Brewers (Woodruff) vs Dodgers (Kershaw) Game 2 Picks and Odds – Oct 1st
- The Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers play Game 2 of their National League Wild Card Series at 10:08 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 1)
- Clayton Kershaw will be the starting pitcher for the Dodgers while Brandon Woodruff start for the Brewers
- For odds, analysis and a best bet for the game, check out the article below
The Los Angeles Dodgers will look to close out the visiting Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 of their National League Wild Card series at 10:08 p.m. ET on Thursday (Oct. 1) at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers notched a 4-2 victory Wednesday in Game 1 of the best-of-three series.
Left-hander Clayton Kershaw is slated to start Game 2 for the Dodgers. Right-hander Brandon Woodruff will pitch for the Brewers.
Here is a look at the Brewers vs Dodgers odds:
Brewers vs Dodgers Game 2 Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Runline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Brewers | +205 | +1.5 (-120) | O 7.5 (+100) |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | -245 | -1.5 (+102) | U 7.5 (-121) |
Odds taken Oct. 1
Dodgers Win Series Opener
Corey Seager homered and Mookie Betts had two hits and RBI to lead the Dodgers to victory in Game 1.
The Dodgers jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, parlaying Betts’ leadoff doubles with four walks by left-hander Brent Suter. Will Smith and AJ Pollock drew walks with the bases loaded.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtkoD1v3yj0
Suter wound up allowing three runs and three hits in 1.2 innings. He had five walks and no strikeouts.
Betts doubled in a run in the second to increase the Dodgers’ lead to 3-0.
Orlando Arcia’s two-run home run in the fourth drew the Brewers within 3-2. However, they never scored again and Seager hit a solo shot in the seventh.
Julio Urias pitched three scoreless relief innings for the win.
Not Mr. October
Kershaw has been one of the best pitchers of his generation. He was the 2014 NL MVP, has won three Cy Young Awards and been selected to eight All-Star Games.
However, the one blemish on Kershaw’s resume is that he has not been good in the postseason. In 32 career playoff games, including 25 starts, he is 9-11 with a 4.43 ERA.
Clayton Kershaw Postseason ERA by series:
NLDS: 3.99
NLCS: 4.61
WS: 5.40As a baseball fan, I hope he can turn it around this year. pic.twitter.com/RIu4PWuwnt
— Cardinals Stats And Facts (@STL_Stats_Facts) September 30, 2020
During the regular season this year, Kershaw was excellent with a 6-2 record and 2.16 ERA in 10 starts. He struck out 62 in 58.1 innings.
However, he matched a season high by allowing four runs – though only one was earned – in four innings in last start Sept. 25 against the Los Angeles Angels.
Kershaw has made 15 regular-season starts against the Brewers, compiling a 6-5 record and 2.87 ERA. He also went 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA against them in three appearances during the 2018 National League Championship Series.
Brewers outfielder Avisail Garcia has been perfect against Kershaw, going 4 for 4 with a double and two walks in six career plate appearance. Outfielder Christian Yelich is hitting .500 (9 for 18) with a double and two homers.
Woodruff Finished Strong
Woodruff’s best start of the regular season was his last one in a must-win situation against the Cardinals on Sept. 26th at St. Louis. He pitched eight shutout innings and struck out 10.
Brandon Woodruff, Painted 97mph Fastball. 🎨 pic.twitter.com/tAbFHINqnv
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 27, 2020
Overall, Woodruff was 3-5 with a 3.05 ERA in 13 games. He had 91 strikeouts in 73.2 innings but went winless in five straight starts before beating the Cardinals.
Woodruff has made just one start and one relief appearances against the Dodgers in the regular season, compiling a hefty 9.39 ERA. However, he had a 1.93 ERA in three relief outings against LA in the NLCS in ’18.
No Dodgers hitter has a long history against Woodruff, but outfielder Joc Pederson is 3-for-3 with two home runs.
Brewers Banged Up
The Brewers did not put rookie reliever Devin Williams on the 28-man roster for the series because of a tender shoulder.
That is a big loss because Williams is a strong NL Rookie of the Year candidate. He was 4-1 with an 0.33 ERA in 22 games during the regular season and had a whopping 53 strikeouts in 27 innings.
Hitters are 1-for-59 with 41 Ks against Devin Williams' changeup. 😱
(MLB x @HankookTireUSA) pic.twitter.com/dUEi7S51hS
— MLB (@MLB) September 23, 2020
Right fielder Ryan Braun was lifted for a pinch hitter in the fifth inning of Game 1. That move came after he banged his shoulder into the fence while catching Will Smith’s long drive to end the second.
Left-hander Brett Anderson, who was originally scheduled to start a Game 3 if necessary, will not be able to pitch in the series because of a blister on his left index finger.
Kershaw’s postseason record is spotty, but he is pitching well in the pandemic-altered 2020 season. Look for him to put the finishes touching on a two-game sweep.
The Pick: Dodgers (-245)
John Perrotto has been covering and writing about sports for various outlets for over 40 years. His work has appeared in the likes of USA TODAY, ESPN.com, SI.com, Forbes.com, The Associated Press, Baseball Digest, and more. John is based out of Beaver Falls, PA.
