Everything You Need to Know Before the World Series

"Today's the day! The sun is shining, the tank is clean."

Sorry, I’ve always wanted to lead a column by quoting that incredible work of voice acting from Allison Janney as Peach in Finding Nemo. In all seriousness, this is a glorious time to be a baseball fan, and nothing—not even an unforeseen clean tank—could dampen our spirits.

Game 1 of the World Series begins tonight, with the Astros hosting the Braves at Minute Maid Park. This is a matchup we didn’t expect, but that doesn’t make it any less compelling. The Astros, wearing their heel turn as a badge of honor, are the villains baseball otherwise lacks. Their cheating and continued dominance afterward recalls the Brady–Belichick…