The upcoming World Series would’ve sounded strange six months ago. The Astros had been to the World Series in three of the past five years, but the Phillies hadn’t been to the playoffs in 11 years. Even as recently as a few weeks ago, the matchup would’ve felt far-fetched. The Astros had an American League-best 106 wins, while the Phillies’ 87 wins barely secured them the National League’s final playoff spot.
Nothing that happens now should be a surprise. It was only four years ago that the 107-win Astros were upset by the 93-win Nationals.
These are the 10 people who will have the greatest impact on determining the winner of the 118th World Series, which begins tonight in Houston (8 p.m. ET, Fox):
Bryce Harper
He was projected to be the face of baseball when he hit the cover of Sports Illustrated as a 16-year-old. At 30, the two-time MVP arrives at the stage he’s anticipated most of his life. Harper comes in hot after being named the NLCS MVP — including the dramatic, series-sealing home run — and hitting .391 with five home runs through three playoff rounds.
Justin Verlander
The soon-to-be three-time Cy Young Award winner brings a lot of World Series baggage into his Game 1 start. Kate Upton has won as many World Series starts. In seven World Series appearances — over four years — Verlander, 39, has gone 0-6 with a 5.68 ERA.
Yordan Alvarez
The Astros’ top slugger is still looking for his first ring and seeking redemption after flopping in last year’s Fall Classic, when he went 2-for-20. This year, Alvarez was held without a home run in the sweep against the Yankees. It’s hard to imagine him staying quiet for another four to seven games.
Zack Wheeler
The Phillies’ Game 2 starter has been their rock in the postseason, posting a 1.78 ERA in four starts after allowing a total of one run in his final three regular-season starts. The franchise’s first World Series title in 14 years likely won’t happen without two more brilliant starts from the former Met.
Jose Altuve
Altuve, the face of the Astros’ dominant six-year run, has had little do with this month’s success. After another outstanding regular season, Altuve has hit .094 (3-for-32) through two postseason rounds. The former MVP has hit .242 in his three World Series appearances.
Kyle Schwarber
The Phillies have at least one player who is prepared for this moment. After missing essentially the entire 2016 season, Schwarber showed up for that year’s World Series and hit .412, helping the Cubs end a 108-year title drought. Pressure won’t be a problem this time, either, coming off an NLCS in which he went 6-for-15 with three home runs and six walks.
Ryan Pressly
The Phillies have made multiple comebacks during their improbable run. Another late-inning rally will be harder to generate in this series. The anchor of the Astros’ elite bullpen has thrown 5 ⅓ scoreless innings and secured four saves in this postseason, recording half of his outs via strikeout. Pressly has allowed just one run in Houston’s past six postseason series.
Rhys Hoskins
The Astros hold a huge advantage over the Phillies’ much-maligned defense, especially at the corners. Hoskins led all first basemen in the majors with 12 errors during the regular season, and has added multiple miscues in the playoffs. But, the rare homegrown Phillie also crushed four home runs in the NLCS.
Dusty Baker
The Astros have more motivation than most teams in this position. One factor is the desire to further erase the stain of the sign-stealing scandal that tainted their 2017 title. Another is to win for Baker, 73, the winningest manager in MLB history without a World Series ring. His first trip in 2002 with the Giants ended with a seven-game loss to the Angels. Last year’s World Series berth ended with a six-game loss to the Braves. How will experience shape Baker’s thinking?
Rob Thomson
Before June, Thomson was best known — if known at all — as a longtime coach who served various roles with the Yankees from 1990-2017. Soon, he could be immortalized in Philadelphia. After taking over for Joe Girardi and inheriting a 22-29 team, the Phillies became one of baseball’s best teams under Thompson’s aggressive style. The first-time manager has done a superb job handling his bullpen in the postseason. Given the Astros’ edge in the matchup of relievers, Thomson’s bullpen decisions could decide the series.
Read Related Also: Royal expert slams ‘inappropriate and opportunistic’ comments about Her Majesty’s death
Today’s back page
Read more about the Giants’ big trade:
🏈 Why the Giants decided it was time to trade Kadarius Toney
🏈 CANNIZZARO: Joe Schoen made something out of nothing with Kadarius Toney trade
There’s no place like home, right Mets fans?
As the Phillies open World Series play, the Mets may have found a reason to be hopeful about their future.
David Stearns resigned as the Brewers’ president of baseball operations Thursday, leading many to believe the New York City native could soon take on the same role with the Mets. Stearns, who will remain with the Brewers as an advisor to owner Mark Attanasio, grew up a Mets fan and was an intern with the team in 2008. The Mets requested an interview last offseason with Stearns, but Attanasio denied the request. Stearns, 37, has one year left on his contract, and would need Attanasio’s approval to interview with another team.
Stearns became the Brewers’ general manager in 2015 and president of baseball operations in 2019, guiding the franchise to its longest stretch of success despite working with an annual payroll in the lower half of the league. The Brewers made a franchise-record four consecutive postseason appearances before finishing one game behind the Phillies for the final wild-card spot this season.
Stearns must wonder what he could achieve with Steve Cohen’s checkbook.
Reality check
Knicks fans could ask for nothing more.
Jalen Brunson has been better than advertised. Julius Randle has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the franchise’s unusual stability at point guard, reducing his usage and raising his efficiency. Mitchell Robinson is blocking everything in sight. Cam Reddish is tapping his potential. And RJ Barrett’s shooting can only improve.
Brunson’s presence has lifted the team’s ceiling after last season’s 37-45 campaign, but it’s still unclear how high expectations should be. After a season-opening overtime loss at Memphis, the Knicks did what a good team should do, sweeping a three-game homestand against teams expected to be in the lottery again: Detroit, Orlando, Charlotte.
Over the next two weeks, the Knicks will find out how they match up against some of the league’s best. Beginning Friday night in Milwaukee (3-0), the Knicks play seven straight games against teams expected to return to the postseason. On Sunday, the Knicks head to Cleveland (3-1), before facing Atlanta (3-1), Philadelphia (1-4), Boston (3-1), Minnesota (3-2) and Brooklyn (1-4).
Last season, the Knicks went a combined 9-16 against those seven teams.
A sneaky good weekend of pigskin
On paper, the upcoming football slate doesn’t look like the kind you need to work your weekend around. But we learned long ago that the most thrilling and unpredictable outcomes often occur when we least expect it.
Here are the best matchups this weekend:
Saturday
No. 2 Ohio State (7-0) at No. 13 Penn State (6-1), Noon ET, FOX: The Buckeyes have been the most consistent, balanced and explosive team in the nation, but they face their toughest test to date in a trip to Happy Valley. The Nittany Lions consistently play the Big Ten’s best tougher than any team in the league. The past six meetings have been decided by an average of fewer than seven points.
No. 9 Oklahoma State (6-1) at No. 22 Kansas State (5-2), 3:30 p.m. ET, FOX: Consider this a de facto elimination game in the deepest conference in college football. The Cowboys and Wildcats are currently tied for second place in the Big 12, and a spot in the title game may come down to the availability of Kansas State quarterback Adrian Martinez, who is a game-time decision due to a knee injury.
No. 19 Kentucky (5-2) at No. 3 Tennessee (7-0), 7 p.m. ET, ESPN: The top-ranked offense in the country has turned the Volunteers into a national contender again, but a letdown could come after their emotional win over Alabama. Kentucky, which lost last year’s meeting, 45-42, is a penalty and an injury away from also being undefeated, and presents a significant threat with future NFL quarterback Will Levis.
Sunday
Patriots (3-4) at Jets (5-2), 1 p.m. ET, CBS: Despite holding a better record than New England at the latest point in a season since 2001, the Jets still enter as home underdogs (+2.5). The Patriots, who have won 12 straight meetings in the rivalry, are expected to start Mac Jones, who was benched last week after returning from a high ankle sprain, but torched the Jets for 307 yards and two touchdowns in a 54-13 win last October.
Giants (6-1) at Seahawks (4-3), 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX: Two of the biggest surprises of the season meet in Seattle, with the Giants riding a four-game win streak. This game also will feature two of the leading candidates for NFL Comeback Player of the Year: Saquon Barkley ranks second in the NFL in rushing yards (726), and former Giants/Jets quarterback Geno Smith — who entered the season with just 15 starts since 2015 — has the third-highest QB rating in the league (107.7), trailing Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.
49ers (3-4) at Rams (3-3), 4:25 p.m. ET: Someone has to win the NFC West. And the odds remain high it will be one of the two teams who battled in the NFC Championship last season. The Niners have won seven straight regular-season matchups with their rival, including a 24-9 victory on Oct. 3.
Packers at Bills (3-4) at Bills (5-1), 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC: What should have been a marquee matchup has lost some luster with the Packers riding a three-game losing streak into a meeting with the best team in football. This marks the first game in Aaron Rodgers’ career in which the Packers are a double-digit underdog (+11.5).
