World Series Preview
A close and up to date look at the upcoming World Series teams before they face off
The Series between Boston and Los Angeles will begin with two games in Boston
The 2018 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers should be an intense series. This year’s postseason was a roller coaster for the Los Angeles Dodgers since they had to play 163 games instead of 162, to determine who won the divisions and who had to play a single elimination wild card game. The Dodgers had to face the red-hot Colorado Rockies led by Nolan Arenado and Trey Story. The Dodgers did their job though and defeated the Rockies 5-2.
In the American Division, the Boston Red Sox had an easier journey to the World Series. Before the season kicked off, the organization ran into an obstacle when they fired their old manager John Farrell and hired Alex Cora. Alex Cora was coming into Boston without any coaching experience besides being a bench coach. Over the course of the season, the intimidating Red Sox were led by Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez at the plate and Chris Sale on the mound. Boston ended their season with the best record in the league with a record of 108-54. Halfway through the season the Sox were in a tight race for the top leader of the division with New York. Once the All-Star break was over, however, the Yankees fell into a slump which dropped them in the division and the Red Sox ran on a hot streak on not losing two games straight until the last couple series of the season.
In the National Division, the Los Angeles Dodgers had a difficult journey with some obstacles that stood in their way. The Dodgers ended their regular season with a 91-71 record which was also the same as the Colorado Rockies.
The Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers will face off in the 108th World Series
The Dodgers rose up to the occasion though to win their division. Over the course of the season, the Dodgers were led by Yasiel Puig and Manny Machado at the plate and Clayton Kershaw on the mound. The All-Star third baseman and shortstop Manny Machado was a late add to their roster when Dodgers made a trade with the Baltimore Orioles to receive the Golden Glover. Once Manny Machado landed in California, he blew up at the plate and on the field making spectacular game-saving plays and batting .273 at the plate.
Once the Postseason kicked off, the Dodgers and to play the Atlanta Braves with All-star first baseman Freddie Freeman. The Red Sox had to play their division rivals the New York Yankees with All-Star and Rookie of the 2017 season Aaron Judge. Over the course of the series, both teams won their series with 3 wins and 1 loss. After the division for each team, the Red Sox would move on to play the reigning World Series Champions, the Houston Astros. The Dodgers would end up facing the Milwaukee Brewers. The Red Sox easily beat the Houston Astros with the series ending 4-1. The series though was full on controversial home run calls between interfering with fans and players. In the third game of the series, Andrew Benintendi finished the game with a spectacular diving catch with bases the loaded to save three runs from scoring and having the Houston Astros walk it off at the home field. On the other hand, the Dodgers had a difficult time overcoming the Brewers. The Dodger had to play the Brewers all the way to game 7 to finally beat the Brewers. The Dodgers and Brewers though knew how to compete with other teams because the Brewers also had to play 163 games instead of 162 games to win their division. The Brewers and the Chicago Cubs each ended the season with the same record so they had to play a single game to determine who would have to play an elimination wild card game and who would win their division. Since the Dodgers and Red Sox won their division, they would end up playing each other in the 2018 World Series. The Red Sox had the better record over the Dodgers so the series between each other will start in Boston
The first game will have Chris Sale and Clayton Kershaw on the mound.
Students at Lafayette High School had some ideas of what the World Series would entale. Professional scorekeeper for the Lafayette Rams varsity team and Senior Aaron Adam thinks that the Boston Red Sox will beat the Dodgers in six games and that J.D. Martinez will be named World Series MVP. When we get late in the series, Adam believes that Craig Kimbrel will play a bigger role in the series over Kenley Jansen. Kimbrel and Jansen are the Red Sox and Dodgers closing pitchers to finish off their bullpen. Adam believes that since Kimbrel had a rough time in the ALDS against the Yankees, there is more pressure on him this time to perform to his maximum potential. This series between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers are going to be a battle. The World Series begins on October 23 at 8:09 on Fox TV.
