MLB World Series Betting Game 3

The Boston Red Sox head to Denver for Game 3 of the World Series

Fifty-one baseball teams have taken a 2-0 lead in the World Series, as Boston has over the Colorado Rockies, with 39 of the previous 50 going on to win the championship (78 percent). Sixteen of the last 22 Fall Classics have headed to Game 3 with one team on top 2-0, and 12 of the 15 previous teams have gone on to win the Series. When the home team -- like the Red Sox -- has won the first two games of the World Series, that team
has gone on to take the series 27 out of 34 times, including the last 10 in row, dating back to the 1981 Fall Classic when the Dodgers defeated the Yankees in six games after dropping the first two at Yankee Stadium.

Obviously Colorado isn't going to give up, and Rockies manager Clint Hurdle hopes the home crowd can shift this series.

"We've been comfortable at home. We've been resilient at home," Hurdle said. "Our crowd will be a big part of it. We want to put a good product on the field, get this thing headed back in our direction, get some people making some noise for us, get our offense kick-started and see if we can win a ballgame. Game 3 is what this whole thing is about for us right now."

The Rockies need some help, because no team in history has come back from a 3-0 hole to win the World Series. The good news is that Colorado was a stellar 51-31 (best in the National League) at home in the regular season, but the Red Sox had the best road record in the AL.

Colorado definitely needs to find some offense after scoring just two total runs at Fenway Park. The Rockies are hitting just 11 for 61 (.180) in the World Series with four doubles, their only extra-base hits.

"I don't know what it is," Rockies MVP candidate Matt Holliday said."Timing. Pitch recognition. Things like that. We just have to find a way to score runs."

"We need to get more quality at-bats and play, there's no doubt about that," Hurdle said.Colorado may have hope against Boston's Game 3 starter, Daisuke Matsuzaka. The Japanese right-hander has a 5.65 ERA this postseason, and he has only one quality start since August. However, he did beat the Indians in Game 7 of the ALCS, allowing two runs on six hits in five innings. Matsuzaka will become the first Japanese pitcher to start a World Series game.

"I thought he pitched his heart out," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said of Matzusaka's Game 7 performance.

Veteran right-hander Josh Fogg will start for the Rockies. Fogg was 10-9 with a 4.94 ERA in the regular season and has been better in the playoffs, going 2-0 with a 1.12 ERA.

Fogg faced the Red Sox at Fenway Park in June, allowing two runs in five innings en route to a 12-2 Rockies victory. The Rockies are also 9-2 in Fogg's last 11 starts at Coors Field.

"Josh is very tough," Colorado's Todd Helton said. "We've got all the confidence in the world in him."

Boston manager Terry Francona will have one tough decision to make for the games in Colorado. With no designated hitter in the NL park, Francona likely will have to take out David Ortiz out of his lineup or use him at first base and choose between Mike Lowell and Kevin Youkilis at third.

"Two out of the three play, and it's really disappointing because we like when all three of them play. They've all been mainstays in our lineup," Francona said.

A longshot option has Youkilis spending some time in right field, with J.D. Drew moving to center.

The lowdown: The Red Sox are -148 money line betting favorites at WagerWeb.com, but Fogg has a history of beating top-notch pitchers. And the weather could definitely play a factor, although it is expected to be just cold, no snow. The Rockies did lead the NL in batting average and were second in runs, so you'd think the offense would be due, especially against a struggling Matsuzaka. I expect a Colorado victory in Game 3. on Saturday night, and the numbers sure favor another Boston celebration.