World Series: Red Sox ready for the Dodgers

FRANK WALSH, Sports Writer

You can start warming up your grill and let the barbecue celebrations start, because the World Series is about to begin! Baseball is as American as it gets when it comes to sports.

This year, two opposite coastal teams will be squaring off in the 114th playing of the Fall Classic, and it should be a great series to witness.The Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers will be facing each other to decide which team is the best in Major League Baseball.

The Boston Red Sox, the American League champions, are looking to capitalize on their historic seasonal success in the organization’s 13th World Series appearance in search of their ninth title. Boston’s tough city-slicking attitude bodes well for this city because it is not as glamorous and sparkly as Los Angeles.

The Red Sox were able to knock out their arch rivals, the New York Yankees, in the first round of the playoffs before taking down the defending world champion Houston Astros in five games in the American League Championship Series. Led by outfielder Mookie Betts, pitchers David Price and Chris Sale and first year manager Alex Cora, the Sox are considered the favorite in the series as they look to win their fourth World Series crown in the last 14 years.

The Dodgers are looking to stake another claim at a title as they return to the World Series. The back-to-back National League champions posted series wins over the Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers to make their second straight Fall Classic.

Los Angeles fought hard, but fell in a hotly contested seven-game championship series to the Astros last fall. Headlining the Dodgers lineups includes stars such as Clayton Kershaw, Manny Machado, Josh Turner and third-year manager Dave Roberts.

This will be the first time the two teams will meet in the World Series since 1916, when the Red Sox defeated the then-Brooklyn Robins in five games.

My prediction for this World Series is that the Red Sox will win the championship in five games. Boston was able to make quick work of the Astros, while it took the Dodgers a whole seven game series just to beat the Brewers.

The Sox did their job in five games and are well-rested for the final showdown, having been able to kick back and relax while the Dodgers fought for their playoff lives to beat the Brewers. The Dodgers will only have two full days of rest before the first game of the series begins Tuesday night at Boston’s historic Fenway Park.

The Red Sox won a major league baseball best 108 games this year, the most in their franchise’s history. They will look to come out hot with the bats when the best-of-seven series kicks off, looking for their first championship since 2013. The Dodgers, on the other hand, are in search of their seventh championship and their first since 1988 with the help of their strong pitching.

With the best record in baseball, Boston holds home-field advantage and will host the first two games of the series, as well as games six and seven if they are needed to be played. Meanwhile for Los Angeles, games three, four and, if necessary, game five, will be played in the City of Angels.

First pitch for game one on Tuesday night in Boston is set for 7:09 p.m. on FOX.