SEC could be very well represented at the 2018 World Series

Not only did the 2017 World Series produce some fantastic baseball, but it was also full of SEC alumni. In the series between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers, which the Astros walked away from as champions, the teams had 11 SEC players combined on their rosters.

The Astros and Dodgers teams featured representatives from Arkansas, LSU, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Texas A&M, and Auburn.

Now, with spring training underway and the events of the offseason given time to simmer down, the Los Angeles Dodgers have emerged as the perceived strongest team in the National League. The Houston Astros are looking like the strongest team in the whole of the MLB, let alone the American League.

While the Astros and the Dodgers have a very long season of baseball ahead of them, they are both seen as the strongest teams in their leagues. If the two were to meet in the 2018 World Series in a grand rematch, the SEC would be very well represented - even more so than last year.

Houston Astros to dominate again

Fans could see it simmering in Texas for a few years. But then, in 2017, the Houston Astros finally pulled it all together to go all the way and win the World Series. In that historic win - the franchise’s first championship - the Astros had four SEC alumni on the roster.

Most notable of the four is Dallas Keuchel, formerly of the Arkansas Razorbacks. He was accompanied by two LSU graduates in Will Harris and Alex Bregman, as well as Vanderbilt alum Tony Kemp.

The Houston Astros are set to come into the season with the strongest team in the league once again this year. Their undeniable strength throughout the roster has them rated at +550 to win the World Series in the MLB odds at bet365, while AL competitors in the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians are at +600 and +750, respectively.

This year, they may even have the backing of another former SEC baseball star. First baseman A.J. Reed has a chance to become a part of the puzzle in the upcoming season. The Houston Astros are still confident that the 2014 second round pick can fulfill his potential and may give the former Kentucky Wild Cat a shot in the big leagues.

Los Angeles Dodgers are the NL’s best

The Los Angeles Dodgers took the highest-rated team in the league to Game 7 of the World Series, but succumbed to the sheer power of Houston and lost 5-1 at Dodger Stadium. This year, the Dodgers still look like a strong roster, one that could win the NL West for the fifth consecutive season.

In last year’s championship series, the Dodgers roster had a good seven SEC graduates. Georgia was well represented by Josh Fields, Alex Wood, and Kyle Farmer; Logan Forsythe played college baseball for Arkansas; Walker Buehler was a Vanderbilt Commodore, and Grant Dayton played for the Auburn Tigers.

A mere 20 days after their World Series defeat, Dayton was claimed off of the waivers by the Atlanta Braves. But, the Dodgers are set to be equally as strong in SEC numbers. Last season, Tennessee alum Andrew Toles missed much of the season due to an ACL injury. This season, however, the Dodgers have pledged to be cautious with Toles and ease him back through spring training.

If all goes to plan and these former stars of the SEC don’t pick up a serious injury or find themselves elsewhere before the fall, these top two World Series contenders could bring 12 SEC alumni to the championship series.