The 2021 World Series rematch between the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves will end Sunday in Atlanta. The two teams are once again among the elite teams in baseball and would like nothing better than to meet again this October. On the hill in Sunday's finale will be a pair of right-handers as Jose Urquidy (11-4, 3.69) of the Astros takes on Charlie Morton (6-5, 4.04) of the Braves. Game time is set for 1:35pm EST.
The Astros are once again in a familiar place, both geographically and in the standings. The Astros have returned to the scene of last season's heartbreak, Truist Park in Atlanta. The Astros lost two of three games in Atlanta in last year's World Series on their way to a six-game series loss to the eventual World Champion Braves. The Astros have also returned to a prominent place, the top of the American League standings. After playing second fiddle to the juggernaut that was the New York Yankees for much of the season, the Astros are now alone at the top of the American League standings. On Friday night, the Astros dropped the series opener 6-2 as the Braves pounded out 12 hits and Austin Riley hit a three-run home run. The bigger story, however, was the removal from Astros MVP-candidate Yordan Alvarez because of shortness of breath. He was checked out at a local hospital and given a clean bill of health after the game. On Saturday night, without Alvarez, the Astros went into extra innings but fell for the second straight night, 5-4, to the red-hot Braves.
Rematch of the 2021 World Series. pic.twitter.com/WUgARZsYyv
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 19, 2022
The Astros look to have the kind of roster that can make a run deep through the playoffs once again this season. The Astros rotation is spearheaded by veteran ace Justin Verlander and recently welcomed the return of Lance McCullers Jr. to strengthen the team's depth. At the trade deadline, the Astros added depth by bringing in former all-star catcher Christian Vazquez from the Red Sox and long-time Oriole Trey Mancini to give the team more pop from the right side. Mancini hit four home runs in his first thirteen games with the Astros to prove his worth. On the mound for the Astros in the opener will be Jose Urquidy. Urquidy has 13 quality starts on the season and sports a tidy 2.51 ERA in his last five starts. In those five starts, Urquidy is 3-0 and has allowed just 21 hits in 31 innings pitched.