It was just announced that the roof at Minute Maid Park will be open tonight, which is very unusual in Houston -- first playoff game at the stadium with the roof open since 2005. I don't pretend to be Justin Perri or Mike McClure on totals and wind currents, but by all accounts the wind be blowing in from left around 10 mph. Thus, we'll take a shot at Under 9. It has gone up to 9 since Justin and John Bollman picked Over 8.5 earlier.

The Astros offense was held in check for Game 1 of the World Series. It happens. It just doesn't happen for long with this group. They destroyed lefties in the regular season (.270/.340/.449 as a team) and get one in Max Fried for this game. Fried was outstanding in the second half, but he's regressed in his second and third postseason starts. He's never had this big of a workload in a season and after the shortened 2020, I believe it's wearing on him. The Astros will put up a big number early.

I'll take the Astros to bounce back in this one as I think they'll do quite well against Max Fried. They have been one of the best teams against lefthanded pitchers all season, and this is a big spot for them to avoid heading into enemy territory down 0-2. I think Jose Urquidy has a good chance to surprise a few people tonight and bounce back after his poor showing at Fenway. The Braves have been much worse against righthanders. The Astros also won 13 of the last 16 regular season games in which Urquidy started, and I think they notch a win tonight.

Tonight I think we will see the Astros' bats come back to life. This team has scored more than six runs per game in the playoffs and faces an important game tonight if it wants to avoid heading to Atlanta down 0-2. Last night's Game 1 saw both teams use a heavy dose of relief pitchers. This lack of top bullpen options plays well into the Over, and last night was only the second postseason game in which the Astros stayed Under the total. The Braves should plate a few runs as well, so we should get back on track here with the Over.

Last night’s game just barely came in under this number, and that was with a couple fantastic relief outings and a couple balls just missing going out of the park. Both starters should get hit hard today, and the top relievers are all worked after last night’s game. I think the Astros bats will also bounce back from a tough performance in Game 1, while the Braves still benefit from the DH.

Max Fried had been on a roll until his last start in Game 5 to try to clinch the Braves trip to the World Series. He got a little too fast in his delivery and it led to a poor outing. I think he will be able to correct that mistake, but the Astros are one of the best teams in the league at hitting lefties. They are also very good at hitting the inside fastball, and that plays to the Astros because Fried throws a lot of fastballs. Jose Urquidy hasn’t been pitching well lately but he does have postseason and World Series experience from when he pitched against the Nationals in 2019. I don’t think either starter will have a ton of success, but I like the Astros at home against a lefty.

Houston was clocked 6-2 in Game 1 but two good things happened for the Astros: Braves ace Charlie Morton is done for the series, and because he left so early Atlanta had to use each of its four best relievers in the opener so they won't be able to go very long in Game 2 -- AJ Minter perhaps not at all after pitching 2.2 innings. Thus, even though I give the starting pitching edge to the Braves with Max Fried (although Houston killed lefties this year), I expect the Astros to even things up. They are 5-1 in their past six following a loss.