The 2017 season will culminate in an epic World Series, matching the Dodgers against the Astros. It is the first time since 1970 that the Fall Classic has featured two teams that each won 100 games or more games — L.A. will have homefield advantage, as the Dodgers’ 104-58 record topped the Astros’ 101-61 mark.
After winning the NL West title and falling short in each of the last four postseasons, the Dodgers finally broke through this year to capture their first National League pennant since 1988. The club overcame scores of injuries (38 DL stints, the most of any team in baseball) to achieve their success, though obviously having the game’s largest payroll goes a long way in securing roster depth. Beyond the expected contributions from established stars like Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen, and Justin Turner, the Dodgers were also buoyed by Corey Seager’s excellent sophomore year, rookie Cody Bellinger’s 39 homers, Yasiel Puig’s bounce-back year, and utilityman Chris Taylor’s emergence as an everyday threat. If this wasn’t enough, the Dodgers added Yu Darvish at the trade deadline to enhance an already-outstanding rotation.
This is the Dodgers’ 19th World Series appearance, tied with the Cardinals for the third-most in history. By contrast, this is only the Astros’ second trip to the Fall Classic, though they now have the unique distinction of being the only franchise to represent both the American League and National League in the World Series.
This pennant represents the culmination of the Astros’ scorched-earth rebuild under GM Jeff Luhnow. Due to a complete focus on building up the farm system, the Astros went only 162-324 from 2011-13, a brutal stretch of play that saw fan interest in Houston almost evaporate and Luhnow’s methods questioned by many around the game. As with last year’s champion Cubs, however, a long rebuild resulted in an enviable core of young talent. George Springer, Carlos Correa, Dallas Keuchel, Lance McCullers, Alex Bregman and AL MVP favorite Jose Altuve are all homegrown Astros, and the team further supplemented that core with under-the-radar trade pickups (i.e. Marwin Gonzalez, Chris Devenski) and bigger-ticket acquisitions (Yuli Gurriel, Brian McCann, Josh Reddick, Carlos Beltran). The final piece of the puzzle was trading for Justin Verlander at almost literally the last second prior to the August 31st waiver deadline, and Verlander has been nothing short of spectacular since coming to Houston.
With two days to go before Keuchel vs. Kershaw at Dodger Stadium in Game One, we post the question…what is your prediction for the 2017 Series? (link to poll for MLBTR mobile app users)
Dodgers in 7
Ditto
Indians. It’s their year.
I say 6.
No matter what, I doubt it’ll be a sweep by either team. But I vote Astros in 6
Stros in 6
Wow they have only won one game on the road the entire postseason so they would have to win in la twice
Once*
Counting is tough sometimes.
Lad in seven
Dodgers in 5
Dodgers, if Darren Driefort contributes
He can probably DH in the road games
I say Dodgers in 5-6, just can’t beat that rotation. I’m from LA (moved thou) so I might be biased but I’m trying to take that out of it.
Depends on which Kershaw shows up. If Regular season Kershaw makes an appearance the Astros can just pack their stuff now.
The so called postseason Kershaw is a very small sample size. Skewed mostly bc of the Cardinals who have hit him well enough in the regular season in those years as well.
Also, Kershaw on short rest is very mortal. He sticks to a very defined, strict routine so not being able to have his normal time frame between games leaves his stuff very flat. This won’t be the case this year as the Dodgers have lots of rest between series and Kershaw for sure won’t have to take the ball until at least game 5 with the playoff rotation put together by this FO.
Who can say to whom it will matter most, but the current forecasted temperature at Dodger Stadium for first pitch Tuesday is 94 degrees.
I saw 100
Revised higher today by the NWS to 99 @ 5PM. Brutal, for the players and the fans
We were at Game 2 of the NLCS. The temperature was 95 at first pitch. Fortunately our seats are in the shade so it was survivable, but if you are sitting anywhere in the pavilions or on the first base side you have sun on your head and in your eyes for at least half the game.
Wednesday will not be a lot better.
Which Kershaw shows up depends on which offense shows up. If the offense doesn’t show up, then, yes, Kershaw will disappoint because he is not a perfect human being. If the offense does show up, then Kershaw doesn’t have to be perfect, and he will more or less coast..
Kershaw, in case you need reminding, is the best pitcher in baseball. He will be fine.
Verlander, who you feel is not “the best pitcher in baseball” will simply pitch better than whoever the Dodgers choose to put against him, including Kershaw. It’s better to be the best pitcher, today.
Uh oh look out, shots fired!
If we’re just looking at “right now,” then the Dodgers answer for Verlander is Yu Darvish.
This postseason, Darvish is outperforming Verlander in xFIP, K/9, and BB/9. And you could also make the argument that he’s fresher/better-rested for throwing in the WS, as he’s thrown less than half of the innings Verlander has thrown (thanks to that awesome Dodgers bullpen).
Astros in 6
YES!! Let’s go ‘Stros!!
Let’s go anybody playing the dodgers
#BeatLA
Good luck next year! It’ll be an even year, so twice as better as in ’17? 20 games back, but this time in August.
Classy
This is a sodium free discussion, mr. bad screen name
Dodgers in 6
Seconded.
Astros in 6
Dodgers in 5
Colt 45s
Astros might regret trading Fields if he comes up big in this series. Yordan Alvarez could also change that though.
I don’t really have any stakes in this so I’m just going to sit back and enjoy what should be an awesome series.
Best post so far
Signed Orioles fan …
Astros in 4 because the Dodgers are overrated.
“The dodgers have to be willing to give up Buehler and Verdugo for Darvish” -madmanTX trade deadline 2017
He said the Astros should’ve rebuilt this past offseason since they weren’t as good as people thought.
Lol you guys pulled out all the receipts on this guy haha
Heard he is now going to change his name to infuriatedmanTX after this public humiliation
I think Dodgers in 6. Overall- I’d like to see A-Gon and Either get rings before they have to retire
Also would love to see Chase get another.
I’d want Beltran for the same reason. But I think Dodgers in 6.
Astros in 5
Astros in 7. This feels like a 7 game series one way or another.
Houston is too explosive… all year off of just as good of pitching… Houston in 5-6
American League is a tougher league this year too
Which team has the highest WAR? Sabermetrics is everything, so I’ll go with that one.
Why even play real games am I right? Just sim em in the show and mail the rings to the winner.
The Dodgers are ready for war
I don’t know, in the 12th inning of game 7
Astros in 7
Bums in 6
Astros sweep. If not they will push for a game 7. Astros World Series champs 2017
Blue Jays they’re team is stacked next year!
yep. a bunch of old dudes and a few young underperformers is stacked.
Astros in 6
Dodgers. 5 games.
I’ve lived in 7 states a cross the country and I have literally never met an Astros fan..
So Astros in 6?
Been to Texas? I’m guessing you will find several of them there.
I can’t say for sure who’s going to win, but I favour the Dodgers based on their excellent bullpen. Whatever the outcome, with all the amazing talent on display it will be great for baseball. Go the Braves, McCann, Gattis, Morton.
Will go for the Dodgers in 7. Have tickets to that game, and that’s about as unbiased and scientific as it gets.
says the guy named blue sky LA
This post is practically a seminar on irony.
Your post went right over his head
This is just the start. In two weeks there will be no baseball in a couple of days. How pathetic I am. Casting votes! Sure all in good fun. Yet, in two weeks the ol’ stick in the eye. Then what do we vote on? ‘Most popular way during off season to self medicate?’
other sports…
Montral Expos
Montreal Expos
Astros in 2, they’ll be so good that the Dodgers give up.
You should have put Astros or Dodgers in 3 as a trick question in the Poll to see how many people selected it.
Dodgers in 6
Do people not understand that the poll was where you made your prediction?
Comments should include more than a repeat. Give a reason why (as a fine few elected to do). No one really cares what your prediction was but you, unless you share some meaningful insight.
FIRST AMENDMENT! Freedom of speech!
Polls don’t show up on the mobile app
Dodgers in six games.
Rooting for the astros but think dodgers in 6
I’ll like to see Astro’s take it. They’ve one of few teams that has never won a WS and also because I’d like to see Beltran get a ring. Either way I’m just going to enjoy the series.
Well either one who wins the series GOES 7 games so im going with L.A in 7
Astros in 7….but either way it’s going to be a great series
Dodgers in 6. I see them splitting the first two games in LA, going to Houston and the Dodgers stealing 2 of 3 there and then coming back to LA and the Dodgers win in game 6 in front of all of us Dodgers fans who’ve waited way too long for this!
Don’t care now who wins, just glad that the Cubs