World Series Preview: Philadelphia Has an Edge on Houston but the Royals Are a Dangerous Fight
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The Philadelphia Phillies play host to the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday. The Phillies are the clear favorites against the Astros, who are seeking their first World Series championship since moving to the National League Central and the first since the 1980s. (JOSHUA LOTT/GETTY IMAGES)
PHILADELPHIA – On Tuesday, the Houston Astros’ season ended in a humbling defeat in Game 5 of the World Series. A team that has made the postseason every year since 2003 is no longer, as it must be about to learn after the Phillies swept the series and beat them 4-3.
The Philadelphia Phillies have been to the Fall Classic every year since 1980. They’ve won the World Series in 1983 and 1999 but haven’t won this year. They’ve only been to the Fall Classic once in the last century, when they were swept in the opening game by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1903.
When the Philadelphia Phillies win the World Series, the city’s heart will probably take a hit. As great as the city’s team has been over the past four decades, the heart will likely also take a hit.
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Houston Astros Series Preview
On Tuesday, the Phillies and Astros will play Game 1 of the World Series, which will be the 100th World Series game. It is likely that Game 6 will be played on Friday, as the two clubs are two of only two teams to have hosted Game 6 of a World Series.
The Phillies are 13-0 in Fall Classic games; only the 2005 New York Yankees won more. They won the World Series in 1983 and 1999 but haven’t won this year. In order to complete the sweep of the Astros, the Phillies will probably need to win the World Series for the first time since 1999. They’ve only won nine of the last 10 series they’ve played.
The Phillies will be playing for the first time since August 21, 2008, when they rallied from a 7-2 deficit to win the National League Championship Series against San Francisco. This time, they’re playing for the first time since September 23, 1980, when they rallied from a 5