Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Hunter Felt

World Series Game 6: Washington Nationals 7-2 Houston Astros – as it happened

Justin Verlander can help his team clinch the World Series on home turf
Justin Verlander can help his team clinch the World Series on home turf. Photograph: John G Mabanglo/EPA

Here’s the complete report for Game 6 of the World Series

Final thoughts

Well, there’s no other way they can win it now. Hats off to the Nationals, who looked dead in the water earlier in this game. Strasburg settled down, the offense came alive and not even an incredibly questionable umpiring call could distract them from their goal.

So now there’s officially one more game remaining in the MLB playoffs and it’s basically anybody’s guess about where it goes from here. We’ll have continuing coverage of the 2019 World Series here at the Guardian, including a liveblog of tomorrow’s Game 7 between the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros. That will conclude tonight’s live report, however, thanks to everybody who stuck with us throughout today’s thriller, especially those who contributed. Ciao!

Home Field Disadvantage

This continues to be one of the strangest World Series I can ever recall as the home team has now lost every single game. Now the question is, will that trend continue in tomorrow’s Game 7? Will it all come down to the starting pitchers?

Normally Max Scherzer would have an edge over Zack Greinke, but how healthy will Scherzer be?

Nationals force a Game 7

Thanks to an astounding start from Stephen Strasburg and a five RBI night from Anthony Rendon, the Washington Nationals have beaten the Houston Astros and forced a Game 7 in the 2019 World Series.

Nationals win Game 6!

Nationals 7-2 Astros, FINAL

So now Chirinos is up, hoping to keep the line moving. Doolittle’s first pitch is way too high. 1-0. He gets a high strike call on the next pitch. 1-1. He doesn’t get the call on the next pitch. 2-1. The next pitch is way high. 3-1. The Astros, to put it mildly, need baserunners here so Chirinos would like to reach by any means necessary. He takes the next pitch, but that’s a strike. 3-2. Chirinos pops up and the Nationals have won Game 6!

Nationals 7-2 Astros, bottom 9th

Carlos Correa is up trying to keep the Astros’ Game 6 hopes alive. He hits a booming double off the wall that could have been a home run. It just barely missed the yellow line.

Nationals 7-2 Astros, bottom 9th

It feels a bit weird to bring in Strasburg for just one batter in the ninth. I’m guessing some sort of matchup thing? In any case, here’s Sean Doolittle to face Yordan Alvarez. Alvarez flies out to Soto for the second out. The Nationals are one out away from forcing Game 7.

Strasburg is out for the 9th

Nationals 7-2 Astros, bottom 9th

Strasburg is indeed out for the ninth. His first batter will be Gurriel, who takes a strike and then hits one off the pitcher’s glove, but Cabrera gets to the ball and barehands it for the first out of the inning. It looks like that’s the end for Strasburg. That’s 8 1/3 innings of two-run baseball. A season-saving performance from one of the game’s best.

Nationals 7-2 Astros, top 9th

Soto lines out and we’re heading to the bottom of the ninth!

Two run double! (Nationals)

Nationals 7-2 Astros, top 9th

Here’s Anthony Rendon with two on and a chance to just put this one completely to bed. AND HE DOES! His double knocks in two more runs and this is over!

You know what, with those two extra runs I think it’s pretty safe to at least give him a shot.

Nationals 5-2 Astros, top 9th

And Eaton is hit by a pitch, so the Nationals have runners on first and second with two out.

Nationals 5-2 Astros, top 9th

Turner hits a double and nobody is going to call him out at second this time.

Nationals 5-2 Astros, top 9th

Yan Gomes falls behind 0-2 and then takes three balls to work a full count. Washington wouldn’t mind maybe an extra run or two here because who knows what can happen in this game.

Or Gomes can swing and miss and become the inning’s second out.

Nationals 5-2 Astros, top 9th

Chris Devenski is pitching the top of the ninth, facing Robles who flies out for the first out.

Now the question is: does Strasburg start the ninth inning? I… I don’t like the idea, I’ve seen that kind of move backfire in the past. Just ask Matt Harvey about how those things can do.

Nationals 5-2 Astros, bottom 8th

And Alex Bregman pops up Strasburg’s 101st pitch. Just outstanding. The Nationals are three outs away from forcing Game 7.

Nationals 5-2 Astros, bottom 8th

Will Strasburg being coming out for the bottom of the 8th? He’s only at 97 pitches… Well, yes he is. He’s here to face Altuve, who takes a strike. 0-1. The next pitch brushes Altuve back, but probably not purposefully at this point in the game. 1-1. He chops the next one to third and Rendon gets him on first in a bang-bang play. He’s having a game, this Rendon guy.

And Brantley grounds out before I can even post this update. Strasburg has been unreal.

Nationals 5-2 Astros, top 8th

Pressly gets ahead of Zimmerman 0-2 and then finds the outside corner. Well that was a much less eventful top of the inning. To the bottom of the 8th!

Nationals 5-2 Astros, top 8th

Cabrera is up next and he works a full count off of Pressly before swinging and missing. “Thank you very much,” Pressly says.

Nationals 5-2 Astros, top 8th

Ryan Pressly is pitching for the Astros now. He falls behind Kendrick 3-1 but is able to induce a groundout.

Email from Gerry in NJ:

And they can’t feckin’ protest?!?!?? And Martinez gets thrown out. With the dodgy feckin’ pitching calls the other night, there’s obviously something going on! Conspiracy theories, I know, but aren’t they facts now?

With officials I always go by this standard: never assume a conspiracy when incompetence is as an equally likely explanation.

Nationals 5-2 Astros, bottom 7th

Strasburg gets Springer to fly out. It looks like Scherzer is sitting down.

Apparently my “Ball Don’t Lie” line was not as original as I had hoped.

Nationals 5-2 Astros, bottom 7th

Reddick lines out for the second out of the inning.

Nationals 5-2 Astros, bottom 7th

Dave Martinez is still angry about the call and was just thrown out after a lot of loud, very physical, arguing with the umpires. The Nationals are attempting to play under protest, but it’s not allowed apparently?

Meanwhile, Strasburg strikes out Chirinos for the first out in the bottom of the seventh because there is, in case you forgot (and I nearly did), there is an actual baseball game going on.

Seventh inning stretch

Well after all that ridiculousness, I feel like the most ridiculous version of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” is required listening.

Nationals 5-2 Astros, top 7th

Soto lines out to end the inning but, wow, what an inning.

Two run home run (Nationals)

Nationals 5-2 Astros, top 7th

Rendon takes out his frustrations on the second pitch he sees, hitting it 353 feet and maybe saving all from spending tomorrow complaining about umpiring.

Ball don’t lie.

The Call Stands

Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 7th

Meanwhile, Will Harris is in the game just waiting to warm up. Turner is back in the dugout, absolutely furious and apparently swearing, he (rightfully) believes it should be second and third with nobody out. And they’re sticking with the call? They’re sticking with the call. Harris pitches to Eaton who immediately pops up. It’s two down, I guess.

“The crowd doesn’t have any idea of what is going on.”

Me either, man.

If the Nationals lose this game, this is going down in the bad kind of World Series history.

Replay Review

Okay now the umpires are getting together on this one. I guess they’re arguing that Turner was impeding the throw even though he technically was in his lane?

I am trying to explain the rule better but I don’t understand how Turner is out either. I went on Twitter to get their ruling and... well...

Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 7th

Oh dear. Turner hits what looks like an infield hit but gets called out for interference for messing with the throw for apparently not being in the lane. Gomes is sent back to first and the Nationals are furious

Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 7th

Peacock falls behind Gomes 3-1 and, what’s this? Scherzer is throwing with purpose in the Nationals bullpen. Are they really going to do this?

Gomes hits a solid single on a 3-2 pitch, but the Scherzer talk is now overshadowing what’s going on in the actual game.

The thing about having a disappointing record in the World Series is that it means that you’ve made a lot of World Series appearances. It’s a good bad record to have.

Nationals 3-2 Astros, bottom 6th

Carlos Correa falls behind 0-2 but lays off a breaking ball outside. 1-2. He can’t lay off on the next Strasburg pitch as he strikes out. Strasburg looks like he would be good to start the bottom of the seventh, which Washington has to love.

Nationals 3-2 Astros, bottom 6th

Alvarez hits into a fielder’s choice and the Nationals are able to gun down Gurriel at second. So still a runner on first but with two out.

Nationals 3-2 Astros, bottom 6th

It looks like Gurriel has hit into a double play but he hustles his way to first in time to beat out the throw to first. It’s one down with a runner on a first.

Nationals 3-2 Astros, bottom 6th

The ideal for the Nationals would be to get one more inning out of Strasburg here but that’s going to depend on how well he’s pitching. He’s only at 77 pitches but if he’s wild, Martinez will have no choice but to go to the bullpen.

Aaaand Strasburg immediately falls behind 2-0. Patrick Corbin is waiting in the bullpen as is… Max Scherzer? Bregman beats out an infield hit to start the bottom of the sixth.

Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 6th

Two out and nobody on for Robles, who almost instantly falls into an 0-2 hole. He doesn’t chase Peacock’s slider away. 1-2. Or the next slider away. 2-2. Robles fouls the next pitch off. Still 2-2. Peacock catches the corner again and ends the top of the sixth on a strikeout.

Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 6th

Peacock gets ahead of Zimmerman 1-2 before catching the corner for a strikeout. Zimmerman’s not happy but it looked like a strike from this blogger’s untrained eye.

Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 6th

And Justin Verlander will not be getting a win in a World Series unless there is a Game 7 and he comes out of the bullpen. Brad Peacock is up and he gets Cabrera to ground out.

Nationals 3-2 Astros, bottom 5th

Brantley takes a ball. 1-0. Then he fouls a pitch off. 1-1. He hits one hard but it’s right at Turner. It wasn’t drama-free, but Strasburg gets out of the inning unscathed!

Nationals 3-2 Astros, bottom 5th

Altuve’s the exact kind of hitter you want in this situation. Pretty much any situation, really. He’s looking to make contact here… but can’t do it on a first-pitch changeup. 0-1. He then fouls off the next one. He’s in an 0-2 hole, not that this makes him any less dangerous of a hitter.

AND STRASBURG GETS HIM TO STRIKE OUT ON A PITCH IN THE DIRT.

Nationals fans breath out, but the Astros still have a chance here with Michael Brantley at the plate.

Nationals 3-2 Astros, bottom 5th

Springer takes a borderline strike. 0-1. Strasburg’s next pitch has to be corralled by Gomes. 1-1. Strasburg gets another call, this one low and on the corner. 1-2. Springer can’t do anything with the next pitch, but stays alive by fouling it off. 1-2. He lays off the next one outside, looked like Stras was trying to get him to chase there but nothing doing. 2-2. Big pitch.

And Springer comes through with a double. That’s runners on second and third with just one out and Strasburg is officially in a jam here as the Astros can tie this game up on an out.

Nationals 3-2 Astros, bottom 5th

Josh Reddick comes out hacking and fouls off a 80 mph curve for strike one. Meanwhile the camera shows a shot of Brad Peacock in the Houston bullpen. Verlander might not be in this game much longer.

Strasburg’s next pitch is outside but Reddick gets fooled by his next changeup. 1-2. Reddick manages to just tap in the next pitch for a single. So now it’s one-on and one-out and there’s George Springer.

Nationals 3-2 Astros, bottom 5th

Chirinos takes a strike from Strasburg and then watches one bounce. 1-1. Chirinos pokes the next pitch foul. 1-2. Strasburg nearly clips Chirinos with the next offering. 2-2. Chirinos fouls one back and then swings and misses. That’s Stephen’s fourth k.

It’s not been the most dramatic of series until right around now-ish, in other words.

Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 5th

Kendrick hits a long foul ball to end the inning, but Washington has a lead all of a sudden. Now, can Strasburg have the shutdown inning he couldn’t pull off in the first inning?

Home run! (Nationals)

Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 5th

Soto takes two balls that are way out of the zone and then hits a foul ball that hits the roof. 2-1. Verlander’s pitch misses the upper corner. 3-1. And THE NEXT ONE GOES DEEP INTO THE STANDS. He keeps the bat with him to first base, imitating what Bregman did in his first inning home run trot.

The Nationals have the lead!

Nationals 2-2 Astros, top 5th

Rendon decides that he’s going to be swinging here too, but both of his attempts are foul (and he’s lucky that the second one makes the stands). He’s down 0-2 here, but he takes a Verlander pitch outside. 1-2. And he pops the next one up. That’s two down in the inning.

Home run! (Nationals)

Nationals 2-2 Astros, top 5th

Eaton looks at a strike down the middle. 0-1. AND THEN HE CRUSHES ONE. This is a tied game!

This is an actual game!

Nationals 1-2 Astros, top 5th

Trea Turner looks at a strike and fouls out to Gurriel. One dwn.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, bottom 4th

Strasburg’s next pitch is inside. 1-0. And the next one’s way off. He just keeps missing his spots. 2-0. Correa is thinking he’s going to get a meatball here and he swings and misses. Strasburg will take the mighty but empty cut. 2-1. And then he finally makes his pitch for strike number two to even the count. And the next pitch is outside of the zone but Correa can’t lay it off. That’s the inning, and we’re heading to the fifth!

Nationals 1-2 Astros, bottom 4th

Alvarez takes a ball. 1-0. And another. 2-0. And yet another. 3-0. That’s a bit worrisome, if you’re Washington. Now Strasburg has to hope Alvarez gets himself out.

He does not, he takes Ball Four on pitch four and that’s two straight walks and Carlos Correa is coming.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, bottom 4th

For whatever reason, Gurriel feels like the most dangerous hitter in this Series although I know that the numbers won’t support this. Strasburg starts of the at-bat as if he is, at least, as his first two pitches are outside before he gets a called strike. 2-1. Gurriel doesn’t chase the next pitch. 3-1. The next pitch is outside, and there’s Strasburg’s first walk. Alvarez is up next and Joe Buck starts talking about “Friday Night Smack Down” which is objectively hilarious.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, bottom 4th

Bregman pops up on the infield. Two down.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, bottom 4th

Brantley grounds out to Zimmerman at first.

Meanwhile, in Washington, they’re ready to be heartbroken.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, top 4th

Yan Gomes hits what looks like it would either be an extra base hit or a foul home run but it somehow stays in the park and Brantley catches it for the third out. If Washington doesn’t get another chance that’s going to be the lasting image it feels like. The Astros stay up front.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, top 4th

Robles takes a slider for a strike. 0-1. Robles then extends himself with a swing that doesn’t connect with anything for a second strike. 0-2. He then can’t hold up his swing on a ball that’s underneath his bat. Oof, the Nationals would like that plate appearance back.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, top 4th

Ryan Zimmerman takes a monster cut on Verlander’s first pitch and, man, was he fooled. 0-1. Zimmerman foul-tips the next one. 0-2. This would be a key strikeout right here. Verlander’s next pitch takes a hop. 1-2. And the next needs to be smothered by Chirinos to keep Kendrick at first. 2-2. The next pitch is right around Zimmerman’s head. Just like that, it’s a full count. Zimmerman fouls the next pitch off. (That’s Verlander’s 70th of the night, which may or may not come into play as the game gets longer.) And the next pitch? That’s outside as well. There’s now two on and just one out.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, top 4th

Cabrera takes Verlander’s first two pitches for balls before fouling off pitch three. On the fourth pitch, he pops up to the catcher in foul ground. One away.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, top 4th

Kendrick is up and instantly falls into a 0-2 count. He takes the next pitch for a ball. On 1-2, Kendrick gets a solid base hit for a leadoff single. Looks like Verlander will have some work to do for the second straight inning.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, bottom 3rd

The diminutive but powerful Altuve stands in with two out and nobody on. He fouls off a fastball. Strasburg’s next pitch almost nails Altuve who hops out of the way. 1-1. Altuve skies the next pitch up and Cabrera makes the catch. Strasburg looks settled down, now he just needs his team to score more than one run in a game.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, bottom 3rd

Springer barely avoids striking out on a 1-2 pitch outside before not swinging at all on a 2-2 pitch outside. On 3-2, Springer hits a grounder for the second out of the inning.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, bottom 3rd

Josh Reddick is up to bat next and he strikes out on a changeup that doesn’t touch the strike zone.

Well, it’s a lot more normal now that Minute Maid Park no longer has a random hill with a freaking flag pole in the field of play.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, top 3rd

Considering Washington’s problems scoring in the last three games, this feels like a key at-bat. Soto immediately lunges at the first pitch. 0-1. The next pitch is outside. 1-1. Verlander throws a ridiculous curve for the next pitch, that’s just a remarkable strike right there. 1-2. Soto swings and the ball is right at Altuve. Verlander escapes the jam but the Nationals made him sweat. Let’s see if that comes back to help them.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, top 3rd

Rendon is up next with Eaton on first, he takes a ball up and in. 1-0. Verlander’s pitch is a called strike. 1-1. Rendon reaches and fouls the next pitch off. 1-2. Verlander’s next pitch is down in the strike zone and slightly away. 2-2. Verlander tosses over to Eaton, worried about a potential steal. Rendon stays alive on the next pitch, fouling it off. Still 2-2. Rendon fouls off another pitch. STILL 2-2. A great at-bat could be brewing here. Verlander’s seventh pitch of the at-bat is way up high. 3-2. Rendon fouls the next one off. Still 3-2, Eaton retreats to first. The ninth pitch? That’s also foul, Eaton heads back to first. (He’s going to be exhausted if this keeps going on.)

And the tenth pitch is a ball outside. That’s back-to-back walks. Juan Soto is up to the plate.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, top 3rd

Adam Eaton takes a strike and then a ball. On 1-1, he fouls off a pitch. This makes it already the most patient at-bat of the inning. He fouls the next one off. Verlander’s next pitch is a ball. It’s a 2-2 count now. Verlander’s next pitch is outside and we have a full count. Not a lot of those so far in the game, not that this blogger is complaining. And the next pitch is outside and Eaton takes his base.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, top 3rd

Trea Turner flies out to centerfield.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, top 3rd

Yan Gomes is up and he grounds out to Altuve just like that.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, bottom 2nd

Robinson Chirinos, who has had a decent World Series, is up next to see if he can salvage something in the inning after the first two outs. He can’t, he grounds out to Turner. Strasburg definitely looked a lot more Strasburgian there.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, bottom 2nd

Carlos Correa takes a ball and then a quality curveball for a strike. On the next pitch, Correa grounds out to Rendon. That’s another fast out for Strasburg.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, bottom 2nd

Yordan Alvarez is up now. How Strasburg adjusts in this second inning could end up being the game. He gets Alvarez to ground out, which is a solid start to things.

The Gurriel flyball out looked even scarier than the actual Bregman home run.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, top 2nd

Victor Robles takes one high for a ball and then a slightly lower pitch that’s still a ball. He’s in a 2-0 count but he takes a massive cut on a pitch in exactly the same spot. Verlander’s next pitch is also out of the zone, but Robles swings again. He’s getting plenty of deception here and, in fact, he gets Robles to get himself out on the next pitch for another swinging strikeout. That was a classic Verlander inning.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, top 2nd

Ryan Zimmerman takes a borderline strike and then a less-borderline ball. 1-1 before flying out. That’s two quick outs for Verlander.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, top 2nd

Well, Washington are already down. Asdrubal Cabrera is up and he strikes out on four pitches for the Verlander “k.”

Can’t say that there haven’t been early twists in this one.

Nationals 1-2 Astros, bottom 1st

Yuli Gurriel hits a monster flyball out that just barely stays in the park. Soto makes the catch, but he might have hurt himself in the process. It certainly looks like the Astros are ready to end this thing.

Home run! (Astros)

Nationals 1-2 Astros, bottom 1st

Alex Bregman is up with the bases empty and two out. He takes two straight balls and then hits a mammoth home run. The Astros have the lead and the train at Minute Maid Park goes off.

Nationals 1-1 Astros, bottom 1st

Let’s see how Strasburg reacts after that early hiccup. Well, he gets Michael Brantley looking on a 2-2 count (although the pitch is clearly outside).

Sacrifice fly (Astros)

Nationals 1-1 Astros, bottom 1st

Altuve drives Springer in with a sacrifice fly, that’s a morale killer right there. It would have been better off if Springer had just hit a home run.

Nationals 1-0 Astros, bottom 1st

And here’s Jose Altuve. Strasburg’s first pitch to him gets away from Gomes, that’s a wild pitch and Springer immediately makes it to third with nobody out. Things are getting bad for Washington ridiculously quick.

Nationals 1-0 Astros, bottom 1st

The George Springer Show is leading off against Strasburg and he immediately rips a double to start of the inning. Houston gets very loud immediately.

Email from Sammy Lopez Metta Bexar:

Howdy from 130 miles west of Houston! Noting that nothing much seems to have happened so far, I thought I’d correct an earlier comment and say “No Gationals! Ouston Hastros in six!”

Because standards.

This is becoming a thing, I see.

Nationals 1-0 Astros, top 1st

The venerable Howie Kendrick takes a strike to start his at-bat. 0-1. Verlander’s next pitch loops up and over the strike zone for a ball but he gets Kendrick to pop up to Josh Reddick. Still, Stephen Strasburg is going to be pitching with an early lead, which is good news for the Nationals.

Nationals 1-0 Astros, top 1st

Here comes Juan Soto with Rendon on first and still just one out… but Soto skies one to Michael Brantley in the outfield. That’s two down.

RBI single (Nationals)

Nationals 1-0 Astros, top 1st

Anthony Rendon takes a pitch and then fouls off the next pitch. 1-1. Rendon checks his swing on the next Verlander pitcher, but it’s a strike so that’s all for naught. 1-2. Verlander’s next pitch is way outside, blocked by the catcher Chirinos. 2-2. Rendon takes a solid cut on the next pitch and fouls it off. Still 2-2. Verlander’s next pitch is outside. 3-2. On the next pitch Rendon slaps a single through the infield and the Nationals get on the board first. Home field disadvantage continues?

Nationals 0-0 Astros, top 1st

Adam Eaton is up next for the Nationals with Turner on first and nobody out. Eaton bunts Turner over, which goes as a sacrifice. Washington wants to score first here very much.

Nationals 0-0 Astros, top 1st

Turner fouls the next pitch off and then swings and misses. Verlander’s next pitch is a ball, even though the Astros crowd was already roaring for Verlander to get things started with a strikeout. Verlander gets Turner to ground out to Bregman… but it looks like Bregman actually beat it out.

And he did. It’s reversed. Infield hit for Turner.

Opening Pitch

Nationals 0-0 Astros, top 1st

Justin Verlander is up facing Trea Turner. His first pitch is way upstairs for a ball and Game 6 has begun!

Possibly relevant: by all accounts Max Scherzer is ready to go for tomorrow’s Game 7 if there happens to be a Game 7. The FOX analysts are desperately trying to will a Nationals victory tonight by hyping up Strasburg and talking up Scherzer’s availability. Okay, except David Ortiz who would rather not cancel his plans.

While this goes against my earlier prediciton, I do want to re-use some of my earlier content here just because I think this would be hilarious:

National anthem

Clay Walker performs a tasteful, country rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner.” I dug it, but I just watched the whole Ken Burns “Country Music” miniseries so I’m in the right state of mind for it. 8/10.

Email from Roger Kirkby:

I never get how they come up with viewing figures, having lived in America for over twenty years my experience is the World Series is on in every bar, restaurant, airport lounge, prison, bus station , old folks home and sports fans house. How they come up with a figure of only 12 million watching is beyond me. Now people can watch on mobile devices the figures are even more unbelievable P.S. I only know about prisons from watching movies.

And it’s even more complicated in the streaming era, I imagine.

Tough, but fair.

Email from Neil Zimmerman:

After listening to the latest Ringer MLB podcast I am well and truly rooting for the Nationals after hearing the full story in relation to the Brandon Taubman issue and the Astros “attempt” at a response.

Thanks for the coverage.

You are very much not alone in this sentiment. It should be noted that Astros owner Jim Cramer eventually apologizes for the organization’s attempt to defame Sports Illustrated’s Stephanie Apstein for breaking that particular story.

Houston Astros starting lineup

Nothing surprising here.

1. George Springer, CF

2. Jose Altuve, 2B

3. Michael Brantley, LF

4. Alex Bregman, 3B

5. Yuli Gurriel, 1B

6. Yordan Alvarez, DH

7. Carlos Correa, SS

8. Robinson Chirinos, C

9. Josh Reddick, RF

I have pleased the Astros fans, at the very least.

Washington Nationals starting lineup

It looks like catcher Kurt Suzuki isn’t available to start, Gomes is in his place.

1. Trea Turner, SS

2. Adam Eaton, RF

3. Anthony Rendon, 3B

4. Juan Soto, LF

5. Howie Kendrick, DH

6. Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B

7. Ryan Zimmerman, 1B

8. Victor Robles, CF

9. Yan Gomes, C

Predictions

My pessimistic take? I think it’s over. The Nationals had a golden opportunity to win this series and they blew it and now it’s Houston’s time to put them out of misery. The only hope left is that there’s at least some drama here today before the postseason comes to a close.

I predict that Washington will find a way to score of Verlander and take a lead into the late innings before the bullpen, which manager Dave Martinez has been attempting to avoid using (to a fault) finally blows things late. Look for this one to be decided on a Houston home run hit by an unexpected player on an 0-2 count with two out in the inning. Astros 6, Nationals 5. Final.

Agree, disagree, just want to vent or gloat about how the series has gone so far? Send us your thoughts via email (to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com) or Twitter (to @HunterFelt).

Not great news for the MLB

So far, it’s looking like this could be the least watched World Series of all time. It’s not hard to imagine why: neither the Astros or the Nationals have national interest, the sport has taken a noticeable dip in popularity over the last few years and (perhaps most importantly) the games themselves have mostly been dreadful. With the exception of the dramatics of Game 1, most of these games have been decided around 2/3rds of the way in and have ended up being blowouts one way or another.

Perhaps the MLB needs some drama today and a potential Game 7. Maybe casual and potential fans don’t care one way or another. Oh well, we’ll always remember the “lock him up” chants at least.

Preamble

Let’s not mince words. The Washington Nationals blew it and now they’re a game away from being eliminated. The Nationals beat the Houston Astros on the road in the first two games of the series, scoring victories despite the fact the other team started Gerrit Cole and then Justin Verlander. They had their next three games at home at Nationals Park where all they had to do was take two out of the next three to win the 2019 World Series.

Instead the Washington offense faltered badly. The Nationals couldn’t even get their scoring going in what was supposed to be a Bullpen Game (which ended up becoming the Jose Urquidy Game). Then Max Scherzer was scratched from his Game 5 start, not that it mattered much since the Nationals hitters were absolutely stymied by Cole in what ended up being a 7-1 loss.

So, now the Nationals are a game away from elimination. The good news is that they have Stephen Strasburg, who has gone 4-0 with a 1.93 ERA in the postseason, on the mound for Game 6. Meanwhile, the Astros can’t be 100% certain about what they will get from Verlander, who has been less than stellar ever since Houston tried pitching him on short rest earlier in the postseason.

There’s no real need to manufacture drama here. This is an elimination game, which means the MLB season either ends right here and now or we get a dramatic Game 7. The stakes don’t get any higher.

So, will the Astros close things out or will the World Series “home field disadvantage” trend continue? We’ll find out in a few hours. This also means it could be your last chance to contribute to a World Series liveblog this year, so get in your thoughts, questions or jokes if you have them. You can either email them to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com or tweet them to @HunterFelt.

It’s Game 6 of the 2019 World Series featuring the Washington Nationals against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. First pitch is scheduled at 8:08pm EST but we’ll be back well before then with all sorts of updates, predictions and random trivia.

Hunter will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s what happened when the President turned up to Sunday’s Game 5:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
"She steps in the room with us, a rock'n'roll band that's fronted by a guy she adores": How a song from Tom Petty's reject pile unwittingly became the massive hit single that launched a Fleetwood Mac icon's solo career
Unhappy with Fleetwood Mac's Tusk album, Stevie Nicks gravitated towards a band whose music she preferred
Louder
Louder
The Sweet Gesture(s) Jimmy Fallon Made For Pal Stephen Colbert On His Last Late Show Appearance
"You did it your way."
Cinemablend
Cinemablend
The 5 Hairstyles That Could Be Quietly Ageing You (And What to Try Instead)
The subtle hair mistakes that can date your look
Marie Claire
Marie Claire
Woman tries to get her ring cleaned at Tiffany & Co. Then the jeweler finds out where it’s really from: ‘I felt so low class’
A woman brought in a ring to Tiffany Co. for cleaning. Then, the jeweler asked her where the ring was from, as it wasn’t a Tiffany Co. brand product. The situation ended up embarrassing the content creator.
The Mary Sue
The Mary Sue
Timothée Chalamet Slammed by Ballet and Opera Community After Saying 'No One Cares' About Their Work
Timothée Chalamet faces criticism from ballet and opera professionals after joking that 'no one cares' about their work.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
6 Videos That Show Kelly Osbourne's Alarming Look As Skeletal Frame Stuns Fans Worldwide
Kelly Osbourne's skeletal frame has sparked concern online. Five viral videos show her alarming appearance as she grieves the death of her father, Ozzy Osbourne.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play