We haven’t seen back-to-back World Series champions since the Yankees won three straight from 1998 to 2000, but I think we’ll see some history this year. The Astros will repeat as champs after having to battle just to qualify for the October tournament.
I guess we’ll never know 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/86jCyYO8d8
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 1, 2023
In a series of events that struck too close to home for a Mets fan like myself, the Astros stole the AL West title from the Rangers on the final day of the regular season. Texas choked big time by losing 1-0 to the recently eliminated Mariners when a win would send them through to the ALDS. Instead, it will be Houston bypassing the Wild Card round as the number two seed. That’s a pretty big difference between having to win two out of three games in Tampa Bay just to reach the Division Series.
Now that the Astros have the bye locked up, their top competition in the AL are the Orioles, who won 11 more games than Houston in the regular season. However, the young Baltimore team doesn’t have the proven pitching and big-game experience that the defending champs have. Does that mean that the Orioles can’t win the pennant and the World Series with a bunch of bright-eyed and bushy-tailed kids? No, we’ve seen teams like this win big before. I just trust Justin Verlander and Cristian Javier more in a big spot than Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez.
The National League will be Atlanta’s to lose. The Braves have one of the most fearsome lineups we’ve ever seen. The rotation is shaky, but so is that of the Dodgers, who figure to be the number one obstacle between Atlanta and the pennant. If Ronald Acuna Jr. and company can mash their way past the Phillies in a revenge spot from last year’s Postseason, I think they’ll win the pennant.
No matter who comes out of the NL, I still like Houston to win the World Series. No other team has the rotation experience of the Astros plus the deep lineup that is headlined by Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker. Houston also has a solid bench and reliable bullpen that will come into play during tight games. Plus, Dusty Baker will make this team feel like it is playing with house money since they came from behind to clinch the division. After vindicating themselves as legitimate champions that don’t need a trash can scandal to win, the Astros are about to start a dynasty.
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