The two best teams in baseball this year meet in the World Series tonight, it doesn't get much better than that. This is the first time that two 100 win teams meet in the World Series since 1970. For the Astros they are trying to win their first World Series title in the Franchises 55 years. While the Dodgers are trying to win their 8th World Series title. As a baseball fan you couldn't ask for a better match up in the World Series. Both the starters going tonight are fully rested and ready to potentially make their case for Cooperstown. If the Dodgers were to win this series while Kershaw pitched liked the ace he is, there is no doubt in my mind he is a Hall of Famer. The Dodgers are 7-1 to this point in the playoffs. Both these teams are undefeated at home in the playoffs. So that home field advantage the Dodgers have in this series might be more important than once thought. These are the two best teams in baseball playing in the World Series so this series can go either way. I will list the two advantages I have for both teams going into this series.
The Astros clearly have the best offense of the two teams and the soon to be MVP of the American League Jose Altuve. The smallest man on the field has come to play in the postseason. Altuve has 16 hits in the 11 games played with 5 home runs and 8 RBI's. Altuve will have to continue this success against the hardest rotation he has had to face in the playoffs. Besides the Astros having the better offensive they are also battle tested after that series with the Yankees. When you are against the ropes for two games against the hottest team in the playoffs, the Yankees, and come back to win that says a lot.
On the other side the Dodgers cruised through the playoffs with a 7-1 record. They haven't battled to get to this point, which makes me a little nervous. The good news is the Dodgers do have a couple advantages over the Astros. The first advantage is the Dodgers have the better pitching. I would say its a scratch with the first two people in both teams starting rotations. It's when you get to the 3 and 4 guys in the rotation that gives the Dodgers the advantage. Alex Wood and Rich Hill are better than Charlie Morton and Lance McCullers. There is a good chance that one of these pitchers for both teams won't even start a game in this World Series. Where the Dodgers have the big advantage is the bullpen. The Dodgers only need 5 good innings out of their starters before than can start using their bullpen, while the Astros don't have that luxury. The other Advantage the Dodgers have is their defense. The Dodgers had the best defense in baseball this year and that has continued into the postseason. The Dodgers are also getting Corey Seager back for this series, which will bolster there offense and defense. I have already picked the Dodgers to win the World Series and I am sticking to that. Pitching and defense is the key to a title, which the Dodgers have the advantage. Tonight I am going with the Dodgers because I will not bet against Kershaw and the Dodgers haven't lost a game at home this postseason.
I think the Dodgers starting pitching won't have the mental strain on them in terms of having to go 7 or 8 great innings b/c of a faulty bullpen. That strain goes to the Astros starters. Can Verlander and Keuchel be better than normal? They'd better hope they don't leave the game 1-0 on the winning side and have to worry about the pen blowing it.
ReplyDeleteThe Dodgers don't have to worry. Their pen is rested and intact and dominating. Ask the Cubs how LA's pen is. I think all the Dodgers have got to do is wait out the starters, whether it's Morton or McCullers and get to the Astros pen.
At the end of the day, good pitching always beats good hitting