Yankees vs. Phillies World Series Game 3 Pick

The World Series odds are living up to their classic billing so far, with two major pitching duels and a win for both the Yankees and Phillies in the books so far. How will Game 3 shape up as the series shifts back to Philadelphia? Time to make some more baseball picks.

World Series - Game 3
New York Yankees @ Philadelphia Phillies
Saturday, October 31, 7:57 p.m. ET
Andy Pettitte (2-0, 2.37) vs Cole Hamels (1-1, 6.75)
Online betting odds: Yankees -123, Phillies +103

The Yankees travel to Citizens Bank Park for Game 3. Not only is it a band box, it houses what many people believe are the toughest fans in all of baseball. Yet the Yankees are favored to win Game 3. What gives? Part of the explanation relates to Andy Pettitte, who has a sparkling 2.37 ERA in the postseason so far. He was thought to be homer-prone this season but most of those struggles actually came at home. On the road this year, Pettitte allowed just six long balls in 94.2 innings. He went 8-4 with a 3.71 ERA and held opponents to a .230 batting average. It’s possible, then, that Pettitte will be at his best again come Game 3. Like a late-charging horse at the racebook, Pettitte is saving his best for last this season.

The Yankees probably feel confident sending a lefthanded pitcher to the mound too, as it totally neutralizes Ryan Howard. The hulking Phillies’ slugger hit just .207 against lefties this season. Even lefty killer Jayson Werth has been just ordinary against them in the playoffs. In fact, despite Chase Utley’s huge performance in Game 1 versus C.C. Sabathia, no Phillies player hits better than .250 against lefthanded pitching in the 2009 playoffs.

Considering the Cole Hamels has been nothing like his dominant self of a year ago—he hasn’t pitched into the sixth inning so far in these playoffs—the Yankees should take Game 3.

Pick: Yankees -123