The 2019 Major League Baseball season is in its final stretch which has led us to the Fall Classic. What this postseason has proved is that good pitching and staying hot at the right time will take you far. With the series starting tonight at 8 PM, we preview what should be an interesting series.
The Nationals have been the hottest teams in baseball since June. They have not relented as their hot play has carried into the postseason. The Nats finished with a 93-69 record after starting with a 24-33 record in the first two months of the season. Coming from behind to beat the Dodgers in the NLDS marked the first time Washington had won a playoff series in its franchise’s history. After that they went on to sweep the Cardinals in what looked like one of the more effortless series of the whole postseason. The Nats are led by veterans Ryan Zimmerman, Anthony Rendon who's having a career year, Trea Turner, and Howie Kendrick. They also have a young star who's only 20-years-old in Juan Soto. The star power does not end there for the Nats as their pitching staff is what carries this team as they are led by three aces Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Patrick Corbin, who was a big pickup in the offseason. This is one of the best big three in all of baseball, second only to the team their playing. The Nats have specifically been powered by the efforts of Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg in the postseason. Strasburg has pitched 22.0 inning in four games and is 3-0 with 33 strikeouts with a 1.64 ERA. Scherzer, the three-time Cy Young Award Winner, who will start game one for the Nats has also had an impressive postseason. In four games Scherzer is 2-0 with 20.0 innings pitched with 27 strikeouts and a 1.80 ERA.
The Astros have been hot all year long. They held a league best 107-55 record and haven't slowed down. They were tested early by the Rays who took them to five games in the ALDS, but ultimately the more talented team prevailed. The next round was not any easier as the Yankees were the next opponent for Houston. It took six games in the ALCS for the Astros to outlast New York. A thrilling two-run home run by José Altuve sent the Astros to the Fall Classic after the Yankees fought back to tie it up in the top half of the 9th on a two-run home run by DJ Lemahieu. Houston is led by a star-studded lineup: Altuve is accompanied by George Springer, Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, Michael Brantley, and another young star in Yordan Álvarez. The Astros accompany their big bats with power pitching in Justin Verlander who just keeps getting better and better with age, Gerrit Cole, and newly acquired Zack Greinke. Gerrit Cole has been the best pitcher in the postseason as he’s pitched 22.2 innings has 32 strikeouts and is 3-0 with a 0.40 ERA in 3 games. Cole will start game one for the Astros and that’s no surprise to anyone.
Prediction: Astros defeat the Nationals in 6
Houston was the best team in the league for a reason and it’s their series to lose. Everything lines up for the Astros to take this series as they have the experience, the better team, and home field advantage. It’s just too one sided. This Washington team is scrappy so don’t be surprised if they take a game or two, but overall I think it is the Astros who prevail to win their second World Series in three years.
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