Brewers Seek to Extend World Series Lead in Game 3
Milwaukee looks to go up 3-0 on Tampa Bay, with both teams expected to score early.
The World Series has delivered close contests through its first two games, with the Milwaukee Brewers holding a 2-0 series lead over the Tampa Bay Rays. Game 3 shifts to Tropicana Field, where the Brewers will start pitcher Robert Gasser against the Rays' Freddy Peralta.
Oddsmakers favor the Brewers to win the series, with FanDuel Sportsbook listing them as -660 favorites entering Game 3, while the Rays are +500 underdogs. For Game 3 specifically, the Rays are favored at -120, with an over/under of 6.5 total runs.
Historically, teams that fall behind 0-2 in the World Series have a slim chance of recovery; only 10 teams have ever come back from such a deficit, and it has not happened in 30 years. The Brewers have demonstrated resilience in the series, overcoming late challenges in Game 1 and quickly erasing a four-run deficit in Game 2.
Both offenses have shown a propensity for early scoring. In the regular season, Tampa Bay and Milwaukee ranked among the top 10 MLB teams in first-inning batting average, on-base percentage, and runs batted in. The Rays have been the most prolific first-inning scoring team in the postseason, and the Brewers have already scored four first-inning runs against them in the first two games.
The Rays are expected to push for an early lead at home to avoid a potential 0-3 hole. Despite a slow start to the series, Yandy Diaz, who posted .318/.389/.531 splits at home during the regular season, is anticipated to perform better in front of the home crowd.
A prediction suggests that runs will be scored in the first inning of Game 3, with the odds for this outcome available at +110. This projection is based on the early offensive aggression displayed by both teams throughout the series and in the postseason.