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The 118th edition of the World Series will begin on Friday between American League champion, the Houston Astros, and the winner of the Senior Circuit, the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Astros were a regular-season powerhouse, winning 106 games. They then made quick work of the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees in the postseason to punch their fourth World Series ticket in six years.
Meanwhile, the Phillies were the last National League team to clinch a playoff birth but are now the last man standing. They've strung an epic series wins against the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, and San Diego Padres.
The Philadelphia Phillies are the fifth team to make the Fall Classic despite winning under 88 games.
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Philadelphia Phillies vs. Houston Astros Betting Odds
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Philadelphia Phillies vs. Houston Astros Starting Matchup
The two teams will play Game 1 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, with the Astros holding home-field advantage.
It won't be the first time the Philadelphia Phillies have played in Houston this year, losing two of three to the Astros in the final regular season series of the year. In their lone victory, the Phils clinched a playoff spot behind a masterful performance behind ace Aaron Nola.
Nola will look to continue his resurgent 2022 campaign with his fourth postseason start of the year. Having struggled to replicate his Cy Young caliber season in 2018 at the start of the year, he played a crucial part in Philadelphia's Cinderella run to the World Series.
The righty went a modest 11-13 but posted a 3.25 ERA paired with an elite 0.96 WHIP over 205 innings. However, it's been either boom-or-bust for Nola in the 2022 postseason, the first of his career. He got 12.2 shutout innings in his first two starts before giving up six earned over 4.2 frames in his last outing in San Diego.
Nola's opponents, the Houston Astros, have been baffled by the ace's repertoire in two career starts. He was the winning pitcher in both games, hurling 12.2 shutout innings with an insane 19 strikeouts and a microscopic 0.55 WHIP.
Opposite Nola will be the Astros' future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander. The 39-year-old is getting better with age, and is likely to take home his third Cy Young award after posting an MLB-best 1.75 ERA and 18 wins. Unfortunately, as much postseason success as JV has, little has come on baseball's biggest stage.
Verlander has a career 0-6 record with a 5.68 ERA in the Fall Classic. The saving grace for the Houston Astros will be the opponent that Verlander will face and the venue. The former Tiger is 3-0 all-time against the Philadelphia Phillies with a 1.75 ERA.
Pair that with a career 2.42 ERA in Houston, and Verlander has a great matchup to exercise his World Series woes.
Philadephia Phillies vs. Houston Astros Betting Prediction
Game 1 of the World Series features a dream pitching matchup against two of the best aces in the show. Verlander is a bonafide superstar, while Nola is on a mission to bring Philadelphia its first title since 2009.
So, expect these guys to shove, setting the tone for the rest of the World Series where scoring will come at a premium.
Prediction: Under 6.5 (+105)
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