The Washington Nationals will take on the Houston Astros in the 2019 World Series. Houston will host Washington at Minute Maid Park to kick things off. Here are three things to keep an eye on during the fall classic.
Rest Days
The Nationals made quick work out of the St. Louis Cardinals, sweeping them in four games. It took Houston, on the other hand, six games and a Jose Altuve homer to end the series. Furthermore, they spent an extra day in New York as bad weather postponed Game Four.
Here’s where Washington has an advantage. More rest days means more time to study the tapes, scout the opposing pitchers, and be ready to tame a tough opponent. Not to mention they’re fresher than their rivals due to simply playing fewer games.
Pitching “X” Factors
Game One of the 2019 World Series will see Gerrit Cole take the mound for the Astros. He could square off against Max Scherzer or Stephen Strasburg. Strasburg threw seven shutout innings in the third game of the NLCS and should be more than ready thanks to a week of rest. Scherzer had a similar outing against St. Louis a few days before, when he struck out eleven.
The Astros do have the talent to match Washington’s starting rotation. The California native will take on the first game of the series, but Houston still has a lot left in the tank when it comes to the pitching staff. Zack Greinke and Justin Verlander would be next and they could make any night a nightmare for the Nationals’ batters. Both teams look even in this regard, a bad night from any pitcher could spoil things for any team.
Getting Juice Out Of Minute Maid Park
Home field advantage could be a real thing for the 2019 World Series. We’ve seen teams try to ignore this over the years but there’s got to be some negative effect on the opposing team once they step on the Astros’ turf. Some, like Altuve, Verlander, and Alex Bregman feed off the energy of the crowd. If the Astros use that energy in their favor, Washington could be in a lot of trouble, especially in the first two games of the series.
So, Who Wins the 2019 World Series?
The Nationals are on a roll and seem to be as hot as a summer afternoon. On the other hand, the Astros are the Astros and are used to thriving on the worst of scenarios when the pressure’s on.
If Washington is able to keep their momentum going and their pitching is up to the task of stopping one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball, they’ll have a shot at the championship. Buckle up baseball fans, we’re in for an epic battle.
Winner: Nationals in seven.
Where To Watch
The 2019 World Series kicks off this Tuesday. Game 1 starts at 8 PM ET on FOX.
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