A torrid World Series is on deck
Dodgers, Astros match two 100-win teams playing at their peak
Big-time aces Clayton Kershaw and Justin Verlander. Playoff boppers Jose Altuve and Justin Turner.
A pair of 100-win teams for the first time in nearly a half-century. Hollywood Walk of Fame vs. Texans who wear the star. A little extra Magic, plus Nolan back in the fast lane.
This is one hot World Series — the Houston Astros, fresh off a Game 7 victory over the Yankees, taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers, well rested after a postseason romp.
Could be real steamy, too. It’s supposed to be almost 100 degrees at Dodger Stadium for the opener Tuesday night, maybe the hottest temperature ever at a World Series game.
At least the familiar October chill that makes players and fans shiver shouldn’t be an issue outdoors in sun-baked California or under the retractable roof at Minute Maid Park.
Not that young stars Cody Bellinger and Carlos Correa would mind, nor would old pros Carlos Beltran and Chase Utley, nor top starters Dallas Keuchel and Yu Darvish.
The Astros have never won the crown. They’re playing for a whole region, with the Houston Strong patches on their uniforms representing an area hit hard by Hurricane Harvey.
The Dodgers haven’t been in the World Series since 1988, when Kirk Gibson’s bat, Orel Hershiser’s arm and Tommy Lasorda’s moves outdid Oakland for the crown.
Now with Lakers great Magic Johnson as a part owner, this LA team that led the majors with 104 wins is hoping to bring back the glory days that began in Brooklyn.
The Astros, the major leagues’ highest-scoring team this year, have never even won a World Series game. They only time they made it this far was 2005, when a club that included Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte got swept by the White Sox.
In fact, a World Series prize is the one piece of hardware missing from the trophy case from the Lone Star State. Texas teams have won the Super Bowl and championships in the NBA, NHL, college football and men’s and women’s basketball, but never in baseball.
CORA: Houston bench coach Alex Cora, who played for the Albuquerque Dukes for parts of 1998-2000, is the hottest managerial prospect in the game, but he has no interest in discussing where things stand.
“I don’t know anything about it,” he said Friday with a smile when asked about his immediate future.
NBC Sports Boston and Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports have reported that Cora, 42, is the choice to be Boston’s new manager, with an announcement possible now that the ALCS is over. Cora is also known to have interviewed with the Detroit Tigers, who just hired Ron Gardenhire, and the New York Mets, whose job remains open.
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe tweeted Saturday that the Nationals, whose manager’s job came open Friday when Washington dismissed Dusty Baker, will also ask the Astros for permission to speak with Cora.
CUBS: Chris Bosio is out as pitching coach after six seasons, USA Today and the Associated Press report.
GIANTS: Pitching coach Dave Righetti was transferred from manager Bruce Bochy’s field staff to special assistant to the general manager.