Los Angeles (#1 104-58) vs. Houston (#2 101-61) – Dodgers in 5
Best of 7
Oct 21-Nov 1 (If necessary)

Gm 1: Los Angeles wins in Los Angeles,
Gm 2: Houston wins in Los Angeles,
Gm 3: Los Angeles wins in Houston,
Gm 4: Los Angeles wins in Houston,
Gm 5: Los Angeles wins in Houston.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros are squaring off in the 2017 World Series Tuesday night. The road to the series is coming to the end. The only question that remains is if it’s going to be Clayton Kershaw or Jose Altuve hoisting the World Series trophy.

The last time the Dodgers were in the World Series they won it in 1988. Kirk Gibson hit the most memorable home run in playoff history. Dodger stars like Corey Seager and Yasiel Puig hadn’t even been born yet. The last time the Astros made the World Series was in 2005 when they got swept by the Chicago White Sox. The Dodgers have won the World Series six times, and the Astros have never won it in franchise history.

The LA Dodgers are the best team in baseball–they finished with the most wins on the season, highlighted by a ridiculous 40-6 record across June, July, and ending in early August. The Dodgers fell victim to ‘the Sports Illustrated cover jinx when they dropped 15 out 16 directly after SI said ‘The Dodgers might be the best team of all time.” Regardless, the Dodgers’ dog days of summer skid is over, and they’re rested and ready for the ‘Stros.

The Houston Astros made very easy work of the Boston Red Sox in the ALDS and then fended off the explosive New York Yankees in game seven in Houston. As far as previous series go in this wild 2017 playoffs, the Dodgers have a much better track record: they swept the Arizona Diamondbacks and then took the NLCS in five games against the defending world champion Chicago Cubs. The Astros performed very well against the Red Sox but they couldn’t wear the Yankees down in time. Because they only clinched on Saturday night they’re missing homefield advantage and a couple nights of rest for the pitching staff.

Speaking of which, the Dodgers have an insane pitching rotation. Clayton Kershaw is a 3-time Cy Young award winner and is killing it this postseason. Behind Kershaw, we see fellow lefty Rich Hill, and Yu Darvish, who was a deadline acquisition from the Texas Rangers. The Los Angeles rotation is fantastic, but not as fantastic as their high octane lineup. Shortstop superstar and former Rookie of the Year, Corey Seager, is back from his lower back injury and ready to play baseball. Behind Seager is Rookie of the Year shoe-in Cody Bellinger and young playoff breakout, Chris Taylor. Justin Turner and Kike Hernandez played hero with clutch home runs all throughout the series against Chicago. Rounding out this young lineup is outfielder Yasiel Puig who struggled in 2016 but is making opposing pitchers cower.

Facing the Dodgers is another crew of guys opulent with talent: the Houston Astros are lead by MVP favorite Jose Altuve. The 5’6″ second baseman has played remarkably well this postseason with a .400 average and 5 bombs. Alongside Altuve is postseason surprise Yuli Gurriel, and Puerto Rican wonder, Carlos Correa. The ‘Stros lineup is the reason they’re still here as they have consistently rallied run support for their lackluster back half of a rotation. Houston has a postseason clutch performer in Justin Verlander, who hasn’t pitched this well as a starter since 2014 World Series MVP, Madison Bumgarner, embarrassed the Kansas City Royals. Behind Verlander is Dallas Keuchel. The 2015 Cy Young winner has a new lease on pitching and has been stellar. Behind Keuchel is…depth? I refuse to call Charlie Morton and Brad Peacock clutch, fantastic, stellar or even above average talent–Morton made the Yankees shrivel in game seven of the ALCS, but that was more on the back of the Bronx Bombers’ inability to hit a curveball.

This series is not an even matchup, the Dodgers are a much better ballclub in the pitching department, and have a very nice lineup too. The Dodgers are going to take this one unless Jose Altuve can rally for 8-runs a game against a special LA rotation. We may see the Dodgers waiver against the hot hand of Justin Verlander, but Los Angeles is taking this one in near sweep fashion.