I've been searching around for expert picks but im not seeing anything so far... Anyone concerned about how hot the Braves have been in the latter part of the year? I'd like to think the Astros will make short work of the Braves... but is that being to cocky?
Of course I’m concerned about the braves. They look incredible rn. they looked like the better team vs the dodgers. Their hitters are on fire… with soler dh’ inch I think they keep it up. I’m picking Astros in 6 but I wouldn’t bet much money on this series
It’s the World Series and neither team got there by luck. If the Astros want to win this series, they’ll have to play really well. To do it in less than six games, they need to be clicking on all cylinders every game.
You are going to hear many people pick the Braves solely on the hate for the Astros and probably thinking the baseball gods (boys in blue) won't allow it.
Braves remind me of a weaker hitting Boston team. Slow down Rosario. Keep Big hitters like Freeman at their averages and Houston will have the huge advantage. Boston is prone to striking out. I have faith in the Astros taking advantage of that. You aren't going up against Strasburg and Scherzer in this series. CFM is a goat, but hittable compared to those two guys when they are on.
World Series 2021: Atlanta Braves or Houston Astros? Who will win MVP? Our expert Fall Classic predictions https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/32471378/world-series-2021-atlanta-braves-houston-astros-fall-classic-mvp-our-expert-predictions Houston Astros (12 votes) vs. Atlanta Braves (3 votes) How many games? Astros in 6 (6 votes); Astros in 7 (5 votes); Braves in 7 (2 votes); Astros in 5 and Braves in 6 (1 vote each) MVP: Carlos Correa (4 votes); Yordan Alvarez (3 votes); Jose Altuve, Freddie Freeman and Kyle Tucker (2 votes each); Ozzie Albies and Luis Garcia (1 vote each) Breakout star: Kyle Tucker (3 votes); Ozzie Albies and Luis Garcia (2 votes each); Adam Duvall, Kendall Graveman, Cristian Javier, Tyler Matzek, Joc Pederson, Austin Riley, Dansby Swanson and Framber Valdez (1 vote each) Tristan Cockcroft: Astros in 7 MVP: Jose Altuve The breakout player who becomes a household name: I don't think anyone really qualifies as a true "breakout," since I think most of the standouts will be names we know, but I think Luis Garcia should continue his good run. Let's say him, since he's hardly a household name. The one thing that will decide the series: I do think home-field advantage will matter in this year's Series. After the magical run the Braves have been on, you'd think they'd be a natural choice for a third straight upset, but I think the Astros' home-field advantage is a significant one and potentially the difference. Bradford Doolittle: Astros in 7 MVP: Yordan Alvarez The breakout player who becomes a household name: Ozzie Albies The one thing that will decide the series: Slugging against tired pitching. Both teams will have fatigued staffs. The Braves might even have an edge because they have three starting pitchers still throwing well. But the relievers in Atlanta might hit a wall, and the Astros' offense is the best, deepest and most balanced in the majors. Doug Glanville: Astros in 6 MVP: Carlos Correa The breakout player who becomes a household name: Kyle Tucker The one thing that will decide the series: Late-inning heroics. Clutch and timely hitting. Two-out performances. The Astros have done it all year. Dusty Baker focuses on winning the last few innings. Alden Gonzalez: Braves in 7 MVP: Freddie Freeman The breakout player who becomes a household name: Tyler Matzek The one thing that will decide the series: The Braves' rotation trio of Max Fried, Ian Anderson and Charlie Morton. Tim Keown: Astros in 7 MVP: Kyle Tucker The breakout player who becomes a household name: Kendall Graveman The one thing that will decide the series: Umpiring. From the Wilmer Flores check swing in the NLDS to Laz Diaz's missed third strike in the ALCS, this postseason feels like a long buildup to a major reckoning. This isn't necessarily due to incompetence so much as technology. Split-second calls are dissected in super slo-mo and the strike zone is right there on the screen for everyone to see. It feels inevitable that a call or non-call will grab the spotlight in at least one game. Tim Kurkjian: Astros in 7 MVP: Jose Altuve The breakout player who becomes a household name: Austin Riley. He will finish in the top four or five in the NL MVP voting. He has tremendous power and has become a well above average third baseman. The one thing that will decide the series: The wisdom of the Astros, led by Dusty Baker and pitching coach Brent Strom. They will figure out how to beat a really good Braves team. Joon Lee: Braves in 7 MVP: Ozzie Albies The breakout player who becomes a household name: Ronald Acuna Jr. receives most of the hype around the young stars on the Braves, but the World Series will be the time for Ozzie Albies to shine. Since making his major league debut in 2017, Albies ranks fourth among all second baseman in fWAR, trailing just Jose Altuve, Javier Baez and Whit Merrifield. Alongside third baseman Austin Riley, Freddie Freeman and Acuna, Albies makes up the core of Atlanta's offensive attack that will pose a formidable challenge for the short-handed Houston pitching staff. The one thing that will decide the series: The success of Atlanta's pitching staff. With Charlie Morton, Max Fried and Ian Anderson, Atlanta possesses a more formidable pitching staff on paper with a higher ceiling for success. Winning will be dependent on the group's ability to quiet the Houston offensive attack, which proved to be too tall a task for Boston in the ALCS. Matt Marrone: Astros in 6 MVP: Carlos Correa The breakout player who becomes a household name: Kyle Tucker The one thing that will decide the series: Pitching. If the Astros can figure out the Braves like they did Boston, that leaves Atlanta's pitching staff needing to keep pace against a loaded Houston lineup with a World Series-winning core. The Braves held down the Dodgers, so it would be far from a complete surprise if they did it here. Still, the Astros are just too dangerous. Kiley McDaniel: Astros in 7 MVP: Kyle Tucker The breakout player who becomes a household name: Kyle Tucker The one thing that will decide the series: The Astros' lineup is too much to handle. Dan Mullen: Astros in 5 MVP: Yordan Alvarez The breakout player who becomes a household name: Framber Valdez The one thing that will decide the series: Houston has Yordan Alvarez -- and Atlanta doesn't. Buster Olney: Braves in 6 MVP: Freddie Freeman The breakout player who becomes a household name: Adam Duvall The one thing that will decide the series: The depth of the Braves' lineup -- markedly better than last year -- turns out to be difference-making, along with the lefty relievers to combat Yordan Alvarez. Jeff Passan: Astros in 6 MVP: Yordan Alvarez The breakout player who becomes a household name: Cristian Javier The one thing that will decide the series: The Astros' lineup. It's deep, it's dangerous, and as good as Atlanta's is -- and it's good -- Houston's is just better. Jesse Rogers: Astros in 6 MVP: Carlos Correa The breakout player who becomes a household name: Dansby Swanson. He's clutch -- and will be for the Braves. The one thing that will decide the series: The Brent Strom/Martin Maldonado combo. Outside of actually being on the mound, the pitching coach and catcher were most instrumental in turning the ALCS around. They'll keep that up, as Houston's young pitchers have never been more confident. David Schoenfield: Astros in 6 MVP: Luis Garcia The breakout player who becomes a household name: Luis Garcia The one thing that will decide the series: The Astros have scored 45 of their 67 runs with two outs. Look for more of the same. Clinton Yates: Astros in 6 MVP: Carlos Correa The breakout player who becomes a household name: Joc Pederson The one thing that will decide the series: Baserunning. The Braves are going to have to be aggressive and creative on the basepaths if they want to stay in a series with the high-powered Astros offense. Luckily, they've been like that all year, never mind the postseason.
