Paul McGovern’s World Series Preview: Storylines and Prediction

Over the Last 10 years the Dodgers have been in the playoffs 8 times and now they have finally made it to a World Series. Over the years several people got down on this team as Clayton Kershaw consistently became the scapegoat for the Dodgers’ playoff woes.  The Dodgers were surely happy to see the Cardinals miss the playoffs this year, a team that has been their October kryptonite. After sweeping the D-Backs, the Dodgers came back to handle the Cubs in just 5 games.

The Astros meanwhile are a team who has exceeded expectations since the very beginning of the season when they set the pace and took hold of their division. This postseason they have endured more adversity than the Dodgers after coming back from down 3-2 against the Yankees in the ALCS, setting them up to return to the World Series for the first time since losing to the White Sox as a member of the National League in 2005. Led by the league MVP Jose Altuve the Astros look to upset the Dodgers, but really, what are the odds?

                                               Storylines

• Both teams are undefeated at Home this Postseason

• During the regular season the Astros outscored the Dodgers 896- 770 (This will be undermined by fact Astros will have pitchers hitting as well in LA)

• The Houston Astros’ league best .282 batting average was 33 points better than the Dodgers’ .249 average (22nd in MLB)

• Dodgers ERA: 3.38 > 4.12 ERA

• Dodgers Opp BA  .228  > Astros’ Opp BA .240

• Justin Verlander is still undefeated in an Astros uniform

My Prediction:

While the Stats basically average out between the Astros dominant hitting and the Dodgers elite pitching staff, the reality is that a killer pitching staff can cancel out any offense. Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill, and Yu Darvish have been absolutely fantastic these playoffs. Josh Turner has a career .368 batting average in the playoffs and has been absolutely silly in these playoffs. Yasiel Puig is batting over .400 as well. While Jose Altuve will attempt to carry this young Astros team to the promised land, I just can’t see them stopping the train that is the Los Angeles Dodgers right now.

Final Prediction: Dodgers Win in 6 Games

Written by Paul McGovern