Fox Sports Analyst Predicts Braves to Win World Series Before Opening Day
The Atlanta Braves have been selected to win the 2024 World Series just before the start of the new Major League Baseball season. Fox Sports MLB analyst Ben Verlander, who is also the brother of future Hall of Fame pitcher Justin Verlander, has picked the Braves to defeat the Houston Astros in a World Series rematch.
Verlander noted that he’s correctly predicted two of the last four World Series winners, meaning his pick could be seen as a bit of a toss-up at this point.
In his postseason prediction, Verlander has the Braves defeating the Mets in the Wild Card Series. With the Braves as the higher seed and the Phillies receiving a bye into the National League Division Series, this suggests the Braves will finish second in the NL East. However, Verlander believes they will finally get their revenge on the Phillies after being eliminated by them in the NLDS in 2022 and 2023. This time, the Braves would eliminate the defending World Series champs, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the NLDS, setting the stage for payback in the National League Championship Series.
Revenge seems to be a key theme for the Braves in recent postseason history. When they won the National League pennant in 2021, they avenged a heartbreaking 3-1 NLCS loss to the Dodgers the previous year.
THE PICK IS IN
BRAVES WIN THE WORLD SERIES
*Of note: I’ve gotten 2 of the last 4 preseason WS picks correct https://t.co/YQF6C79T0w
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) March 26, 2025
If Verlander’s prediction comes true, it would mark the continuation of a trend for the Braves. Back in 1995, they won the World Series against the Cleveland Indians, avenging their 1948 loss to the Indians when they were the Boston Braves. Since 1957, however, the Braves have consistently fallen short in World Series matchups against the Yankees.
While it’s uncertain how the Braves will fare if they meet the Twins or Blue Jays in the World Series, one thing is clear: if they manage to defeat the Astros, it would mark the first time the Braves have beaten the same team twice in a World Series.
Verlander’s prediction underscores an important point: the Braves’ roster remains highly talented and, if healthy, they are more than capable of winning it all. Many key players are expected to return and play a significant role in the postseason, a luxury that wasn’t available in October.
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