1. Game 1 is a beautiful pitching matchup

Game 1 will feature two former Cy Young winners, Clayton Kershaw and Dallas Keuchel. Keuchel has looked extremely solid this postseason, striking out 25 in 18.1 innings.

Kershaw, who is notoriously known to be a subpar postseason pitcher, has possibly ended that narrative. In his two starts against the Cubs, Kershaw had a 2.45 ERA and struck out nine.

In Kershaw’s career vs. Houston, he is 3-2 with a 2.38 ERA. Keuchel has never faced the Dodgers.

2. Justin Verlander is really good right now

Verlander, who was named ALCS MVP after two magnificent starts, has been lights out since putting on an Astros uniform. Since joining Houston, the former Cy Young and MVP winner is 9-0 with a 1.23 ERA. In his two previous World Series trips, both with Detroit, Verlander is 0-3 with a 7.20 ERA.

3. Kate Upton will be in attendance

Not only is Justin Verlander’s soon-to-be wife genetically gifted, but Ms. Upton also has no problem with attacking the MLB. When Verlander finished second behind Rick Porcello for the 2016 AL Cy Young Award, Upton took to Twitter to express her thoughts. She took multiple shots at the MLB, in particular, the voting system. If the Astros somehow get screwed over, make sure to check up on Upton’s social media accounts.

4. Is Sports Illustrated psychic?

In 2014, a Sports Illustrated cover declared the Houston Astros would be World Series Champs in 2017. The cover includes a picture of George Springer and a headline that reads, “An Unprecedented Look at How a Franchise Is Going Beyond Moneyball To Build the Game’s NEXT BIG THING.” Anytime a prediction from years back is on the line, it makes the spectacle that much more exciting.

5. The Dodgers Bullpen is unhittable

Quick recap of the Dodgers bullpen in the NLCS: 58 batters were faced. Of those 58 Cubs, only four were able to get hits. One player walked, and no one was able to cross home plate. Seriously, they did not give up a run the entire series.

Los Angeles led the NL in bullpen ERA, and finished second in saves in the 2017 MLB regular season. While finishing top five in the NL in bullpen innings pitched, the Dodgers pen had the fifth fewest walks in the MLB.

Arguably the most dominant closer in baseball, Kenley Jansen is virtually unstoppable. A former Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year, Jansen went 5-0 with a 1.32 ERA and led the league with 41 saves. Dating back to the 2016 NLDS, Jansen has not allowed an earned run in his last 14.1 postseason innings. During that span, he has 22 strikeouts and four saves.

6. Corey Seager is expected to be available

The Dodgers wiped out the defending champion Cubs, and didn’t even have one of their best players. Seager has been sidelined due to a back injury, but will hopefully be able to play. Last year’s NL Rookie of the Year, Seager hit .295 with 22 homers in 145 games for the Dodgers in 2017. Only six shortstops had at least 385 hits, 50 home runs, and 80 doubles before turning 24: Alex Rodriguez, Cal Ripken, Vern Stephens, Carlos Correa (Houston’s SS), Francisco Lindor and Corey Seager.

Speaking of Correa, Houston’s stud shortstop is on pace to be one of the best players in the game. In the history of the MLB, Alex Rodriguez and Carlos Correa are the only two shortstops to have at least 390 hits, 80 doubles, 60 home runs, 200 runs and 240 RBIs before turning 23.

7. Jose Altuve is 5’6” and is arguably the best hitter in baseball

Jose Altuve will be this year’s AL MVP. Altuve hit .346 with 24 home runs, 81 RBIs, 32 steals and a league-leading 204 hits. For the fourth year in a row, Altuve eclipsed 200 hits. The only other players to accomplish this were Kirby Puckett, Ichiro, Wade Boggs and Michael Young. The shortest active player in the MLB, Altuve became the first player ever to lead to AL or NL in hits for four straight seasons. This guy isn’t just decent, he is historically amazing.

Let’s not forget this guy had to plead his case to Houston as to why he should receive a try-out for the ball club. So far in this year’s postseason, Altuve, through 11 games, is hitting .400 with five home runs and eight RBIs. He is the heart and soul of this Astros team, and is a joy to watch on the field.

8. Will elite pitching beat elite hitting?

The Dodgers pitching finished first in the NL in ERA, shutouts, strikeouts and had fewer walks than anyone. The Astros finished first in the AL in runs, hits, batting average, on base percentage and slugging percentage. Houston also loves the long ball, and ended up second in the league in home runs.

9. Yasiel Puig is on TV

Baseball needs more personalities like Puig. Puig licks his bat. He flips his bat and is known as the “high-energy guy” according to teammate Chris Taylor. For a traditional baseball fan, he may not be loved, but for someone who watches baseball for entertainment purposes, Puig is perfect.

This season Puig hit 28 home runs and had 74 RBIs, which were both career highs. In the eight postseason games, Puig is on fire, hitting .414 with four extra-base hits. Puig’s love for the game will be evident on the biggest stage, and I absolutely cannot wait.

10. Will a pitcher go deep in the Fall Classic?

Since the addition of the DH in 1973, only two pitchers Ken Holtzman (1974) and Joe Blanton (2008) have hit home runs in the World Series. Will someone do it this year? Both Kenta Maeda and Clayton Kershaw have hit one home run in their careers, and none of the Astros probable starters have left the yard yet.

Featured image by Fan Rag Sports

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