The Stage is Set for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Houston Astros to Fight for the World Series
We’re approaching the end of October, and to the pleasure of fans that means the MLB playoffs are well underway. That certainly doesn’t mean they are even close to over yet however as the World Series is still days away and is shaping up to be one of the most interesting in recent years. But every round of the MLB playoffs have been incredibly exciting and full of their own unique surprises this year that have led us to this point, and are certainly worth revisiting. So let’s take a look back at the first two rounds of the playoffs and how the two teams who have earned the opportunity to contend for this year’s World Series, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Houston Astros, got there.
While both the Philadelphia Phillies as well as the Houston Astros won their respective sides of the league in convincing fashion, they did so in very different ways. The Astros did it in just seven games, capitalizing on being the No. 1 seed to carve out a more manageable path that their abundance of talent could guide them through. The Phillies on the other hand came in as the No. 6 seed however and did not receive a first round bye like Houston, coming in as massive underdogs to win this year’s World Series when the playoffs kicked off earlier this month. That didn’t matter to them however as Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins led their team to the World Series that included defeats of the St. Louis Cardinals, the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres. The big question may be though if the Phillies, despite all their success, can really pull out another upset against Houston as the Astros are making their third World Series appearance in five years and appear to be much more well equipped on paper to take home the title. The Phillies have also been underdogs seemingly all season after suffering mightily coming into this season and being forced to fire their former manager Joe Girardi in June. Nonetheless Philadelphia appears to be ready to put up a fight no matter what so the Astros certainly shouldn’t overlook the Phillies, with the 2022 World Series set to kick off in Houston on Friday.
While Houston’s recent playoff success may make them a more intimidating playoff opponent, the Phillies have taken pride in being underdogs and have used this year’s playoffs to prove that. Philadelphia fans are unsurprisingly just as enthused as you expect them to be, and if the Phillies can upset the Astros then it’ll only amplify their excitement. Whether Houston will be celebrating their second World Series title since 2017 or if Philadelphia will be holding one of their infamous parades still remains to be seen, but baseball fans have plenty to be excited about still regardless with more great baseball ahead.
While both the Philadelphia Phillies as well as the Houston Astros won their respective sides of the league in convincing fashion, they did so in very different ways. The Astros did it in just seven games, capitalizing on being the No. 1 seed to carve out a more manageable path that their abundance of talent could guide them through. The Phillies on the other hand came in as the No. 6 seed however and did not receive a first round bye like Houston, coming in as massive underdogs to win this year’s World Series when the playoffs kicked off earlier this month. That didn’t matter to them however as Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins led their team to the World Series that included defeats of the St. Louis Cardinals, the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres. The big question may be though if the Phillies, despite all their success, can really pull out another upset against Houston as the Astros are making their third World Series appearance in five years and appear to be much more well equipped on paper to take home the title. The Phillies have also been underdogs seemingly all season after suffering mightily coming into this season and being forced to fire their former manager Joe Girardi in June. Nonetheless Philadelphia appears to be ready to put up a fight no matter what so the Astros certainly shouldn’t overlook the Phillies, with the 2022 World Series set to kick off in Houston on Friday.
While Houston’s recent playoff success may make them a more intimidating playoff opponent, the Phillies have taken pride in being underdogs and have used this year’s playoffs to prove that. Philadelphia fans are unsurprisingly just as enthused as you expect them to be, and if the Phillies can upset the Astros then it’ll only amplify their excitement. Whether Houston will be celebrating their second World Series title since 2017 or if Philadelphia will be holding one of their infamous parades still remains to be seen, but baseball fans have plenty to be excited about still regardless with more great baseball ahead.
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