After three rounds of dazzling pitching performances out of the National League and high-powered offense in the American League, the World Series matchup for the 2021 MLB Playoffs has been decided.
The Houston Astros — back for their third time in five years — face the Atlanta Braves, who have defied all odds to be here. This series pits two teams with very different makeups against each other as the Astros look to win their first World Series since the 2017 sign stealing scandal.
Astros Preview
The Astros offense has been on another level during the playoffs, which is remarkably backwards from what baseball fans are used to. The postseason is a time where pitching takes over and runs are at a premium, but instead, Houston continues to pile on runs in dominant fashion.
This is largely thanks to ALCS MVP Yordan Alvarez, who is playing some of the best baseball of his career at the moment. He has an absurd 1.339 OPS through the ALDS and ALCS, and is hoping to continue this incredible work against his toughest pitching test yet in the Braves.
Meanwhile, Astros pitching will need to hold up in a much better way than they have in previous rounds, as this figures to be a pitcher-heavy series. Houston has not yet posted their full roster, but they will be without Lance McCullers Jr., a big hit to their starting rotation.
Framber Valdez, Luis Garcia, Zack Greinke, and Jose Urquidy will have to shoulder the load for the starting rotation against a Braves lineup that simply knows how to get on base. The Astros may have more firepower, but the Braves have proven they can’t be counted out.
Braves Preview
Beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS sent a very clear message that they can stand with anyone, even if their 88-win regular season suggests otherwise. The Braves patched together a brand new outfield at the trade deadline, and it has become one of the main reasons for their success.
This includes NLCS MVP Eddie Rosario, who — like Alvarez — is on another level at the moment. Rosario put up a 1.647 OPS in the NLCS, essentially carrying the Braves offense past the Dodgers. They still had their usual contributions from Freddie Freeman, Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, and Joc Pederson, but it was Rosario at the head of the snake.
The Braves, at their essence, are a pitching team unlike the Astros. Charlie Morton, Ian Anderson, and Max Fried are going to do plenty of heavy lifting, and the bullpen has shown they’ll step up when need be.
To win this series and shock yet another elite team, the Braves just need to follow the formula from the NLCS. This will be another extremely tough test, but they appear up to the task.
Astros (0-0) vs. Braves (0-0)
Game 1:
Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
Tuesday, October 26, 5:09 p.m. PT
TV: FOX
HOU: Framber Valdez vs. ATL: Charlie Morton
Game 2:
Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
Wednesday, October 27, 5:09 p.m. PT
TV: FOX
HOU: TBD vs. ATL: Max Fried
Game 3:
Truist Park, Atlanta, Georgia
Friday, October 29, 5:09 p.m. PT
TV: FOX
Game 4:
Truist Park, Atlanta, Georgia
Saturday, October 30, 5:09 p.m. PT
TV: FOX
Game 5 (if necessary):
Truist Park, Atlanta, Georgia
Sunday, October 31, 5:15 p.m. PT
TV: FOX
Game 6 (if necessary):
Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
Tuesday, November 2, 5:09 p.m. PT
TV: FOX
Game 7 (if necessary):
Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
Wednesday, November 3, 5:09 p.m. PT
TV: FOX