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MLB expert predictions favor the Astros over the Nationals in World Series

Can Dave Martinez and the Nationals finish the fight with a World Series title? (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)

The Houston Astros, who won an MLB-best 107 games during the regular season, are the biggest World Series favorites in 12 years against the Nationals, whose run to the Fall Classic began with a comeback win in the National League wild-card game. Washington is no stranger to long odds. On May 24, Dave Martinez’s team had a 3 percent chance of even qualifying for the postseason. Now the Nationals are four wins from a World Series title.

At the start of the playoffs, few pundits predicted the Nationals would get past the Dodgers in the NL Division Series. MLB Network analyst Bill Ripken was an exception; the former Orioles second baseman picked Washington and Houston to meet in the World Series, and the Nationals to overpower the Astros for the franchise’s first championship.

Here’s a look at how several other experts see the World Series unfolding:

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ESPN

Twenty-two of 29 experts pick the Astros to win. Gerrit Cole, the Astros’ Game 1 starter, is the favorite to win MVP honors with 14 votes, followed by Max Scherzer (three) and Alex Bregman, George Springer, Carlos Correa and Anthony Rendon (two apiece).

CBS Sports

Three of CBS’s five experts predict the Astros will prevail. Dayn Perry and Matt Snyder pick the Nationals in seven games, with Patrick Corbin and Stephen Strasburg their respective picks to win MVP.

MLB.com

Thirty-seven of 46 experts pick the Astros to win the World Series, with nine of them predicting Houston will finish the job in four or five games. Gerrit Cole, the Astros’ Game 1 starter, is the favorite to win the MVP award with 30 votes, followed by Max Scherzer and Alex Bregman with five votes apiece.

FiveThirtyEight

The site gives the Astros a 60 percent chance to win the World Series.

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USA Today

All five experts pick the Astros, and only Bob Nightengale thinks the series will go seven games.

Sports Illustrated

All six experts predict the Astros will win, though four expect the series will go seven games.

SB Nation

Two of three writers on SB Nation’s baseball staff pick the Nationals to win the title, with Max Scherzer and Anthony Rendon earning MVP honors.

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Sporting News

Ryan Fagan picks the Astros in seven games.

Bleacher Report

Joel Reuter offers game-by-game predictions for how the World Series will play out, with Justin Verlander closing out the Nationals at home in Game 6.

WTOP

Three out of five members of the WTOP sports team pick the Astros to prevail in six games.

Fox Sports

On Tuesday’s pregame show, Frank Thomas and Alex Rodriguez picked the Astros in seven. David Ortiz likes the Nats in seven.

Houston Chronicle

All seven pundits predict the Astros will win their second title in the past three years.

The Washington Post

Dave Sheinin: Astros in 6 (MVP: Alex Bregman)

Adam Kilgore: Nationals in 7 (Stephen Strasburg)

Neil Greenberg: Astros in 5 (Baby Shark)

Scott Allen: Nationals in 7 (Juan Soto)

Read more on the Nationals:

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