MLB 2020 World Series Predictions: Tampa Bay Rays to Succeed in Slaying LA Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers will be back at the World Series plate for a third time in four seasons and will be -200 favorites to beat the Tampa Bay Rays to baseball’s greatest prize in 2020.

Dave Roberts’ side advanced to the final stage of a tumultuous 2020 season after coming back to beat the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, sealing a 4-3 win in the National League Championship Series. 

The @Dodgers are the 1st team to reach the World Series 3 times in a 4-year span since the Yankees from 2000-03. They're the 1st NL team since the 1963-66 Dodgers

The Dodgers hit 16 HR in the NLCS, matching the 2008 Rays for the most in a single series in MLB postseason history pic.twitter.com/dRFqbmoz1n

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 19, 2020

Tampa Bay booked their place in the MLB decider on Saturday following their win over the Houston Astros, taking a 4-3 triumph of their own in the American League Championship Series.

The star-studded Dodgers may be front-runners with the bookmakers, but the Rays look like a team capable of thriving on that underdog status, priced at +160 to take the series with Sugarhouse New Jersey. The Rays’ pitching corps in particular has the potential to slide this series in their favor despite the obvious offensive talents sat among the Los Angeles squad.

All games during this series will take place at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, due to coronavirus restrictions, meaning this will be the first World Series to be held at a neutral venue.

Rays vs. Dodgers World Series Schedule

• Game 1: Tuesday, October 20, 8:09 p.m. ET 
• Game 2: Wednesday, October 21, 8:09 p.m. ET 
• Game 3: Friday, October 23, 8:09 p.m. ET 
• Game 4: Saturday, October 24, 8:09 p.m. ET 

Prediction: Rays to win series 4-3

The Dodgers had the advantage of playing their division decider in Arlington, but the Rays stand to benefit in the short term after being the first team to advance to the World Series. One day of extra rest may not sound like much on the surface, but a tight 48-hour turnaround is sure to take effect with LA’s players following a gruelling test against the Braves.

Not often we get to see the two best teams in baseball play a 7 game series to decide the World Series but we get that this year. @RaysBaseball vs @Dodgers is going to be so fun to watch. As I see it:

Offense: Dodgers
Defense: Push
Starting pitching: Rays
Bullpen: Rays
Rays in 7

— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) October 19, 2020

Sugarhouse offers +340 odds that Tampa Bay will win Game 1 while there are under eight total runs scored. The Rays take pleasure in restricting their opponents’ batting capabilities, and only one of their seven ALCS games (14.3%) with the Astros produced more than seven runs. If the Dodgers are left feeling any kind of fatigue from the NLCS drama, this pick could yield big value.

Alternatively, New Jersey bettors can back the Dodgers at +400 to beat a -1.5 spread and for there to be fewer than eight total runs in Game 1 with Sugarhouse sportsbook.

Rays vs. Dodgers Series Odds

Tampa Bay Rays: +160

Los Angeles Dodgers: -200

Prediction: Rays to win series 4-3