Astros and Phillies Advance to World Series

The National and American League Pennant winners both were decided on October 23rd, one of which was a favorite and one that has been the biggest surprise of the postseason.

The Philadelphia Phillies were the final club to make it to the post season in the National League. As a Wild Card and the sixth seed in the NL, the Phillies had a difficult road in front of them. But they swept the two of three game Wild Card round, then beat the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves 3-1 in the best of five Division Series before taking on the other NL Wild Card, the San Diego Padres, in the National League Championship Series. After splitting the first two games in San Diego, the Phillies took three straight in front of the home crowd in Philadelphia to win their first pennant since 2009 and eighth overall. They have won two World Series (1980, 2008).

The Houston Astros, on the other hand, had the best record in the American League at 106-56. The Astros had a 1st round bye, then swept three from the Seattle Mariners in the Division Series before playing the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series. Houston swept the Yankees in four games to win their fifth pennant and fourth in the last six years. The Astros have won one World Series (2017). Last year, the Astros won the American League Pennant but lost to the Braves in six games.

The Astros and Phillies have met before in the post season, but not in the World Series. Houston was a National League franchise from its inception in 1962 until being transferred to the American League in 2013. Houston made its first post season appearance in 1980, as the winners of the National League West, against the National League East champion Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies won the best of five series 3-2, and advanced to the World Series where they beat the Kansas City Royals in six games.

The 2022 World Series begins October 28th in Houston.