Why an Astros-Rockies World Series is Not That Crazy to Think About

Jack McMullen

As a Generation Z kid writing about baseball, I havent been alive to see the Colorado Rockies
and the Houston Astros as serious contenders in the same year. And here I am, in May of 2017,
telling you that I will not be surprised to see these two teams match up in the World Series this
year.

Its not a fluke that Colorado and Houston own the two best records in baseball. Houston
became the first team to 30 wins with a 1-0 victory over Detroit on Monday, while Colorado
joined them at the top of the mountain on Tuesday.

Theyve done it different ways. Colorado utilizes its electrifying offense to annihilate opposing
pitching, while AJ Hinch and his Astros continue to win chess match after chess match. Though
differing in attack, heres why these two ball clubs are the best in baseball, and deservedly so.

Colorado

Runs, runs, and more runs. The big bats are the reason that the Rockies rank in the top ten in
baseball in Hits, Runs, Home Runs, and Slugging Percentage. The high altitude of Denver has
made Coors Field notorious for baseballs traveling what seems like a mile. Just ask Giancarlo
Stanton, who clubbed a 504-foot bomb in that ballpark last August.

In 2017, the Rockies are utilizing their home-court advantage a little bit more than their
opponents. Colorados pitching staff owns an ERA+ of 118, tied with St. Louis for the third best
mark in the MLB. This young pitching staff is finally starting to take shape, while Greg Holland
has thrown like he used to throw. the 31-year-old closer has thrown to the tune of a 0.96 ERA
and a league-best 19 saves.

The biggest reason the Rockies are in the position theyre in is because of perhaps the most
under-appreciated superstar the game has to offer. Nolan Arenado has been, in my opinion, a
top three player in baseball the last several years. He has led or shared the league-lead in
Home Runs, RBIs, and Total Bases the past two years, and hes well on his way to doing it
again in his age-26 season. Arenado owns the best OPS hes ever had this year at .937, and his
12 HRs and 32 RBIs in the first six weeks of baseball are nothing to scoff at. His dominance at
the plate, coupled with his unbelievable skill defensively, is why he is in the NL MVP race and
his team is in the hunt for the Fall Classic.

Houston

This Astros lineup has taken on a new identity this year. After having the fourth most strikeouts
in baseball last year, they now have the fourth least this year. Their Home Run numbers are up,
their Runs Scored numbers are up, they have improved in pretty much every offensive category.

This offensive firepower is seemingly brought by a different guy every single night. Jose Altuve
and Carlos Correa have combined for 94 Hits and 46 RBIs through 46 games so far this year,
so they have contributed the way that everyone was expecting them to contribute. George
Springer, though hitting just .235 thus far, has hit nine HRs from the leadoff spot. Newcomers
Josh Reddick, Brian McCann, and Carlos Beltran have combined for 16 HRs and 59 RBIs so
far. Even Marwin Gonzalez, who acts as a utility man for AJ Hinch, has a team-high 10 HRs and
26 RBIs. This offense is lethal, not because of the output, but because of the number of guys
who can dish it out on a consistent basis.

However, its been the pitching that has gotten Houston to the top, and it starts and ends with
ace Dallas Keuchel. After taking home the 2015 AL Cy Young Award following a 20-8 season on
the hill, Keuchel seemed to flame out in 2016. He finished the year 9-12 with a 4.55 ERA, not
eclipsing the 200 IP mark for the first time in three years.

2017 has been a more than fortunate turn-of-the-times for Keuchel. He is throwing better than
he did during his Cy Young season so far, owning an undefeated 7-0 record with a video game-
esque 1.84 ERA and career-low 0.864 WHIP. If he can keep this up when re returns from a brief
stint on the DL, Houston will be boasting a beast at the top of its rotation.

It seems that the rest of the Astros pitching staff picked up on Dallas Keuchels good vibes.
Lance McCullers has been stellar at 5-1 with a 2.43 ERA, while guys like Charlie Morton and
Brad Peacock have thrown the ball effectively as of late. The bullpen has been solid as well, as
Chris Devenski, Will Harris, Michael Feliz, and Tony Sipp all own sub-three ERAs. Ken Giles
has been formidable as the Astros closer this year, as he has dished out 23 Ks in 18.1 IP thus
far.

If the Astros are going to solidify themselves as a favorite in the American League, Jeff Luhnow
is going to have to be active in the summer months. The offense, as of right now, looks like it
can get them to the playoffs, but a front-line starter and a plus closer are needed to put Houston
over the edge. Names like Gerrit Cole and Mark Melancon have been floating all season, so it
will be interesting to see what Houston does to keep their place among the top dogs.