The 2022 World Series is set up to be a true David vs. Goliath matchup. On one side is a team that’s an astonishing seven games above .500 for the postseason; that’s outscored its opponents by 22 runs; and that’s tossed two shutouts so far and has the hottest hitter on the planet.
And on the other side is the Astros.
Despite having postseason résumés that are more similar than you might have expected, it’s the Astros—with their 19-game advantage in regular-season wins and unblemished playoff record—who are the overwhelming favorite to win this year’s Fall Classic. The SI Sportsbook has Houston at -150, and other books have the American League champs as high as -200. Nobody expected the Phillies to make it this far, and despite Philadelphia’s similarly superior form in October, most still view this as an unfair fight.
