The 19-win difference between the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies in the regular season is the second-biggest of all-time for World Series participants. Only the 1906 all-Chicago World Series between the Cubs and White Sox had a biggest discrepancy. The biggest one in recent memory was back in 2019, when the Washington Nationals faced the vaunted Astros and won Game 7 on the road in Houston to earn the first World Series title in franchise history.
The Phillies will hope to channel some of that magic as they get ready for unquestioned best team in the American League in this year’s Fall Classic, which begins on Friday night in the Lone Star State. Philadelphia is 9-2 in the playoffs, having swept the Cardinals and then going 7-2 against the Braves and Padres. The Astros are a perfect 7-0, sweeping the Mariners and Yankees.
Under the old playoff format, the Phillies would not have made it. They were the last team to clinch a spot and were the third wild card behind the Mets and Padres. As this year’s “Team of Destiny”, they face long odds to pull a third straight upset.
Philadelphia Phillies (+ 160) vs. Houston Astros (-185)