LOS ANGELES — Upset winners and unsung heroes are part of the charm of the World Series. Yet at its core, as the culmination of the longest, most punishing schedule in major professional sports, the event should be a showcase for excellence — and greatness will be out in force this time.
The 113th World Series, which starts here on Tuesday between the Los Angeles Dodgers (104-58) and the Houston Astros (101-61), will be the first matchup of 100-victory teams in nearly 50 years. The last such meeting, between Baltimore and Cincinnati in 1970, resulted in an emphatic five-game triumph for the Orioles.