Full circleĪstros manager Dusty Baker is looking to win his first World Series ring. The series will be a family affair for Braves manager Brian Snitker, as his son Troy Snitker serves as a hitting coach for the Astros. With their 2017 Series victory now marred, a championship in 2021 could be without an asterisk. Years later, many players and fans are still displeased by how Houston failed to play the game right. An investigation from late 2019 through 2020 determined general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch, both since fired, were accountable and the team was fined the maximum $5 million in penalties. It was later discovered that the victory was aided by a sign-stealing, trash can-banging scandal that season, which became one of the biggest cheating crimes in baseball history. Other prominent players on the team include designated hitter and outfielder Yordan Alvarez and pitcher Framber Valdez.įor Houston, there are constant reminders of the controversy surrounding their 2017 championship over the Dodgers. Meanwhile, on the Astros roster, shortstop Carlos Correa, first baseman Yuli Gurriel, second baseman Jose Altuve and third baseman Alex Bregman are the only four who have been with the team since their 2017 victory. The team finished the regular season with 88 wins, the fewest of any team in the playoff field, and this marks the seventh time in the Wild Card era since 1995 that a team with the fewest wins reached the World Series. They are the fourth team ever to advance to the World Series after having a losing record at the All-Star break and the first to do so since 1991, according to ESPN. and Ian Anderson, were not even born when Atlanta last won the series in 1995. In fact, several players, including Albies, Ronald Acuna Jr. The Braves have reached the World Series for the first time since 1999. Other key names are pitcher Charlie Morton, second baseman Ozzie Albies, third baseman Austin Riley, left fielder Eddie Rosario, reliever Tyler Matzek and shortstop Dansby Swanson. On the Braves roster, first baseman Freddie Freeman - who was last year's NL MVP and is the team's longest-tenured player - will be appearing in his first World Series. The Astros won the American League Division Series 3-1 and will advance to the American League Championship Series Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros celebrates as the Astros defeat the Chicago White Sox 10-1 to win Game 4 of the American League Division Series at Guaranteed Rate Field on Octoin Chicago, Illinois.