The 2021 World Series will get underway Tuesday night with Game 1 between the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros. The Braves will be making their first appearance in the World Series since 1999. They defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 in the NLDS and the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 in the NLCS to get here.
The Astros will be playing in their third World Series in the past five seasons. They famously defeated the Dodgers in seven games back in 2017 and lost in seven games to the Washington Nationals in 2019. They needed just four games to eliminate the Chicago White Sox in the Division Series and then overcame a 2-1 deficit to defeat the Boston Red Sox 4-2 in the ALCS.
Charlie Morton will get the start for Atlanta in Game 1. Morton will be making his fourth start this postseason where he has allowed 10 hits and six runs in 14 1/3 innings combined. He allowed three hits and two runs over five innings in Game 3 of the NLCS against the Dodgers. Morton of course is no stranger to the Astros as he spent the 2017 and 18 seasons with the club. He famously closed out the 2017 World Series in Game 7 with three scoreless innings of relief. Morton has plenty of playoff experience and this is the exact situation that the Braves were hoping for when they signed him this past offseason.
The Astros will go with lefty Framber Valdez in Game 1. Valdez got off to a rough start this postseason but turned in a big performance for Houston in Game 5 of the ALCS against Boston. Valdez allowed seven hits and four runs in 4 1/3 innings in his only start in the Division Series. He then allowed six hits and two earned runs but was lifted after just 2 2⁄3 innings in Game 1 of the ALCS. Houston needed a good outing from him in Game 5 and he delivered holding Boston’s offense to just three hits and one run over eight innings.
Game 1 is scheduled to begin at 8:09 p.m. ET and can be seen on FOX
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Tuesday, October 26, 8:09 p.m. ET
Location: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
TV: FOX
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, WNNX 100.5, Braves Radio Network
DraftKings Sportsbook Game 1 Odds: Astros -140, Braves +120