Major League Baseball World Series Game 1 takes place Tuesday, October 26 as the Atlanta Braves visit the Houston Astros.
The Braves progressed to the World Series thanks to a 4-2 series win against the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The Houston Astros defeated the Boston Red Sox in six games in the ALCS to advance to the World Series.
What to know about the Houston Astros
The Astros’ offense has scored 67 runs in 10 playoff games. Six of Houston’s seven wins have come by five runs or more. According to ESPN, “45 of those 67 runs have come with two outs.” The Astros do not give up. The Astros go into the World Series as the hated villain due to the controversies over sign-stealing which led or didn’t lead to winning the 2017 World Series.
What to know about the Atlanta Braves
The Braves knocked out defending World Series champion Dodgers in the NLCS. The Braves’ 88 wins were the fewest of MLB’s 10 playoff teams in 2021. The 2021 World Series is the first without a team with at least 100 wins since the 2015 World Series between the KC Royals and NY Mets. The Braves have not won the World Series since 1995.
Who is the betting favorite?
According to BetMGM on Sunday, October 24, Houston Astros are favorites to win the World Series a -145. The Atlanta Braves are underdogs at odds of +120.
The managers
Neither Dusty Baker nor Brian Snitker is an analytics-based manager. They go against the grain of the trend of teams hiring young managers that base their decisions on numbers. It is refreshing and it could lead to a new trend of teams thinking less about the numbers. However, that is unlikely to actually occur.
World Series Game 1 pick
The Houston Astros will host Game 1 at Minute Maid Park. The Astros had a home record of 51-30 in 2021. The Braves went 46-35 on the road in what was a weak National League East. Atlanta’s road record in the playoffs is 2-3. Houston is 4-1 at home in the playoffs.
Atlanta will go with pitcher Charlie Morton to open the 2021 World Series. Houston lefty Framber Valdez will start Game 1 for Houston. Valdez has been Houston’s ace pitcher during the postseason. The lefty has a 4.20 ERA in three starts with 13 Ks over 15 IP.
The Braves have been playing well in the postseason, but Valdez should shut the Atlanta offense down. Houston has been lights out at home. The ‘Stros have won four of five games in the playoffs at Minute Maid Park this season.
Winner World Series Game 1: Houston Astros
Zcode System Playoff Simulator
On September 30, Zcode System published a blog with the Playoff Simulator selecting the Houston Astros winning the World Series. The Astros were predicted as winners with a high upset level. Can they now win the World Series against the Braves? Here is how the Playoff Simulator sees it.
According to the latest Playoff Simulator simulation, the Houston Astros will win the World Series in six games over the Atlanta Braves. Could those two wins for the Braves come at home after going down 2-0?
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