Astros vs Phillies

Ah, yes.  Astros vs. Phillies.  The World Series we all saw coming!  Houston, the 106-win juggernaut that was far-and-away the best team in the American League this season vs. Philadelphia, the 87-win third-place team that only made the playoffs because they added a team this season.  Although, frankly, we probably should've seen it coming.  Because these two were so dominant in their Division Series wins that them each making quick work of the LCS shouldn't have been a surprise.

It's funny how in the National League, there were three 100-win teams and a very good San Diego club, but the team best-equipped for a long playoff run might've been the Phillies.  They've had the mentality this whole time that as long as they got in, they had a chance.  That's why none of the good teams wanted to see them in the postseason!  And they were right!  They're 9-2 in the postseason, including a 5-0 mark at home. 

The Astros, meanwhile, are 7-0 in the postseason.  So, we've got two teams that have been absolute buzzsaws with a combined postseason mark of 18-2.  Which means something's gotta give!  At the very least, we're probably looking at a series that actually goes longer than five games!  (MLB is disappointed with the LCS ratings, but that's what happens when you play only one game over the minimum!)

What's so unique about this World Series, too, is that the Astros and Phillies ended the World Series against each other.  They played a three-game series in Houston from Oct. 3-5, with the Astros winning two out of three.  But the one game that the Phillies won is the game that clinched them their playoff berth.

Aaron Nola threw a two-hit shutout in that game.  And he's a big reason why the Phillies are here.  He and Zack Wheeler, actually.  Philadelphia's plan was to ride its two aces, then go from there.  So far, it's been working exactly how they envisioned.

Houston, meanwhile, has more than just two aces.  Sure, they've got Cy Young candidates Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez heading the rotation (and going against Nola and Wheeler in Games 1 & 2), but let's not forget about Lance McCullers and Cristian Javier (or Luis Garcia or Jose Urquidy or whoever starts Game 4), either.  That pitching staff, frankly, is why the Astros have been so dominant all season.

And that, I think, is what will make the difference in the series.  Because once the starter's out of the game, you have to deal with the Houston bullpen.  They don't have a lefty, but they haven't all season and it hasn't been a problem so far. 

I've also never been completely sold on that lefty vs. lefty relief matchup in the postseason anyway.  During the regular season, absolutely!  But if the Astros did have a lefty, you know he'd be coming in to face Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, so they'd both get at least three at-bats against him during the series.  (Just like you know Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker will definitely see Brad Hand a few times each.)  The advantage has to swing to the hitter at some point, even if it is lefty-lefty.

Harper, Schwarber and Co. have had quite the postseason so far.  The Phillies have gotten their great starting pitching, but their offense simply wouldn't stop hitting against either the Braves or the Padres.  (Actually, they haven't stopped hitting since that six-run ninth in Game 1 against the Cardinals.)  But they haven't faced pitching anywhere near as good as what they'll see from Houston.  I also wonder if that five-day break between the NLCS and World Series will also have any impact on the Phillies' bats.

For most of the Phillies, this is their first World Series.  That's obviously not the case for the Astros, who are here for the second straight season, third time in the last four years, and fourth time in six years.  Their loads of postseason experience can't be overlooked.  Because how many times has it paid dividends before?  Answer: a ton in this postseason alone!

Simply put, Houston is one of the most complete baseball teams we've seen in a while.  This dynasty might've started under questionable circumstances, but the Astros are long past that garbage can scandal.  Now they're just a damn good team!  And, if they do win a second World Series this season, there wouldn't be any asterisk associated with it.  It would be well-earned.

Earned is exactly what it would be in this series.  Because even though the Astros are heavily favored and there was a 19-win difference between these teams in the regular season, the Phillies won't go down anywhere near as quietly as the Mariners and Yankees did.  And they certainly won't be taken lightly.

Philadelphia has had quite a run, and that crowd at Citizens Bank Park will be raucous for the three middle games.  Plus, thanks to that short NLCS, they'll have Nola and Wheeler set up to pitch four of the seven games, so if they can outduel Verlander (who's playing in his fifth World Series and still has zero career World Series wins) and/or the offense is able to stay hot and do what the Mariners' and Yankees' offenses couldn't, they definitely have a chance to pull the upset.

Ultimately, though, I think the Astros are just too good.  Dusty Baker finally gets his first ring.  Bryce Harper has to wait for his.  Houston in six.