SB Nation Reacts: The World Series is entering the home stretch

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Each week, we send 30 polls to plugged in fans from each team. Astros fans, sign up HERE to join Reacts.

So, who else in Houston had some serious déjà vu following Game 4 last night? You know, a dramatic win in the bottom of the final inning for the “home” team against the Dodgers in the World Series?

Regardless of your rooting interest, Game 4 featured one of the craziest conclusions in postseason history. Do I dare say even more wild than Game 5 of the 2017 World Series? Hey, it still happened everyone. In fact, Game 4 was the first time a double error to end a game in World Series history based on what I am reading on Twitter. And if someone had to be hero on the Rays not named Charlie Morton, I am thrilled it was former Astros top prospect Brett Phillips. Depending on the outcome of the series, fans may need to start voting for the backup outfielder as the series MVP.

Nah, I’m kidding. Well, mostly.

That said, there are at least two games remaining. Plenty of baseball left to play, especially if a Game 7 occurs. The Dodgers were the best team in baseball for a reason, so if anyone can bounce back from a defeat like that one, it is probably them. But the Rays, as Astros fans found out in the ALCS, are too dangerous to be writen off. But fans, for the most part, are actually rooting for Tampa Bay to win their first World Series title.

It’ll be interesting to see how the next two games unfold. For one, the Dodgers have Clayton Kershaw ready to go again tonight in Game 5. For what its worth, Los Angeles should feel confident with their co-ace on the mound tonight. The main concern, as it has been in recent Octobers, is whether manager Dave Roberts will have another bullpen blunder. We saw that ugly tendency emerge last night as he stuck with Pedro Baez for a bit too long. But the Rays bullpen may be a bit more important in the grand scheme of things. After all, Tampa’s highly vaunted relief corp is major aspect of their identity. Most fans realize this fact as most speculate that the bullpen will have a better ERA than the Dodgers starters, although that may not be the case right now.

On the other hand, the Dodgers, by and large, have the better and deeper lineup. Corey Seager is arguably at his best right now and Justin Turner has turned back the clock a bit in this series. Of course, there are two MVP caliber players in Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger to keep in mind. While the Rays are talented in their own right, a doubt still remains whether they can win multiple slugfest against this Dodgers lineup. To no great surprise, fans expect Los Angeles to ultimately out homer Tampa in this series.

However, the current tally is nine home runs for the Dodgers compared to eight for the Rays. It is a lot closer than what was likely expected heading into this Fall Classic. That could very likely change sometime in the next two games and, if necessary, Game 7. Let’s see who takes what is now the best of three series.