For the first time in Game 7 we have two Cy Young pitchers in the ultimate elimination game. We’ll see Max Scherzer (1-0, 3.60 ERA) face off against Zack Greinke (0-0, 1.93 ERA) with the World Series title at stake.
Nationals vs Astros (Series tied 3-3)
When: Tuesday, Oct. 29
Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX.
Time: 8:00 p.m. EDT
TV Channel: FOX
Live Stream: fuboTV (try for free)
If one word had to describe the 2019 World Series it would be pitching. While it once defined MLB, the offense has dominated as of late, especially home runs. With the competing duos of Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg for the Nationals and Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole for the Astros, it’s hard to pick who has the upper hand. However, Nats starter Patrick Corbin and Astros starter Zack Greinke have dominated in their own right this season.
Cole, the Game 1 starter, has been near-unhittable this postseason, with a 0.40 ERA and 32 strikeouts in his three starts. Tallying 358 strikeouts entering the World Series marks the most by any pitcher in a single year since Randy Johnson in 2001 (419). Verlander hasn’t had as much success this postseason. He has a pair of strong outings, but also a pair of losses, and a 3.70 ERA.
While the Nationals took longer to announce the order of their starting rotation, Scherzer will start Game 1. He is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA and coming off back-to-back outstanding outings, allowing a combined one run on five hits and five walks with 18 strikeouts in 14 innings. Meanwhile, Strasburg is making his first World Series appearance. He’s 3-0 this postseason, allowing a total of four runs and tallying double-digit strikeouts twice, which includes Game 3 of the NLCS vs. St Louis when he struck out 12 batters over seven innings.
While pitching may be the big story surrounding the series, plenty of other players will make the series one for the ages. Astros third baseman Alex Bregman and Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon are MVP candidates. Don’t forget about Jose Altuve. The Astros second baseman sent the Astros to the World Series with a walk-off two run home run in Game 6. Altuve sets the table for the Astros and is also hitting .349/.417/.767 with five home runs this month. Also, don’t forget about Juan Soto, the 20-year-old who got the game-winning hit in the NL Wild Card Game and Howard Kendrick, who hit a grand slam in the NLCS vs. Dodgers and was named the MVP after posting a 1.012 OPS.
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