The Houston Astros are on course for another charge at the World Series one season removed from their defeat at the hands of the Atlanta Braves. Houston have been the standout team in the MLB for the past five seasons, reaching the World Series on three occasions over the last five years, winning the crown in 2017 with a victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The franchise has also been embroiled in its fair share of controversy but has managed to put those incidents to one side to forge another path towards a deep run towards the post-season. The Astros have odds of +450 to win the World Series in the 2022 campaign, so you get value for money when placing a small stake as it allows you to bet on MLB and win big if Houston are successful in securing the crown for the second time in six seasons.
Astros-Yankees Rivalry
There will be a strong level of competition in the American League to reach the World Series, notably from the Yankees with the two clubs seemingly on a collision course to face off in the AL Championship Series. Houston, though, will be relishing a showdown with New York, having bested them for the past three times in the post-season.
Their run began with a narrow win in the Wildcard Round in 2015 before the teams squared off in the ALCS in 2017, which was one of the most fiercely contested series of recent times. The two sides traded blows in a thrilling encounter that appeared to be heading towards New York after they took a 3-2 lead, only for Houston to respond with back-to-back wins in game six and seven. Houston would then triumph over the Dodgers.
The Astros have since built on that success and further turned the screw on the Yankees in 2019 with a second ALCS win, this time by a 4-2 margin. There was no second World Series title in three years after losing to the Washington Nationals, but the Astros remained the standout team in the American League, displaying an incredible level of consistency compared to their rivals.
Pitching Could Be the Achilles Heel
Jose Altuve is enjoying another strong campaign, while designated hitter Yordan Álvarez has been sensational at the plate. Michael Brantley, Alex Bregman, Jeremy Pena, Kyle Tucker and Aledmys Diaz have all been on point using their power with bat in hand to propel the Astros towards the AL West title. Outside of Justin Verlander, their pitching performances have been mediocre, which could be tested in the playoffs. Verlander has been excellent, boasting a 14-3 after his 17th start of the season with an ERA of 1.81.
The Yankees could test their depth, but it has not come to fruition this term as of August, with the Astros winning five of their seven meetings in the 2022 campaign. Although New York could enter the post-season with a stronger record, Houston will feel mightily comfortable about a showdown with the Yankees or any other outfit in the AL to reach the World Series for the second year in a row.
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