Fansided

One of these teams could stand between the Astros and history

By Christopher Silvey

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 10: Andrew Benintendi
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 10: Andrew Benintendi /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
ST PETERSBURG, FL – JUNE 24: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees hits a double in the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 24, 2018 at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida. The Rays won 7-6. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
ST PETERSBURG, FL – JUNE 24: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees hits a double in the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 24, 2018 at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida. The Rays won 7-6. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

2. New York Yankees

Much like most of the teams on this list, the Bronx Bombers boast an extremely impressive lineup- one that is near the top of every offensive category in the league. Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Didi Gregorius have been the faces of a lineup that leads Major League Baseball in Home Runs and OPS. Young stars like Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres have also contributed to the success of a team that Brain Cashman has done a great job of constructing. They are on pace to break the MLB Home Run record and set a new franchise record for wins.

On the other side of the ball, Yankees pitching has dominated opposing hitters. They rank 2nd in ERA, BAA, WHIP, and Strikeouts (barely behind the Astros in all four categories). Their bullpen, in particular, has shined, with Dellin Betances, David Robertson, and Aroldis Chapman leading the charge.

The chance of a rematch between the Yankees and Astros in the ALCS is very likely, and if that’s the case then the Astros might get a run for their money.

1.  Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox are one of the most complete teams in all of baseball. They rank 2nd in Batting Average, Home Runs, OPS, Stolen Bases, and Runs.

Not only are they an offensive powerhouse, but their pitching has been outstanding as well. The Sox’s pitching ranks 2nd in Saves, 3rd in ERA, Strikeouts, and BAA, and 4th in WHIP.

They have built a truly complete team, with stars like Mookie Betts, JD Martinez, and Andrew Benintendi leading the offensive push and Craig Kimbrel, Chris Sale, and Rick Porcello shining on the mound.

The numbers speak for themselves- Boston has proven that they are a reliable pick to make a run for the championship this season.

Next: Astros Win Streak Puts Them Atop Power Rankings

Time will tell if Houston can be beat, but one thing has been made clear this season- the road to a second World Championship will be much tougher this time around.

Home/MLB