorite at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, where gamblers can get 5-1 odds on the National League champions going all the way next year. The Astros are unsurprisingly among the favorites as well, with both they and the Cleveland Indians sharing 6-1 odds.

Other teams pegged as top contenders include the Washington Nationals, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago Cubs. For those looking for a longshot, the Detroit Tigers are available at 300-1, and are the only team with odds longer than 80-1.