World Series 2021: Can Astros Finish the Job This Time, or Will Braves’ Mojo Prevail?

I’ll come right out and say it — this is a very hard World Series for me to pick. After an impeccable six-year run picking the World Series (I can refer to a 5-for-6 success rate as “impeccable,” can’t I?), I find myself completely torn here. I understand who America is rooting for, and how can you not feel sentimental towards the Braves after they ended the Dodgers’ hopes of an asterisk repeat?

One very difficult part has been trying not to get swayed by all the so-called “experts” telling me how great and unstoppable the Astros are. I mean, no team in the history of MLB has won 95 games or gone 7-3 through 10 postseason games, right? I kid, of course, understanding fully just how talented the Astros are. But they are not invincible, as we all found out in 2019 when the Washington Nationals upended them by winning all four games at Minute Maid Park to earn the crown.

And perhaps the Nationals are a good segue here. There are some definite similarities between these Braves and those Nats, and not just because they both reside in the NL East. Both teams reached this stage by shedding some major playoff baggage and did so against all the “expert” predictions. Both teams found themselves under .500 when the calendar hit summer. Both teams weren’t really supposed to win after losing their superstar outfielder, yet Bryce Harper’s defection to the Phillies and Ronald Acuña’s season-ending knee injuries did not derail their club’s title hopes.

Simply put, this is shaping up to be a really even series. And why wouldn’t it be? The previous two World Series these Astros have participated in both went the distance. Homefield advantage has not always been there for Houston, as evidenced by losing three straight at home in the 2018 ALCS and all four home games in the 2019 World Series. Even when that dome is rocking, teams have found ways to win there in October.

This series, in many ways, has it all. There is a great sentimental storyline with two baseball lifers trying to helm their teams to their first managerial World Series wins. Dusty Baker seems to get the edge here based on longevity, but Brian Snitker is pretty easy to root for himself. It’s not incomprehensible that either of these managers could walk off into the sunset with a win here.

To me, this series will come down to the Houston offense. I wanted to try and be clever and give a hotter take, but it’s hard to feel like the Astros’ offense is not the most dependable aspect of both of these teams. Houston’s pitching is short in the starting department, but the bullpen makes up for it. That’s really the case for both clubs. Atlanta’s offense is firing on all cylinders, but Houston is doing scary things. 40 two-out runs in 10 playoff games? Wow. You saw it last year with the Dodgers, and it was like clockwork breaking the backs of their opponent with 57 two-out runs (a total slightly inflated by the extra playoff games implemented). The Braves will need to flip that narrative to have a chance in this World Series.

It’s also amazing two teams that rely so heavily on their bullpen can make it this far, especially the Astros without the services of star Lance McCullers. But that’s the nature of the game these days, isn’t it?

I can almost flip a coin to make my pick here. Four years ago, I confidently picked the Astros over the Dodgers, but misfired when I selected Houston over the Nats in 2019. I feel like for as evenly-matched as two World Series teams should be, I’ve felt pretty confident about most of the winners I’ve correctly selected in recent years (none more so than the 2015 Royals, for whatever reason).

So, as hard as it is to pick against the Braves after they did us all a solid by beating the Dodgers… Prediction: Astros in 7.