Thomas Shea/USA TODAY Sports
Tonight, the sports world will turn its attention to the 2022 World Series, a best-of-seven playoff that pits the American League champion Houston Astros against the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies. The series will begin tonight, October 28, and last through November 5.
The schedule for the series is as follows (all times EST) and all games will appear on Fox:
- Friday, Oct. 28 – Game 1: Phillies at Astros, 8:03 p.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 29 – Game 2: Phillies at Astros, 8:03 p.m.
- Monday, Oct. 31 – Game 3: Astros at Phillies, 8:03 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 1 – Game 4: Astros at Phillies, 8:03 p.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 2 – Game 5: Astros at Phillies, 8:03 p.m. *if necessary
- Friday, Nov. 4 – Game 6: Phillies at Astros, 8:03 p.m. *if necessary
- Saturday, Nov. 5 – Game 7: Phillies at Astros, 8:03 p.m. *if necessary
Here are some quick hits and facts about the 2022 World Series opponents.
Intriguing 2022 World Series facts
- This is the second most lopsided World Series based on regular season win disparity of all-time. Nineteen victories separate the Astros (106-56) from the Phillies (87-75).
- Much like both Phillies championships, they enter a World Series with a country in financial disarray. During the 2008 series, the country was going through the Great Recession, and in 1980, their victory was followed by twin recessions. Let’s hope if they win, the team will not be a harbinger of economic malaise to come.
- Houston business owner, “Mattress Mack” has famously bet many times on Houston professional teams. He often ties in insanely popular promotions that if a local team wins a title, locals will get refunded purchases from his furniture stores. His bets typically are hedges against losses in the stores. This year, if the Astros win the World Series, he stands to receive the largest sportsbook payouts in American history at $75 million.
- Ticket prices for the series are reflecting demand in the Philadelphia market as fans unleash pent-up energy to see their first World Series since 2008. For Game 3, the first one in Philadelphia, the cheapest ticket into the stadium is $560, and the most pricey stands at $48,345. “Excitement is already strong for the World Series, especially in Philadelphia, where pent-up demand for the Phillies’ first championship appearance since 2009 is reflected in what we are seeing fans are willing to pay compared to the games in Houston,” Adam Budelli, spokesperson for StubHub, said.
- Sponsorship means big business in the landscape of professional sports, and that’s no different for the World Series. This will be the sixth season that the MLB has sold the presenting rights to the Fall Classic. This year, that right belongs to Capital One and will officially be referred to as the 2022 World Series presented by Capital One.
- Historically, only two teams with midseason managerial changes have ever made the World Series — the 1978 New York Yankees and the 2003 Miami Marlins. Both those teams ended up winning the title. Now, the Phillies look to become the third.
- Dusty Baker, the manager of the Astros is currently in his 25th season of coaching. At 73 years old, he seeks to be the oldest manager to win a World Series.
- Dave Dombroski, the Phillies president of baseball operations, is no stranger to Fall Classic appearances. As an executive, he has become the first to make World Series appearances with four different teams. He did so with the Marlins (1997), Tigers (2006, 2012), and the Red Sox (2018.
How did the Phillies get here?
About two months ago, the scenario of a Philadelphia Phillies World Series appearance would be laughable.
On June 3, they had a sub-five hundred record (22-29, .431) and fired team manager, Joe Girardi. In June, with the team 12.5 games out of first place in their division, the odds for the Phillies to win the World Series were astronomically high at +3500 to 1.
The Phillies made things interesting for their fanbase, ultimately clinching a playoff berth with three games remaining in the season. The Phillies entered the postseason as a sixth seed and the last of 12 teams in a newly-expanded playoff format. In the playoffs, the Phillies:
- In the Wild Card Series, swept the National League Central champion Cardinals (3-0).
- In the Divisional Series, defeated the defending World Series Champions and National League East champion Atlanta Braves (3-1) in four games.
- In the NLCS, defeated the fifth-seeded San Diego Padres in five games (4-1) to reach the World Series.
This comes at a very interesting moment as the city of Philadelphia is experiencing a momentum shift in the performance of its professional teams. As of late October 2022, the Eagles remain the only undefeated team in the NFL (6-0), and the Flyers are off to a solid start (5-2).
The Phillies history in the World Series
This will be the eighth World Series appearance for the Philadelphia Phillies, their first since 2009. Overall, they have won two championships.
- 1915 – The Red Sox defeated the Phillies in five games (4-1).
- 1950 – The New York Yankees swept the Phillies (4-0).
- 1980 – The Phillies earn their first World Series title, defeating the Kansas City Royals in six games (4-2).
- 1983 – The Baltimore Orioles defeat the Phillies in five games (4-1).
- 1993 – The Toronto Blue Jays beat the Phillies in six games (4-2).
- 2008 – In the first of back-to-back appearances for the club, the Phillies beat the Tampa Bay Rays in five games (4-1).
- 2009 – In their return to the Fall Classic, the Phillies lose to the Yankees in six (4-2).
- 2022 – TBD versus the Houston Astros.
How did the Astros get here?
This was supposed to be the season the Los Angeles Angels finally crested over the hump. With two of the game’s most prolific players in Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, the Angles hoped the AL West would go through Angel Stadium. But, after a 13-game slide led to the dismissal of manager Joe Maddon, the Houston Astros seized an opportunity to surge to the top of the divisional standings, where they remained for the majority of the season.
The World Series berth was powered by a dominant pitching staff that led the AL in the fewest runs allowed. Following his return from Tommy John surgery, ace pitcher Justin Verlander led the league in earned run average and wins.
- Following a thrilling 18-inning spectacular in game one, the Astros knocked out a feisty fan-favorite Seattle Mariners in the ALDS in three games (3-0).
- In the ALCS, the Astros sweep the Aaron Judge-led New York Yankees (4-0).
Heading into the World Series tonight, the Houston Astros are undefeated in the 2022 playoffs (7-0).
The Astros history in the World Series
The 2022 World Series will be the fifth appearance for the club. They have made an appearance as both a representative of the American League and the National League.
- 2005 – As a representative of the National League, the Astros were swept by the Chicago White Sox (4-0).
- 2017 – The Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games (4-3).
- 2019 – In a thrilling seven-game series, the Washington Nationals won their first title in franchise history by defeating the Astros in seven games (4-3).
- 2021 – The Atlanta Braves beat the Astros in six games (4-2).
- 2022 – TBD as the Phillies face the Astros.