Dodgers vs. Red Sox odds: 2018 World Series Game 1 picks, predictions from expert on 23-8 run

The 2018 World Series is finally upon us, as the Boston Red Sox host the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 from Fenway Park on Tuesday at 8:09 p.m. ET. Boston is at -150 on the money line in the latest Red Sox vs. Dodgers odds, meaning you would need to bet $150 to win $100; wagering $100 on Dodgers at +123 wins $123. The Dodgers squeaked into the postseason but were installed as favorites to win the National League pennant. They did just that by going through Atlanta and Milwaukee. Boston won 108 regular-season games and went 7-2 in the American League playoffs, dispatching the Yankees and the defending champion Astros. But are the Red Sox worthy Game 1 favorites? Before you lay any Red Sox vs. Dodgers picks of your own, there's no better expert out there than Adam Thompson.

SportsLine's top-ranked MLB handicapper is on a season-long MLB picks streak that has fattened the wallets of those following him. He is on an astonishing 170-110 money line run, hitting on 61 percent of his MLB picks and paying out more than $3,700 to $100 bettors following him. Since Sept. 8 alone, he's an astonishing 23-8 MLB picks streak.

Thompson, who covered major sports for 20 years as a writer and columnist before joining SportsLine, cites deeply researched stats and trends you likely haven't considered to build his astonishing streak -- not to mention watching as much action as possible. Thompson has also shown a strong knowledge on how both of these teams work, going a combined 31-15 on games involving Los Angeles or Boston.

Thompson knows it's hard to go against either one of the Game 1 starters. In a matchup worthy of the World Series, three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw goes against seven-time All-Star Chris Sale. 

The Red Sox have never faced Kershaw (9-5, 2.73), a matchup that usually favors the pitcher. While Kershaw has been maligned for postseason struggles, in reality he has been OK. His career record is only 8-7, but batters are just .210 against him with a tiny 1.06 WHIP.

Overall, the Dodgers' offense was a success on the road, averaging 5.4 runs (No. 2 in MLB) and hitting .258 (No. 5). The team is hitting just .218 in the playoffs but has received clutch hits when needed. Manny Machado leads L.A. in the postseason with three home runs, nine RBI and seven runs scored. Yasiel Puig, who hit a three-run homer in Game 7 against Milwaukee on Saturday, is batting .333.

Sale (12-4, 2.11) is 100 percent healthy after being hospitalized last week with an illness. He has made opposing lineups ill at Fenway Park, holding them to a .202 average.

Boston's offense was the best in baseball in the regular season, and was an especially tough out at home, batting .282 with a MLB-best 5.8 runs per game. The hitting actually stepped up in the postseason, as the Sox batted .284 with 6.2 runs per contest. Sox DH/outfielder J.D. Martinez had an MVP-quality season by hitting .330 with 43 home runs and 130 RBI, and hasn't lagged these playoffs. He's hitting .313 with two homers and nine RBI. Jackie Bradley Jr. also has two home runs and nine RBI and Andrew Benintendi has scored nine times.

We can tell you Thompson likes the Under 7.5 runs in this matchup, and he's also identified several critical x-factors he believes point to a strong value on one side of the money line.

So who wins Dodgers-Red Sox, and what are the critical x-factors that have Thompson siding strongly to one side? Visit SportsLine now to find out Adam Thompson's World Series Game 1 pick, all from an expert crushing the sportsbooks on MLB picks, including going 31-15 on games involving these teams and 23-8 overall since Sept. 8.

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