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Sports Illustrated's Ben Reiter who predicted 2017 championship says Astros will win World Series
Oct 23, 2019, 10:47 am
The Astros will have a reason to celebrate this year, according to Ben Reiter. Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Ben Reiter, senior writer with Sports Illustrated, made a bold prediction when he said the Houston Astros, who were in the midst of a 100-loss season in 2014, predicted the club would win the World Series.
What's more, he predicted the exact year of 2017 for Houston's crowning.
This season, he correctly predicted a 2019 World Series of the Astros and Washington Nationals. He believes the 'Stros are taking it again.
Reiter spoke with ABC13 hours before Game 1, explaining that the Astros are a growing dynasty.
He believed strongly in the Astros organization and its plan to rebuild using analytics, patient decision-making, cutting edge training, and a dash of gut intuition. That grew into his book Astroball: The New Way to Win It All.
In the book, he dives into the team's strategy for continued success.
Aside from correctly predicting the championship matchup, he offered more predictions.
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Christian Walker singled home the go-ahead run in the ninth inning and the Houston Astros beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.
WALKER FOR THE LEAD!#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/WDf7uZKB9C
— Houston Astros (@astros) July 23, 2025
Zack Short and Taylor Trammell started the ninth with bunt singles against Kevin Ginkel (1-4). One out later, Walker, a former Diamondback, hit a grounder up the middle to score Short.
Josh Hader pitched the ninth for his 27th save and the Astros, who have won four in a row took a six-game lead in the AL West.
Arizona trailed 3-1 entering the eighth, but Geraldo Perdomo led off with a double off reliever Bennett Sousa (4-0). Ketel Marte singled to drive in Perdomo, Corbin Carroll doubled to right sending Marte to third. Marte scored the tying run on Josh Naylor’s single.
Brandon Walter had held the Diamondbacks to one run and four hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out five, throwing just 82 pitches.
Walter doing the job. #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/4kamv3p1oj
— Houston Astros (@astros) July 23, 2025
Marte hit Walter’s first pitch of the game for a home run, his 20th of the season.
The Astros scored twice in the sixth. Walker led off with a double off Brandon Pfaadt, then advanced to third when Yainer Diaz also doubled. But Walker scored when shortstop Perdomo booted Brice Matthews’ grounder for an error. Diaz scored the go-ahead run on reliever Andrew Saalfrank’s wild pitch.
Houston made it 3-1 when Diaz doubled off Trevor Richards leading off the eighth and scored on Mauricio Dubón’s single.
Perdomo went 4 for 4.
Postgame reaction
Walker joined Space City Home Network after the game and discussed sweeping his former team and much more!
Christian Walker drives in the winning run in the 9th as the #Astros win 4-3 and sweep the Diamondbacks
Walker talked with @Lo_Callender after the @astros WIN#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/A3LvmK9JCy
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) July 23, 2025
Key moment
Sousa got Arizona’s Randal Grichuk to hit into a double play with the bases loaded to end the eighth.
Key stat
Walter has only walked four batters in 53 2/3 innings this season.
Next
Arizona is off Thursday before beginning a nine-game trip Friday in Pittsburgh. Houston returns home to play the Athletics; the Astros have not announced a Thursday starter.