The World Series is the championship of Major League Baseball. It’s a battle that goes on for a couple months, with two teams from different leagues going head-to-head until one team finally wins the title. In this article, we look at both teams so far and explore some of the reasons why you should be excited about the World Series this year.
Following a long and arduous regular season, just a handful of teams remain in contention for baseball’s biggest prize. The World Series is the aim and, for some, the dream is still alive.
Five teams are still involved in the final stages of the playoffs and all will be focused on closing out the 2024 campaign with the most important trophy of all.
Dates for the Diary
The first game of the 2024 MLB World Series will take place on Friday, October 28. Follow up fixtures will take place on October 29, October 31, November 1, November 2 and November 4. If the series goes down to the wire and a decider is needed, this will take place on Saturday, November 5.
The schedule is a tight one and typical of the grueling calendar that all MLB teams have to contend with.
As for the teams in contention, that has yet to be decided. By mid-October, just five sides remained in the hat. The Houston Astros, the San Diego Padres, the Philadelphia Phillies, the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians are all dreaming of World Series glory.
Out in Front
The clear favorites to win the World Series in 2024 are the Houston Astros. Under their manager Dusty Baker, Houston won the American League West by a significant margin and they now lead the way in terms of overall world series odds.
The indicators are strong for anyone looking to get behind the Astros. The team qualified for the postseason with the best record in the American League. Houston’s final return of 106-56 was the best in their own section and only bettered by the LA Dodgers in the National League.
While every player on the team must deliver, it’s home runs that win games. In terms of homers for the Houston Astros, Yordan Alvarez leads the way with 37 as the playoffs progress. Kyle Tucker, Jose Altuve and Jeremy Pena have also been pivotal in delivering home runs in the regular season and beyond.
The Chasing Pack
The team following on in the markets is the San Diego Padres. The Padres play their regular baseball in the National League so they seem destined to meet the Astros in the World Series final.
It’s interesting to note that the Padres finished some way behind the LA Dodgers in the National League West. A regular season record of 89 and 73 isn’t the best, but San Diego have since impressed during the playoffs.
The Padres’ stats show that two players have been key to success in regards to home runs. Manny Machedo currently leads the way with 37 homers with Jurickson Profar just behind on 36.
They may not have been the best team in the regular season, but the San Diego Padres are finishing the season strongly and that’s all that really matters.
Teams to Watch
In descending order, the teams below the Astros and the Padres in the World Series markets are the Philadelphia Phillies, the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians. As it stands right now, Philadelphia are due to take on San Diego in the National League Championship series.
In the American League, it’s a tight call between the Yankees and the Guardians in the battle to take on Houston in the series final. There could yet be a surprise in store, but the markets look to have called this one correctly.
If they do progress to the finals series, the Yankees could just be the team to watch. Of the chasing pack, they returned the best regular season record of 99-63 as they won the American League East.
Among their ranks is one of the standout players from the campaign so far. Aaron Judge has hit no fewer than 62 home runs to date, and he’s clearly a key figure for the Yankees from this point onwards.
Destiny Awaits
While there is scope for an upset along the way, the likelihood is that the Houston Astros will take on the San Antonio Padres in the 2024 World Series. It’s an interesting match up between two sides who enjoyed contrasting regular campaigns.
The Astros were consistent throughout the season and have continued to stay strong since the start of the playoffs. To an extent, the Padres scraped through to the postseason, but they seem to be peaking at just the right time.
In terms of statistics within the two rosters, the teams look to be very evenly matched. The home runs tally is similar while both main pitchers have also been in solid form across the regular season.
The Houston Astros vs the San Diego Padres will be a tough one to call. The markets may have difficulty splitting them, but the stats suggest that it could be one of the most memorable MLB World Series of recent years.
Conclusion
The World Series is the most exciting time of the year for baseball fans. This year, we are previewing some of the best players and teams that will be competing in this year’s tournament. Be sure to check back often to see who is winning and losing as the World Series progresses. Thanks for reading and enjoy the games!
