The 2022 World Series begins on Friday night when the Houston Astros host the Philadelphia Phillies for Game 1 in the best-of-seven series. And to steal a line from the late Yogi Berra, this year’s matchup feels like déjà vu all over again.
The grounds crew at Minute Maid Park in Houston prepare for the start of the 2022 World Series, which begins Friday night at the park. The Houston Astros host Game 1 against the Philadelphia Phillies and are the favorite to win the championship, according to Caesars Sportsbook. (Image: ESPN)It’s not a rematch of last year’s matchup, which featured the Atlanta Braves beating the Astros in six games. But similarities abound. Like last year’s Braves, this year’s Phillies squad was nearly counted out in the midseason before finishing with a strong second half to make the playoffs. Also, like last year, the Astros are once again a strong favorite to win. According to Caesars Sportsbook, Houston is a -200, or 1-2, favorite, while the Phils are +170.
But as baseball often proves in October, the perceived better team doesn’t always pop the champagne at the end.
This year, Houston has its top two pitchers – Justin Verlander and Lance McCullers Jr. – who weren’t available for last year’s Fall Classic because of injuries. Verlander, the 39-year-old future Hall of Famer, gets the start Friday against the Phillies’ Aaron Nola.
It starts with pitching, and to have Lance and Verlander and to have the other young guys one year more mature and confident, it s a good feeling,” Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters Thursday.
The Astros are the -170 favorite to win Game 1, according to , with Philadelphia at +143.
Friday’s game starts at 8:03 p.m. ET and will be aired on FOX.
Harper, Bregman Top MVP BetsWhile the Astros are the favorites to win the Series, the odds point to Phillies slugger Bryce Harper to win the World Series MVP.
The Las Vegas native has been nothing short of sensational in the postseason. In 11 games, he’s hitting .419 and slugging .907. In 43 at bats, he has five home runs, six doubles, and 11 runs batted in. His two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series clinched the game and the series against the San Diego Padres.
Caesars is offering Harper at +500 to win the postseason award. The sportsbook also offers a special odds boost at +850, though that’s limited to a $100 maximum wager. Earlier this postseason, a Pennsylvania bettor put down $100 on Harper when he was available at +7500.
Houston first baseman Yordan Alvarez, who is also having a fine postseason, is +600, while Verlander is available at +900.
Houston’s Alex Bregman, who started at +5000 and is now +1100, has attracted more than half of the Series MVP handle among the players in the World Series, according to Caesars. One Michigan bettor put $25,000 on the Astros third baseman when he was +1600 after they won the American League Championship Series. That would net the bettor $400,000 if Bregman wins.
Harper is the second-most popular pick, with 13.6% of the handle. He does have 16.5% of the tickets at Caesars, slightly more than the 15.8% of the bets on Bregman.
