5 reasons the Astros will win Game 7

4. Dodgers bullpen

Los Angeles may or may not have too many bullets left in the chamber for Game 7. Both teams have seen their bullpen be effective in spurts. They’ve also seen their relief pitchers act like gas cans thrown onto a roaring fire, causing offensive explosions for the opposition. The Dodgers had to use their bullpen to get the last 13 outs in Game 6 after starter Rich Hill only lasted 4 1/3 inning. Los Angeles obviously didn’t have a choice to throw everything they had to win the game, but that leaves their pen in a rough spot.

If Darvish either struggles early or only gets through maybe four or five innings, who can the Dodgers confidently turn to? Most of the trusted arms are lefties, like Alex Wood, Tony Watson and Tony Cingrani. The Astros have five starters that hit lefties over .300, including Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve. The righties in the pen include Brandon Morrow, Brandon McCarthy and Kenta Maeda.

McCarthy has only thrown one inning and Morrow is one appearance removed from getting rocked for four runs without recording an out. Maeda has pitched in four of six games so far. The same can be said for Kenley Jansen, who’s already at a career high in innings pitched. The All-Star closer has given up runs in two of his four appearances and pitched two innings in Game 6. Does he have anything left at this point? If not, that could crack the door for Houston late in the game.