Tonight in Los Angeles the best teams in baseball this season meet in game one of the World Series. Predictions are expected so, here’s mine.
Most of us have a favorite of course. Some Atlanta Braves fans openly dislike the Dodgers and root for any team not the Dodgers.
Others will root for their favorite former Braves player(s). Some want an NL victory because of the DH. Here’s how I see the match up.
 Evenly matched teams go head-to-head
For only the third such meeting since 2000, the 2017 World Series sees the two best teams in baseball going head-to-head.
- Both teams won 100 games.
- Both have two an Ace pitchers atop the rotation.
- Both have young stars of the highest order throughout their lineup along with veterans in key places.
- The Astros scored 196 more runs than their opponents.
- The Dodgers scored 190 more than their opposition
- Both managers are new to postseason managing with no egregious errors so far.
Starting Pitching – games one through three
The Dodgers rotation features Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill, Yu Darvish and Alex Wood while Houston send out Dallas Keuchel, Justin Verlander, and one of Lance McCullers or Charlie Morton. On paper this looks like a distinct advantage for the Dodgers but I’m not so sure.
Kershaw is the best pitcher on the planet . . .in the regular season. In post season play he’s been very human.
Keuchel is back to his Cy Young form of 2015 and looks as tough in post season as he was in the regular season. Based on current performance, this is a toss-up.
Rich Hill avoided blister issues after missing a month right after the season started. He has the advantage of not being a fastball pitcher against one of the best fastball hitting teams in baseball.
ALCS MVP Verlander’s performance puts him on a par with Madison Bumgarner. He loves the big stage.  Advantage Verlander.
Darvish wasn’t great in his first few starts for the Dodgers but rounded into form and looked very good against in his playoff appearances.
Morton was a man on a mission starting game seven. He hit his spots well and produced great pitches when he needed to. Darvish is just a better pitcher and he Minute Maid park, pitching to a 2.16 ERA in 41 innings there. He also knows the Astros well, allowing just one run in his last two starts in Houston.
No matter who game three; advantage Darvish.