World Series Preview

We are all set. The fall classic has arrived. In about two weeks time, and seven games later, somebody will be walking away with the Commissioner's Trophy. This marks the 113th World Series to be contested in the history of the great game of baseball. In the previous 112 Series that have been contested, the National League has 48 titles, while the American League has 64 championships. The last four years has seen the Trophy change hands between the two leagues. This years matchup pits a team that has made only one previous trip to the Series against another team that's looking for its first win since 1988. So lets see how things break down for this series shall we.

This year's fall classic pits the American League West Champions the Houston Astros taking on the National League West Champions the Los Angeles Dodgers. Houston comes into this series having won the West with a 101-61 record. They got through the American League Division Series with a four game win over the Boston Red Sox, and followed that up by beating the New York Yankees in seven games in the American League Championship Series. This marks only the 2nd World Series appearance in Astros team history, the last one coming in 2005 (where they were swept by the White Sox). Houston is now 31-42 all time in the playoffs. As for the Dodgers, they won the West with a 104-58 record. In order to get to this series, the Dodgers swept the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League Division Series, then beat the Chicago Cubs in five games in the National League Championship Series. This marks the 19th appearance in the fall classic for the Dodgers, who have six World Titles to their name (the last one coming in 1988 over the Oakland A's).

This marks the first World Series matchup between Houston and LA, and second postseason meeting overall. Los Angeles defeated Houston in the 1981 National League Division Series in five games en route to its World Series championship that year. The teams also met in the 1980 National League West tie-breaker game. This is the first Fall Classic with two 100-win participants since the 1970 World Series between Baltimore and Cincinnati. This is the third straight year in which both World series teams have waited a combined 50 years to win a World Series. Both teams have not lost at home this postseason leading to the World Series. The two teams did not meet in interleague play during the regular season.

Here are the dates and times of every game in this World Series:
October 24 Houston Astros @ Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium 8:09 PM
October 25 Houston Astros @ Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium 8:09 PM
October 27 Los Angeles Dodgers @ Houston Astros Minute Maid Park 8:09 PM
October 28 Los Angeles Dodgers @ Houston Astros Minute Maid Park 8:09 PM
October 29† Los Angeles Dodgers @ Houston Astros Minute Maid Park 8:16 PM
October 31† Houston Astros @ Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium 8:09 PM
November 1† Houston Astros @ Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium 8:10 PM

Houston has something to build off of coming into this series. It might not mean a whole hill of beans right now, but Houston had baseball's most potent offense during the regular season, leading the majors in runs scored (896) and team batting average (.282). One of the big reasons the Astros were as good as they were was the play of Jose Altuve, who's hit .400 during the playoffs and drove in eight runs, to go along with five home runs. Carlos Correa has been huge in the playoffs as well, driving in nine runs. Yuli Gurriel and Even Gattis have also been huge in the playoffs this year for Houston. Gattis has had to come up big because Brian McCann hasn't in the post season. McCann is hitting just .156 this playoff year, and the pitching staff had a better ERA with Gattis behind the dish during the regular season. Alex Bregman should find himself in a prime batting spot against the Dodgers' lefty-heavy rotation, especially considering Josh Reddick is batting just .171 in the playoffs.

To go along with that, Houston has had outstanding starting pitching in the playoffs. In his four starts, all wins, in this year's playoffs, Justin Verlander has an ERA of 1.56, with 24 strikeouts in just over 25 innings of work. Dallas Keuchel, with his 2.60 ERA and 21 K's in three playoff starts, and Lance McCullers Jr., 2.60 ERA in 13 innings of work, have been very good in this playoffs. Charlie Morton got better as the post season has gone along. Its the bullpen that leaves one to leave a little bit to wonder. With all that has gone down in close games as of late, there are probably the only three relievers that would be used in a close game. Manager A.J. Hinch will likely turn to a few pitchers who started earlier this season, guys like Brad Peacock, Joe Musgrove, and Collin McHugh, before turning to the rest of the team's traditional relievers.

Houston is going to have a tough task to deal with in the Dodgers. No Dodgers pitcher has an ERA over six. Two pitchers, Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill, have an ERA a shade over three. Brandon Morrow and Yu Darvish each have an ERA just over one. Every other Dodger on the staff has an ERA of zero. Given the Dodgers' deep bullpen, L.A. doesn't even need Kershaw to be his usual ace self, as the 'pen can shorten the game significantly. This could be a great opportunity for Kershaw to really try and silence his critics who argue that he can't really get anything done come playoff time. Plus you can throw in an interesting touch with Rich Hill and Yu Darvish, both of whom used to pitch in the AL West and know some of this hitters pretty well. Combine that and a lights out pen, it makes things tough on the Houston hitters.

Lets not forget the Dodgers have a pretty solid offense to complement that pitching staff. Justin Turner has really come alive this year, smacking three home runs, driving in twelve runs and hitting .378 in this years playoffs.  Having him hit the way he has is a huge factor and reason why the Dodgers sit where they do in this series. Curtis Granderson will likely be in the lineup when the series shifts to Houston and the team needs a designated hitter. He has two career home runs against Justin Verlander. And he's no slouch in the playoffs either. Enrique Hernández has been a big factor in this years playoffs, driving in seven runs and hitting over .400 in the playoffs.

Pick:
Solly: Los Angeles Dodgers
Steve: Los Angeles Dodgers
3rd Mic Dan: Houston Astros