2018 World Series Preview
Heading into the postseason there were always two favourite teams and at the end of the road, those two are sitting waiting to be the next World Series champion.
Both teams became favourites in different ways though as they didn’t find their way to this point the same way.
The Los Angeles Dodgers were a favourite when the season began but they certainly didn’t play like it for most of the season.
The Dodgers began with a 26-30 record they were not the usual force they had become in the NL West.
They were seeing other teams take over with Colorado and Arizona both finding their way to the top of the division.
It wasn’t the usual season for the Dodgers but as the season moved on they were able to put themselves back in the running.
As the season wound down they were sitting there in the hunt for another division title and got that title.
It wasn’t an easy season but in the end, the Dodgers were able to rise to the top and carry momentum into the postseason.
They had a tough battle against the Milwaukee Brewers going to seven games but still coming out on top.
The Red Sox had a bit of a different path as things have been a little bit easier for them throughout the season.
From the start of the season, the Red Sox were the best team in the league as they came out strong and never let up.
With a combination of young offensive stars and veteran arms, they were able to find their way to the top of the toughest division in baseball.
It wasn’t a tough climb despite the challenges from the New York Yankees as Boston has been the best team in the league all season.
That led them to the top spot in the postseason and after beating their divisional rivals in four games and then the defending World Series champions in five games they are were everyone thought they would be.
No matter how they got here the fact is that both are among the biggest teams in the league but despite their followings, they have had varying degrees of success.
The Red Sox are a franchise among the list of worst droughts in the history of the league but that drought is long gone.
They have been one of the more successful teams in recent years taking home World Series titles in 2004, 2007 and 2013.
In that time the Dodgers have failed to take home a title at all with their last World series coming in 1988.
It hasn’t been for a lack of chances though as ever year the Dodgers seem to get closer and closer without being able to finish the season.
They had plenty of great seasons throughout the last two decades but nothing ever seemed to come from that success.
Then in 2013 they were able to make it to the NLCS and began a run of five straight seasons in the postseason.
Throughout that time they have continued to move up including last year when they were able to make it to the World Series.
That didn’t pan out as they had hoped, losing to the Astros but in their fifth straight postseason appearance, they are back in the World Series.
The frustration is still there from a year ago and a Dodgers team with plenty of veterans is looking at this as their last chance at breaking the drought.
For Boston, this is their chance to stat what could be a special run through the league.
They are young and talented and with at least a few years left with a similar roster, they could be about to start a great run.
Both teams are built similarly as they have great arms throughout their pitching staff and a good offence.
When looking at both teams they are the two best teams at producing runs in the entire league while both have top-five team ERAs.
They are teams built in the same image making this matchup an interesting one as neither have a lot of weak spots.
The veteran-laden Dodgers look to fend off the new age Red Sox taking advantage of a closing window and shut the just emerging window of the Red Sox.
Two teams built the same but on different ends of their time will face off looking to be the best in the world.
The Sport Addiction 