2019 World Series: Rooting interest for Atlanta Braves fans and prediction
We take a look at former Atlanta Braves players in the 2019 World Series and give a prediction.
With the 2019 World Series set to start on Tuesday, we look at former Atlanta Braves players who will be participating in this year’s Fall Classic.
Obviously, as Atlanta Braves fans, it pains us that we aren’t in the 2019 Worlds Series. Especially when our division rivals, the Washington Nationals, will be the National League representative.
Most of us feel we had a team good enough to play in the World Series this year, and we won the season series against the Nationals.
Although, one could make the argument that these two teams had gone in completely opposite directions at the end of the season.
Some didn’t notice, but the Nationals actually ended the season just four games back of the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.
Now, obviously, the Atlanta Braves were on cruise control the final week while the Nationals were playing just to get into the postseason.
But each team carried that momentum, or lack thereof, into October. The Nationals have been playing their best baseball of the year, while the Atlanta Braves played perhaps their worst in the NLDS.
On the other side is the Houston Astros.
In our Tomahawk Take staff postseason predictions article, 11 of our 12 writers picked the Houston Astros to win the 2019 World Series — with one true believer giving a nod to the Braves.
It’s fair to say that the Astros are a heavy favorite going into the 2019 World Series, but they’ve looked a little vulnerable at times this postseason, while the Nationals have been rolling.
Let’s first take a look at the rooting interest in the 2019 World Series for Atlanta Braves fans, and then I’ll give you my prediction.
Rooting interest and former Braves
Unfortunately for Atlanta Braves fans, if you want to cheer for former Braves players in the 2019 World Series, you’re going to have to cheer for the Washington Nationals.
Unless I’m missing something, I don’t see any former Braves players on the Houston Astros active roster, while there are four such players on the Nationals.
Former Braves Anibal Sanchez and Kurt Suzuki are likely to play the biggest role for the Nationals in the 2019 World Series.
Sanchez resurrected his career with the Atlanta Braves in 2018 posting a 2.83 ERA in 136.2 innings with 135 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.083.
The Nationals rewarded him with a two-year deal worth $19 million and a team option for a third year.
At the time, I certainly thought the Nationals overpaid for him and was not that upset to see him walk away from the Braves.
But he turned in another solid season with a 3.85 ERA in 166 innings with 134 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.271.
He was basically as good as Dallas Keuchel in 2019 for $7 million less, and the Nationals got a full season of Sanchez … that hurts to think about.
light. Related Story. 3 players who disappointed in 2019
I was all for resigning Suzuki last year and letting Tyler Flowers walk. The offensive output between Suzuki and Brian McCann would have been exceptional.
Suzuki hit .264 on the season with 17 home runs. Suzuki made the same amount as Flowers this year — $4 million.
The only difference is the Nationals gave him a guaranteed $6 million for 2020, while the Atlanta Braves hold a team option on Flowers for $6 million, which they’ll almost have to pick up now with McCann retiring.
Matt Adams spent most of the 2017 season with the Atlanta Braves and was really good hitting .271 with 19 home runs. He was so good that Freddie Freeman volunteered to play third base to keep Adams in the lineup.
And Jonny Venters won’t be on the 2019 World Series roster, but he’s currently on the 60-day injured list for the Nationals after pitching in only three games for them this season.
Anthony Rendon was drafted by the Atlanta Braves but obviously turned them down to play at Rice, so that doesn’t really count. That’s just a really mean reminder of what could have been.
If you just can’t bring yourself to cheer for the Nationals and those former Braves players, then I have one name for the Astros you can get behind … Snitker.
Troy Snitker, the son of Atlanta Braves head coach Brian Snitker, is the current hitting coach of the Houston Astros.
But with the feelings going around Twitter on Brian Snitker, some Atlanta Braves fans may view this as a reason to cheer against the Astros.
Prediction
More from Tomahawk Take
- Atlanta Braves Acquire Lewin Diaz from the Orioles
- Atlanta Braves 2023 Preseason Top 30 Prospects List: 6-10
- Braves News: Giving the bullpen some love, Trevor Bauer reinstated, more
- Atlanta Braves: Which offseason moves have other NL East teams made?
- Show the bullpen some love
First of all, I’m trying to go into this series without any rooting interest at all. As someone who loves great pitching matchups and low scoring games, this is a dream matchup and I just want to sit back and enjoy this 2019 World Series.
Having said that, as an Atlanta Braves fan, it’s going to be very hard for me not to root against the Washington Nationals.
Even though my hate for them has somewhat been replaced by the Cardinals, and they’re a lot more likable without Bryce Harper.
Still, they are a division rival, and I’d have to ignore Twitter until Sprint Training if the Nationals won.
But I am super excited about this series and the possible pitching matchups, so I can’t wait to see it unfold.
The only thing that concerns me about the Astros is that their offense has really struggled in the postseason hitting just .208 with a .287 OBP and .645 OPS.
Jose Altuve has been carrying this offense in the postseason with 5 home runs and a .349 average — just when everyone thought he was declining.
Michael Brantley has been solid and Alex Bregman has gotten his hits even though teams have been pitching around him (10 postseason walks).
They’ll need Carlos Correa and George Springer to pick up the slack in the World Series if they are going to win.
Meanwhile, the Nationals offense is clicking on all cylinders with 45 runs in 10 games and a slash line of .243/.315/697.
Their pitching also leads all postseason teams with a K/9 of 12.30, over a full point higher than the Astros.
Part of me wants to believe that the Astros still haven’t put it all together yet (and yet are still in the World Series), which is possible, and that the Nationals can’t keep up their current pace.
Also, the Astros have experience on their side as the Nationals have never even been to a World Series.
I think this series easily goes six games, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it go seven. I’m going to give the nod to the experienced Astros team, but I would not be shocked at all if the Nationals pull off the upset.
Next. How did Braves' fans do predicting 2019?. dark
What do you think — who wins it all? And as Braves fans, will you be rooting against the Nationals in the 2019 World Series?