The DC Sports Staff discuss predictions for who will walk away with the World Series championships. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
October is here, and that can only mean one thing: postseason baseball! The Brewers became the latest team to blow a 3-1 lead as the Nationals came back to take the National League Wild Card on Tuesday night. With still a month of baseball to go, the DC Sports Staff dissects the matchups ahead and gives its predictions for who will walk away with the World Series champions.
Jorge Eckardt
Staff Writer
How is this even a question? It should go without saying, but the Houston Astros are the runaway favorites to win the World Series and take home the trophy for the second time in three years. When I saw someone bet $3.5 million on the Astros to win it all, the only thing I could think was, “Wow, this guy just guaranteed himself an extra $7.7 million.” Seriously, the ’Stros are that good. Not only did they win the most games (107), but they probably have the best lineup and the best rotation in baseball. UConn’s own George Springer is one of the best leadoff hitters in the league and is followed by 2017 AL MVP Jose Altuve, 2019 AL MVP Alex Bregman (yes, I’m calling it, read my column) and other great bats like Michael Brantley and Carlos Correa. As for the rotation, well they essentially have the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in the Cy Young race locked down: The only question left is if it’s going to be Justin Verlander or Gerrit Cole. Who’s their No. 3 starter? Just like Danny said in his column, “just a former Cy Young Award winner by the name of Zack Greinke.” Stop acting like any team can challenge the ’Stros, I don’t expect this to even be close.
Mike Mavredakis
Staff Writer
Now that we have our first taste of postseason ball out of the way—and man was it wild—I think it’s apt to claim that the Houston Astros are going to do very well for themselves. They simply have it all: the best starters in the league, the third-best scoring offense in the league and a lockdown bullpen. In the past year, they have made great additions, with Michael Brantley in free agency and Zack Greinke at the deadline. They also have George Springer, the only Husky in this year’s playoffs, so why are we talking about this? It’s championship or bust for this team. They have won 100 or more games in 2017 and 2018, then got better in 2019. They already have a ring under A.J. Hinch, with their win in 2017, and they are well positioned to breeze to a second.
Joshua Gorman
Campus Correspondent
This year, the Los Angeles Dodgers will finally win their first World Series since 1988. For a team that won 105 games this season, a lot of people are sleeping on the Dodgers. The Dodgers lineup, led by stars like Cody Bellinger, Justin Turner and Joc Pederson, is one of the most talented in baseball, as they hit a National League record 279 home runs. No pitcher is going to feel great when it is their turn to face this lineup. Don’t forget about the Dodger’s pitching staff either. This is an incredibly talented rotation, led by one of the greatest pitchers of all time in Clayton Kershaw. Add in guys like Walker Buehler and Hyun-Jin Ryu, and the Dodgers have the best rotation in the entire National League. Very few teams have the amount of talent that Los Angeles has, and after losing the World Series two years in a row, the Dodgers will beat the Houston Astros in seven games.
Ben Berg
Campus Correspondent
The Houston Astros should be able to walk to their second World Series title in three years. Their bullpen is solid, their starting lineup is probably the best or second best in baseball, and they have all three of the best starting pitchers in the American League. That’s a pretty good recipe for success. The job that Houston General Manager Jeff Luhnow has done in assembling the runaway best roster in all of baseball is simply astounding. They are the only team that can say they don’t have a clear weakness, and they will have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. At this point, a lot would have to go very right for the Yankees or Dodgers to win the World Series, and a lot would have to go wrong for the Astros not to.
