With the Boston Red Sox now leading the World Series 3-2 against the St Louis Cardinals, Boston is closing in on victory as they head home for the deciding game six (8.40pm ET, Wednesday).
After finishing the season with the best record in the American League, Boston garnered favorite status in the pre-postseason odds. They entered the postseason as 5/7 to win the World Series and are now on the brink of justifying that confidence.
Can Anybody Stop Michael Wacha?
The St. Louis Cardinals entered the World Series with two aces and so far it has been the performance of the second ace that has kept the team alive.
Michael Wacha (pictured), who had started just nine regular season games before being given the ball for his postseason start against the Pittsburgh Pirates, has been crucial for St. Louis. He was trusted with the ball in the do-or-die game five of the Pittsburgh series and will once again be on the mound in a do-or-die game for St. Louis in the World Series.
So far in this postseason, the 22-year-old Wacha has been spectacular. He has pitched in four games, 27 total innings and has allowed just three runs on 11 hits. He has received the winning decision in each of his starts.
Wacha has been unstoppable and really is the best person for St. Louis to have on the mound if they hope to extend this series to a pivotal game seven. The only solace for Boston is that of his postseason starts, the two runs and seven baserunners the Red Sox managed, are the most in any single playoff game for Wacha.
David Ortiz: The Difference Maker
Prior to the start of the 2013 Fall Classic, Red Sox DH David Ortiz was the favorite to win the MVP honors. If his performance so far has meant anything, a Red Sox win Wednesday would ensure that he took home the hardware.
While his postseason numbers had been lackluster at best before the World Series, Ortiz has caught fire and unfortunately for the Cardinals, they haven’t figured out a way to put him out. The Boston slugger is hitting at a line of .727/.750/1.364 in the four games he has played in. He has eight hits, two of which are home runs and another four walks. Most importantly though, Ortiz has no strikeouts in 11 official at-bats.
Unless St. Louis can find a way to cool off Ortiz, it is going to be a long flight back to Missouri and one that will be without a championship.
Cardinals v Red Sox, Game 6 Betting Picks
While home field advantage has been a crapshoot at best in the World Series, Boston looks primed to use theirs to take home the title. Playing at Fenway Park has always favored the home team and this has been the case in the 2013 postseason as well.
Both teams are quite evenly matched but the secret weapon in this one really is Wacha. The St. Louis offense behind their ace will muster enough runs to get Wacha his landmark fifth postseason win and the Cardinals will stave off elimination at least one more day.
- Take St. Louis on the moneyline @ odds of +110 with BetOnline to win over Boston.
- Also, considering the scoring nature of these last six games, take the under seven projected runs @ betting odds of -125 with BetOnline on the runline.
Marilee writes on NFL, MLB, NBA & tennis for USA Betting. Another area of her sporting journalistic expertise is pro wrestling. A native of Philadelphia and a big Eagles fan, she has been a sports writer for many major websites including Bleacher Report and Rant Sports. She started her journalistic career early, as sports editor for her college newspaper.