The Atlanta Braves sadly aren’t in the 2017 World Series, but that doesn’t stop our writers from taking a look into the crystal ball and predicting the outcome.
We asked members of our staff here at Tomahawk Take to give us a few paragraphs and predictions about the 2017 World Series. Will all of us be correct? Absolutely not. But one of us could be!
It all starts tonight! Game one of the 2017 World Series. The Houston Astros take on the LA Dodgers. Clayton Kershaw up against Dallas Keuchel. Lefty vs lefty.
It’s lining up to be a terrific series. Now, hopefully it plays out that way.
Blake Silvers
This year’s fall classic is an interesting one. With national media darlings Chicago and New York out of the picture, the series falls to the drought-breaking Dodgers and the Astros who have zero world championships.
If all goes as it should, on paper this series will become the Justin Verlander versus Clayton Kershaw show, but starters only get one or two shots to steal the show.
The Dodgers seem like a clear favorite, but never underestimate a hot team like the Astros who didn’t have to sit at home and twiddle their thumbs awaiting an opponent like the Dodgers did.
This year’s World Series will either be Astros in seven games with Verlander as MVP or Dodgers in six with Kershaw defeating his postseason demons. A betting man would be smart to take the latter.
WS Prediction: Dodgers
Games: 6
WS MVP: Clayton Kershaw
Alan Carpenter
Early on I had guessed that the Diamondbacks would oust LA from the playoffs simply because they had been sleep-walking through September while Arizona had come on strong… and the Dodgers had a poor record (under .500) against the best teams.
However, they have suddenly flipped the switch and become the club that was thrashing opponents in late Spring/early Summer. They are hitting again (Puig and Turner especially – .414/.387 respectively). Meanwhile, their bullpen has been absolutely lights-out… and that right there could be the difference-maker.
I do think that Houston’s starting pitching will keep them in most games, but it will be a matter of which team’s considerable offensive can break through. We could see a lot of low-scoring games.
WS Prediction: Dodgers
Games: 7
WS MVP: Clayton Kershaw…because Kershaw can pitch more often. He will be the MVP.
Jeff Schafer
The Astros have a very solid lineup, one through nine, but so do the Dodgers. The offenses look like a very close wash, but I’ll have to give the slight edge to the Astros. What that middle of the lineup does is unmatchable right now.
Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, George Springer, Alex Bregman, Evan Gattis and Brian McCann?! Come on that lineup is scary good. Kershaw will go in game one with a lot of righties in the lineup…though he dominates both lefties and righties.
The Dodgers get Corey Seager back in the lineup after missing the NLCS. Dodgers didn’t seem to need him in that round, but they probably will in the WS.
I think the bats of the Astros continues to stay hot and the pitching is just enough for Houston to win this series. I’m going with the Houston Astros!
WS Prediction: Astros
Games: 7
WS MVP: Carlos Correa
Ben Coulthard
At this point, both the Astros and Dodgers proved their worth beating quality teams in the playoffs so far. I think the Astros will have to play to their advantages of strong starting pitching and high powered offense to win.
I like the Astros in 6 games due to their three headed monster of Verlander-Keuchel-McCullers combined with the offense led by soon-to-be MVP Jose Altuve. The starters dominated throughout the ALDS and ALCS, and they will do the same in the World Series.
The X-Factor in this series comes down to the bullpens of each team. The Astros bullpen is better than the Cubs, which is where the Cubs lost games in the NLCS. If the Astros bullpen can hold up the leads that starting pitching and high octane offense gives them, they will win the World Series.
WS Prediction: Astros
Games: 6
WS MVP: Justin Verlander
Next: Braves young stars shining in Arizona Fall league!
First pitch is scheduled for 8:00pm ET at the Dodger Stadium. Current temperature there is 104 degrees.