2021 World Series Betting Odds Preview

The World Series begins in Houston on Tuesday night as the Houston Astros look to win their second championship in the last five years, while the Atlanta Braves are looking for their first title since 1995.

In the opening game of the series, the Astros are -135 home favorites at Bovada Sportsbook while the Braves are +115 underdogs. The series odds at Bovada have Houston pegged as a -140 favorite and Atlanta as a +117 underdog.

Astros favored over Braves in Game 1 and series odds

Getting the start in Tuesday’s game will be Framber Valdez for Houston and Charlie Morton for Atlanta. Valdez was dominant in his last start, holding the Boston Red Sox to one run on three hits over eight innings in a 9-1 Houston win in the ALCS. Morton went five innings in his last start in the NLCS and allowed two runs on three hits against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 6-5 loss.

This will be Valdez’s first career start against the Braves. Morton, who pitched for Houston in 2017 when the Astros won the World Series, has faced his former team 10 times, compiling a 4-6 record and a 6.28 ERA. Morton will be very familiar with Houston’s Minute Maid Park. He’s started there 38 times and had some success with a 20-10 record and 3.95 ERA.

World Series foes haven’t met up since 2017 season

Through their playoff run, the Astros are 7-3, which includes winning their last three games to claim the ALCS over Boston. Playing at home in the series opener could favor the Astros, as they are 4-1 this postseason at home, and 6-1 in their last seven overall in Houston. During the regular season, the Astros were a strong 51-30 at home.

The Braves are also 7-3 in the postseason and 2-2 in their last four games. All of the Braves’ losses during the playoffs have come on the road, where they’re 2-3 in five games. When the series returns to Atlanta for Game 3, keep in mind the Braves are 5-0 at home during their playoff run and 10-2 in their last 12 overall.

To get any matchup data between these two teams, you’ll have to go back to 2017. That’s the last time the Astros and Braves met up and Houston won all four games. The Astros have won five straight against the Braves overall, with three straight wins at home and a 3-1 record in their last four games in Atlanta.