I like that the Astros get the DH spot back and can get Yordan Alvarez out of left field and into his comfort zone with the DH. I like that they are fighting to stay alive just two days after their bats woke up. They were 4 for 32 with runners in scoring position through the first four games and the most predictive thing from that equation is the traffic. They were bound to start getting those hits and it happened in Game 5. Max Fried is on extra rest, but he's also far beyond his career high workload, the Astros eat lefties and hit him in Game 2.

I picked both the Astros to win the series and the Astros in 7 games on Early Edge before the World Series, so you could consider this play a bit of a hedge, but I also think if the Braves are gonna win the World Series they need to do it in Game 6. Max Fried has struggled his past couple outings and I think he will struggle again against one of the best lefty hitting teams in the league. However, Snitker was able to save Matzek, Jackson and Smith to give them 2 days off before Game 6. Two days rest and playing in the AL Park means he will extend his relievers to try to get 4, 5 or even 6 outs each if he needs to. Luis Garcia is pitching on 3 days rest for just the second time in his career and the Astros top relievers didn’t get the luxury of Game 5 off. The Braves add the DH while the Astros don’t really get an offensive boost adding someone like Chas McCormick before Maldonado in the lineup. Take the Braves to win the World Series tonight, and if they don’t, we already have a +375 bet on the Astros to win in 7 games.

Atlanta lefty Max Fried was one of the best pitchers in the majors in the second half of the regular season and very good his first two starts in these playoffs, but he might be gassed with a career high in innings as Fried has been terrible in his past two outings. Thus, we have to take the Astros at home even with Luis Garcia on short rest -- he'll also have a short leash. Houston is 6-2 in its past eight vs. a lefty.

Max Fried has been hit hard in back-to-back outings, giving up 11 earned runs and 15 hits in 9.2 innings versus the Astros and Dodgers. Even though Luis Garcia comes back on three days' rest, I like his chances of pitching well considering how dominant he's been at home: a 2.39 ERA with 90 strikeouts in 79 innings. With the Astros shifting their lineup and waking up at the plate, I'll back Houston at this reasonable price to force a Game 7.