Phillies-Astros

Washington, October 28 (PL)-- The Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies will star beginning Friday in the 118th edition of the World Series, in search of the US baseball crown.

Houston seeks to ascend to the throne for the first time since 2017 and for the second time in its history, while the Phillies aim to lift their first trophy since 2008 and the franchise's third all-time.

According to most experts, Houston is the overwhelming favorite in the best-of-seven series.

To reach the Major League finals, Houston won 106 games in the regular season and then overcame the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees in the playoffs, in both cases by superb 3-0 and 4-0 sweeps.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, qualified for the postseason on the last train, through the wild cards, with 87 hits in the 162 games of the qualifying phase.

In the extra games, Bryce Harper's squad went on a roll and pulverized all predictions by knocking out, in order, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Atlanta Braves (reigning 'Big Show' champions) and the San Diego Padres.

The duel for the baseball championship throne will begin this Friday night at Minute Maid Park, home of the Astros, where they have 59 wins and only 26 setbacks in 2022 (counting regular season and playoffs).

Right-hander Justin Verlander will pitch for the home team and right-hander Aaron Nola will throw for the visitors.

At 39 years of age, Verlander has accumulated 15 wins and 11 losses in his 32 starts in postseason duels, with an effectiveness of 3.53, however, in the World Series he is still chasing his first smile, since he has six setbacks without wins, with a 5.68 ERA.

Nola, on the other hand, has a 2-1 record in the playoffs and this will be his first foray into the MLB finals.

It is worth remembering that the Phillies right-hander pitched six and two-thirds perfect innings against the Astros last October 3, before allowing the first hit in that game.

The table is set and the battle to succeed the Atlanta Braves, who were crowned in 2021 after ousting the Houston Astros, will begin today.