Our World Series Game 6 player props and home run bets look at the two starting pitchers and key bats for this potentially deciding game of the Fall Classic.
The Astros are on the verge of clinching the world title, with both Game 6 and a possible Game 7 scheduled for Minute Maid Park in Houston. Following losses in Game 4 and 5 (the former in no-hit fashion) the Phillies are in a corner.
As always, our prop picks are suggestions from several sportsbooks, but you can also find your own at your favorite sports betting app.
Home Run Picks, Player Props for Game 6 of World Series
Jose Altuve Over 0.5 Home Runs (+560, FanDuel)
To paraphrase the great Mark Twain, “The reports of Jose Altuve’s death were greatly exaggerated.” Yes, the tiny Astros lightning rod slumped early in the postseason, but he’s now hit in seven of his last eight games. Altuve has seven knocks in this World Series, which is as many as Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos have combined.
But ‘Tuve has yet to go deep, and we like his chances in Game 6 back at “The Juice Box” in front of friendly fans. The little Houston infielder has 23 postseason career homers, and five in the Fall Classic.
Yordan Alvarez Over 1.5 Total Bases (+300, Caesars)
Unlike his teammate Altuve, designated slugger extreme Yordan Alvarez has yet to emerge from a slump that’s blanketed the MVP candidate since the third game of the AL Division Series. But he’s had good ABs in the last few games, and Alvarez is too damn good to be silent this long. A selfless team player, Alvarez can slice the ball into the gaps, and we think there’s a good chance he gets two hits in Game 6. We also do not expect Zack Wheeler to fool him: Alvarez had a double off the Phillies pitcher in Game 2.
Also read: World Series Game odds and prediction
Bryce Harper Over 0.5 RBI (+170, BetMGM)
Should the Phils succumb in Game 6, ending the great “Rocky” theme song ride of this team and the city that gave them loads of “brotherly love,” their two-time MVP won’t go down without a fight. (Cue Mick with the pre-fight speech).
Harper goes the opposite field with power as well as anyone in baseball, but he did go 0-for-3 against Framber Valdez in Game 2. something will give in Game 6, and Harper might be the booming bat in the middle of a Philadelphia run-scoring party.
Who’s next?: Odds to win 2023 World Series
Framber Valdez 6+ Strikeouts (-148, FanDuel) OR 7+ Strikeouts (+144, FanDuel)
In each of his three starts this postseason for the Astros, Framber Valdez has struck out at least six batters. The stocky lefty is built for durability, and he has no fear of pitching in big moments. This will be his fourth start in the World Series in two years, and Valdez is coming off one of the most consistently great seasons ever by a starter. He broke a record that was more than 100 years old by making 25 straight quality starts, and he led the league in complete games, shutouts, innings. Valdez also led all of baseball in fewest home runs allowed per nine.
If the Phillies are going to get to Valdez, they must adjust to his patented sinker, and the cut fastball he elevates but throws from the same arm slot. Of the 19 outs the Astros southpaw recorded against the Phillies in Game 2, nine were by strikeout.
Zack Wheeler Under 4.5 Strikeouts (+106, Caesars)
What me, tired? That could be the refrain from Philly ace Zack Wheeler, who seems to have run out of steam after all the pitches he threw to help get his team to the Fall Classic.
Wheeler tossed 345 pitches in four starts in the wild card, NLDS, and NL Championship Series. Many were high-stress. This is the first time the tall Phillies righthander has ever pitched in the postseason. He did wonderful work for manager Rob Thompson in those four starts (1.78 ERA), but in Game 2 of the 2022 World Series, the Astros pounced on him like Uncle Murphy’s hunting dog on a duck-filled pond. The result was nine baserunners (six of them hits) and four earned runs in five innings. There’s a chance that Wheeler proves his mettle and steps up with a big performance in Game 6, but more likely is the sight of Thompson going to his bullpen over, and over, and over again.
Yuli Gurriel Over 1.5 Total Bases (+390, DraftKings)
Death, taxes, and Yuli Gurriel’s base hits. Those are the three things we can seem to count on. The 38-year old Cuban former batting champion is a true “bateodor profesional.” He’s so good at getting hits in the postseason that you’ll have to hunt for good odds.
Gurriel has six hits in the 2022 World Series, and has at least one hit in 10 of the 12 Houston postseason games this fall. With a swing that gets to anything and manages somehow to put the baseball “where they ain’t” and finds grass, Gurriel has 23 career multi-hit games in the postseason. He’s a magician with the lumber, and it doesn’t matter who he’s facing. We like Gurriel to get at least two total bases in Game 6.
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