By Well, baseball fans, we have finally made it. The Fall Classic is finally here. The Atlanta Braves are a bit of a surprise NL Champion, as the controversial Houston Astros were crowned champions of the AL. Who would have thought that this Braves team would be here after all they had gone through this season? Back in September, I put out an article that highlighted the success they were enjoying, despite all their injuries. Yet, even I didn’t think that it would ever amount to this; their first World Series berth since 1999.
The Astros are no stranger to the World Series. Winners in 2017, and losers in 2019, they have been on the stage in two of the last five championships. However, we all know that the 2017 World Championship did not come without a whole lot of controversy. This year will mark the first time that the Astros play in the Fall Classic since the sign stealing scandal was released. They will be looking to try and put any of those murmurs to rest, and prove that they have been a good team all along when the World Series starts on Tuesday Night.
Starting Pitching
One of the top storylines this week has been how the Houston Astros will be without starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. They were without him in the ALCS against the Red Sox, but there was some hope that he would be able to return for the World Series, clearly not the case. That leaves them with Framber Valdez, Luis Garcia, Jose Urquidy, and Zack Greinke is some capacity, as his innings were down towards the end of the year and in the postseason. Their Game 1 starter will be Framber Valdez.
The 5’11” lefty, Valdez, absolutely shoved his last time out, going eight innings, allowing just three hits one run, and five strikeouts in a much needed game 5 win in Boston. The injury to McCullers meant nothing in the ALCS, but perhaps it is set to play a bigger role here.
The Braves are one of the more interesting starting staffs in all of baseball, mainly because they have pitched well all season, despite missing their ace. Right-hander Mike Soroka has not pitched since August of 2020, suffering a torn achilles. Fast forward to early 2021, and a re-tear of the same achilles has held him out all season long. That put more on the plates of Max Fried, Charlie Morton, and Ian Anderson, to which they have delivered.
The availability of Huascar Ynoa is unknown after he was scratched from his game 4 start with a shoulder injury in the NLCS. That forced the Braves to go bullpen game, where former starting pitcher Drew Smyly ate three and a third innings out of the pen, something he may have to do in the World Series. They will send Charlie Morton to the mound in game 1, facing the team he was a World Series Champion with in 2017.
The Bullpens
Both teams have gotten major contributions from their bullpen all postseason long. Usually, a good bullpen is what gets you this far in baseball, and both of these two teams prove that. Kendall Graveman was a deadline pickup that the Astros have relied on heavily in front of All-Star closer Ryan Presley. Another deadline pickup in Yimi Garcia will be called upon in big situations in this series as well. Also, expect to hear names like Phil Maton, (another deadline pickup) Ryne Stanek and Blake Taylor when games get to the pen.
The Braves may have the weaker of the two bullpens, but still a very solid one nonetheless. Will Smith has been a reliable closer for much of his career, and his been just that this postseason, yet to allow an earned run in seven innings pitched. In front of him are guys like Luke Jackson, A.J. Minter, and Tyler Matzek, who may have been the game 6 hero with his two scoreless innings. This Astros lineup is of the most stingy in all of baseball. Braves manager Brian Snitker will surely have his hands full trying to press all the right buttons.
The Lineups
Lastly, the lineups of each team. You know, the guys who step up to the plate and try to push runs across, an important key in winning the game. Well, clearly these two teams have good ones, standing as the final two teams in the sport. Let’s start with the Astros. Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, and Alex Bregman. The big three of this Astros team, for quite some time now.
They are no strangers to the big moments, nor are they strangers to sign stealing but that is a story for another day. But of those three huge names, not one of them is the best hitter on this team. Yordan Alvarez is just an absolute monster of a human being. He has hit .441 this postseason, with an OPS of 1.329. Video game numbers. Sprinkle in guys like Michael Brantley, Kyle Tucker, and Yuli Gurriel, and this tea has potential to score six plus runs every night.
The Braves lineup is no short of big names as well. 2020 MVP Award Winner Freddie Freeman is still one of the best hitters in all of baseball. Not to mention the bat of Ozzie Albies, or the year that Austin Riley had. How about Dansby Swanson, or Travis d’Arnaud. Or, how about a former 48-homer season guy in Jorge Soler coming off of the bench? Yeah, despite losing all-world talent Ronal Acuña Jr., this team can absolutely mash.
It’s funny because of all the guys I just named, it does not include the NL leader in RBIs in Adam Duvall. Also, it doesn’t include guys like Eddie Rosario (.474 average) and Joc Pederson, the two that have simply put the team on their back this postseason. Bothe lineups are absolutely stacked, but I think I give the edge to the Braves.
Predictions
It may be wishful thinking, but to me, both of these teams are way too good for this series not to go seven games. Isn’t that every baseball fans dream, though? A Game 7 in the World Series? Well, I hope that it comes to that, and I think that it will. The Astros were supposed to be here all along, and the Braves have taken the world by surprise. But, with that being said, there is no reason to believe that the Braves magic stops now.
Prediction- Braves in 7
World Series MVP-Freddie Freeman
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