Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The final series of the 2022 season is here, the best-of-7 World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Houston Astros begins on Friday night.
Here are the picks from our staff!
- Winner: Astros in 6
- MVP Yordan Alvarez
The Phillies Cinderella run has to end at some point right? The Astros, unlike other teams, should take advantage of the Phillies’ third and fourth pitching options. Add in a terrific bullpen, if Houston’s rotation does enough, this should be the Astros’ series for the taking.
- Winner: Astros in 5
- MVP: Yordan Alvarez
On paper, the battle-tested Astros have the stronger overall club, with significant advantages in every facet of the game. The club’s cumulative postseason experience easily gives Houston the upper hand. That difference, and it’s a major one at that, should allow Houston to coast to their second title in the last six years. Vibes can only take you so far in the playoffs. Sorry, Phillies.
- Winner: Phillies in 5
- MVP Kyle Schwarber
The Phillies are the team of destiny this year. If they win one of the first two games in Houston, then the series will be over before they even go back to Houston. The Phillies have been unbeatable at home, as they are 5-0, and have proven that they want this thing as much as anyone else. Their offense has been unstoppable and their pitching has done incredibly. Not to mention their bullpen is doing what it couldn’t do all year: get the job done. Kyle Schwarber started heating up at the end of the NLCS and when he gets hot, he is unstoppable.
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
- Winner: Phillies in 7
- MVP: Bryce Harper
No wisdom here, just the luck of the National League East. The Phils are playing well and if they can pitch past Wheeler and Nola, they should be a formidable foe for the favored Astros. That will just leave the Mets (and Marlins) to win a World Series out of the NL East in recent years, of course.
- Winner: Astros in 5
- MVP: Justin Verlander
Verlander is a Hall of Famer, but this World Series will officially close the book on any postseason qualms people have had in the past. They haven’t lost a game in the postseason yet. It wouldn’t be surprising if they don’t at all, but Astros in 5 gives the Phillies some level of respect.
John Sheridan
- Winner: Astros in 5
- MVP: Yordan Alvarez
The Astros have been the best team in baseball and have yet to be challenged this season. This will be more of the same.
