2021 World Series Preview Odds and Predictions

MLB: World SeriesThe final two teams for the 2021 World Series have been determined after the Houston Astros beat the Red Sox in six games to win the American League West and the Atlanta Braves beat the L.A. Dodgers in six games to National League West.

The Astros and Braves will take to the field in Atlanta for Game 1 of the 2021 World Series on Tuesday, October 26th. While the series will be broadcast on FOX, it will be the first time since 1999 that the Braves will play in the World Series. However, this will be the third appearance for the Astros in the last five seasons.

That puts the Astros in the unique position of having experienced players on their roaster who understand how to deal with the pressure of playing the World Series. The problem for Houston is the two have quite a storied history, having met fives times in the National League Division Series in 1997, 1999, 2001, 2004 and in 2005.

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In three of those meetings, the Braves swept the series while the remaining two, the Astros squeaked by with the wins. However, those were different times and have little bearing on what to be expect heading into the World Series in 2021. The teams were vastly different then than they are today, and predicting what to expect is not as clear cut as one might think.

MLB

 

2021 World Series – What to Expect and Watch for

* Odds have been provided by Betway and are accurate as of 25/10/2021

Oddmakers are putting the Astros as the favourites, and 8.00 to win the series in four games and 3.50 to win the series in five games. That said, let’s get into it and see how the two compare.

Atlanta Braves

Odds to Win: 2.20

If you take into account the past, and the fact that Atlanta was able to get the better of the Dodgers, there isn’t any reason they can put together another upset. Throughout the season, Atlanta was not ever in a position that saw them facing elimination, which speaks volumes. They have a great pitching staff helmed by starters like Max Fried, Ian Anderson, Charlie Morton and superior coaching in the bullpen.

The Braves will need to rely on late roaster additions such as Eddie Rosario, Jorge Soler, Adam Duvall and Joc Pederson, and hope they can continue to add strength to the Braves offence. If they do, the Braves could be the ones celebrating, especially if Atlanta’s pitching staff continue to put away batters, they have the potential to be the World Series champions.

Houston Astros

Odds to Win: 1.70

As we mentioned, the Houston Astros are the heavy favourites to win the World Series after demolishing the White Sox in the first round and ending the Red Sox in six games. With a regular season that saw Carlos Correa, Yordan Alvarez, Jose Altuve and Kyle Tucker having amazing seasons, the Houston lineup is one of the best in the league.

While the Astros are without starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr, they have plenty of younger talent in Luis Garcia and Framber Valdez. The Dominican pitcher proved his worth going eight innings in the final game against the Red Sox, and it is expected they will rely on him to do the same during the World Series.

However, the superior starting lineup will not be able to compete without the pitching staff stepping up to the proverbial plate. On the plate, league leading heavy hitter Kyle Tucker will be a thorn in the Braves side. With 15 RBI’s in the postseason and Yordan Alvarez having a .535 on base average, is all fine and dandy, but no starter has even gone past the fourth, and all of Houston starters struggled with Lance McCullers Jr. taking the mound.

Still, the Houston Astros are the superior team, so expect them to put in some solid performances.

Our Verdict: Houston in six

Houston Astros by far have the best offence in the league, and that has played a major role in their making it to the World Series. While the Braves are at the top of their game, thanks to players like Will Smith, AJ Minter, and Eddie Rosario, it won’t be enough to go the distance.

Ultimately, the World Series is going to be about connecting with the ball and pitching and for us, the bottom line is our money is on Houston in six.

Author Hey all! My name is Doug Hirdle, and I am the main author at Betting.ca. As a huge sports fan, for years I have thought about running a website that’s going to provide people with the latest news from the world of sports. However, watching sports is not my only passion, as I also love...