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[Cnotes53]

World Series: How the Nationals and Astros match up
October 21, 2019
By The Associated Press

A position-by-position look at the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros going into the World Series, starting Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park:

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First Base:

Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman. The longtime face of the franchise, Zimmerman was Washington's first draft pick in 2005 after the team moved to the nation's capital from Montreal. The fan favorite has been through all of the Nationals' ups and downs, from a string of painful early playoff exits to the feel-good story of his first trip to the World Series this season. A converted third baseman, he's been hampered by injuries much of the past six years - including shoulder problems that affect his throwing. But at age 35, he's become an everyday player again during a solid postseason.

Astros: Yuli Gurriel. From a family of baseball royalty in Cuba, the highly touted Gurriel got a $47.5 million contract and has established himself as a productive RBI man during three full years in the majors. He took off in late June and put together a big 2019 season, with 31 homers, 40 doubles, 104 RBIs and an .884 OPS. He was slumping in the AL Championship Series against the Yankees until his three-run homer got the Astros going in the Game 6 clincher.

Edge: Astros.

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Second Base:

Nationals: Howie Kendrick. The consummate pro, Kendrick is more than just a veteran presence at 36. A smart hitter and versatile defender, he batted .344 with 17 homers, 62 RBIs and a .966 OPS in 370 plate appearances this season. Then he won the deciding Game 5 of the Division Series at Dodger Stadium with a 10th-inning grand slam, and took home NLCS MVP honors after hitting .333 with four doubles and four RBIs in the four-game sweep of St. Louis. He has plenty of playoff experience, but this is Kendrick's first chance to play in the World Series.

Astros: Jose Altuve. What else can you say about this clutch little big man who remains the heart and soul of the Astros? Generously listed at 5-foot-6, the 2017 AL MVP is simply one of baseball's best players - no matter the size. Altuve put Houston back in the World Series with a walk-off homer against Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman in Game 6 of the ALCS and was selected series MVP. He's hitting .349 with five homers, eight RBIs, 10 runs and a 1.184 OPS this October. He has 13 career postseason homers, most by a second baseman.

Edge: Astros.

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Shortstop:

Nationals: Trea Turner. A terrific leadoff hitter with pop and one of the fastest players in the majors, Turner is often the engine that makes the Nationals go. He was 35 for 40 on stolen bases attempts this year and is 159 for 189 in his career.

Astros: Carlos Correa. After rib and back injuries limited him to 75 games this season, Correa made an impact with two big home runs and five RBIs in the ALCS. His walk-off homer in Game 2 at home tied the series and swung the momentum in Houston's favor. Dropped in the batting order for now, Correa hit just .171 during the playoffs. But the 2015 AL Rookie of the Year, drafted first overall in 2012 out of Puerto Rico, is a rare talent.

Edge: Astros.

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Third Base:

Nationals: Anthony Rendon. Born and raised in Houston, the steady Rendon went to college there at Rice after attending high school a few miles from Minute Maid Park. He lives in the Houston suburbs during the offseason, and now gets to face his hometown team in the World Series. Perhaps overlooked and underrated for a while, Rendon is an all-around player who is finally beginning to get some accolades and attention after a spike in home runs and RBIs this season. He made his first All-Star team and is a contender for NL MVP honors. He led the majors with 126 RBIs and ranked third in the NL with a 1.010 OPS. During the playoffs, he batted .375 with five extra-base hits and seven RBIs. The 29-year-old is poised to become a prized free agent this winter, and word is he turned down $210 million from the Nationals.

Astros: Alex Bregman. Coming off a huge season (41 homers, 112 RBIs, 1.015 OPS) that could warrant the AL MVP award, Bregman has been walked 10 times in 11 playoff games. He's got a great eye at the plate, so it's no surprise. But the cocky 25-year-old, already a two-time All-Star in three full major league seasons, can certainly wreck a game with his swing in the cleanup spot.

Edge: Even.

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Catcher:

Nationals: Kurt Suzuki or Yan Gomes. Washington signed Suzuki and traded for Gomes last offseason to give the team two front-line catchers who could share the load. Suzuki was more productive at the plate, but Gomes is 4 for 13 (.308) with three RBIs and seven strikeouts this postseason while Suzuki is 1 for 20 with eight Ks. Suzuki hurt his left hand and head when he was hit by a pitch in Game 5 of the Division Series against the Dodgers, but returned during the NLCS.

Astros: Robinson Chirinos or Martin Maldonado. Chirinos was signed as a free agent last December and hit 17 homers. Maldonado, who won a Gold Glove in 2017, began the year with Kansas City, played four games for the Cubs and was acquired by Houston in a July 31 trade. Maldonado has been catching Gerrit Cole and is 4 for 13 in the postseason. Chirinos catches Justin Verlander and is 2 for 22 with a homer and 10 strikeouts.

Edge: Nationals.

---

Left Field:

Nationals: Juan Soto. In his second big league season, Soto had 34 homers, 110 RBIs and a .949 OPS. The 20-year-old cleanup man seems to rankle certain opponents with his antics in the batter's box during intense at-bats, but he's one of the game's most impressive and polished young hitters. He's delivered several clutch swings this October, including a tying homer off three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the NLDS at Dodger Stadium.

Astros: Michael Brantley. Another unassuming star who doesn't garner that much attention, Brantley has been a great free-agent signing for Houston at $32 million over two years. He posted an .875 OPS with 90 RBIs and played 148 games after injuries derailed him for a couple of years in Cleveland. Now in his 11th season, the four-time All-Star gets to play in his first World Series after sitting out three years ago with the Indians because of a right shoulder ailment.

Edge: Nationals.

---

Center Field:

Nationals: Victor Robles. A talented 22-year-old, the speedy Robles plays a strong center field and has power in his bat. He hit 17 homers during the regular season and stole 28 bases. After missing five games, Robles returned from a hamstring injury in Game 3 of the NLCS and homered. He also singled and scored twice. Robles went 5 for 16 (.313) during the playoffs and scored four runs, but he's not always smart on the bases.

Astros: George Springer. The 2017 World Series MVP is dangerous at the top of the lineup. After missing time due to injury this season, he finished with 39 homers, 96 RBIs and a .974 OPS in 122 games. The three-time All-Star socked 12 leadoff homers, one shy of the major league record. His 41 combined homers between the regular season and postseason are the most ever for a leadoff hitter, surpassing his previous mark of 40 in 2017. Springer slumped to .152 (7 for 46) in the AL playoffs, but he hit two big home runs against the Yankees. His 13 postseason homers are tied with Altuve for the team record.

Edge: Astros.

---

Right Field:

Nationals: Adam Eaton. The pesky Eaton helps to get rallies started from the No. 2 spot in the lineup. He runs well and tracks balls down in the outfield, too. Healthy all season for the first time in three years with the Nationals, Eaton posted a .365 on-base percentage. He went 7 for 36 (.194) with three extra-base hits and four RBIs in 10 playoff games.

Astros: Josh Reddick. Never shy about speaking his mind, Reddick is 3 for 22 (.136) with a home run in his fourth straight postseason and seventh overall. He's a fine fielder who won a Gold Glove in 2012 with Oakland and had a very productive season at the plate for Houston's championship team in 2017. Reddick has some power but often sits against left-handers, with Jake Marisnick starting in center field and Springer shifting to right.

Edge: Nationals.

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Designated Hitter:

Nationals: Veteran switch-hitter Asdrubal Cabrera (.260, 18, 91 in 131 games with Texas and Washington) and left-handed bopper Matt Adams provide a pair of credible options at DH against Houston's right-handed starters. Cabrera had a .969 OPS and 40 RBIs in 38 games with Washington after coming over from Texas. He went 1 for 9 with two RBIs during the playoffs and didn't get an at-bat in the NLCS. The strikeout-prone Adams hit .226 with 20 homers and 56 RBIs in 310 at-bats this season.

Astros: Yordan Alvarez. Big and powerful, Alvarez was acquired from the Dodgers in a 2016 trade that appears to be a steal. The 22-year-old left-handed hitter from Cuba was called up in June and put up huge numbers: .313 with 27 homers, 78 RBIs and a 1.067 OPS in just 87 games. He set the team rookie home run record and has a chance to be AL Rookie of the Year, but a slumping Alvarez went 7 for 41 (.171) with 19 strikeouts and one RBI in the playoffs - including 1 for 22 with 12 Ks in the ALCS.

Edge: Astros.

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Starting Pitchers:

Nationals: The most imposing rotation in the National League features three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, the Game 1 starter, followed by three-time All-Star Stephen Strasburg and $140 million lefty Patrick Corbin. Even crafty veteran Anibal Sanchez carried a no-hitter for 7 2/3 innings in the NLCS opener at St. Louis and has a 0.71 ERA in two playoff starts this year. Washington starters boast a major league-best 2.04 ERA this postseason after permitting only four earned runs in four games against the Cardinals. Scherzer was slowed by a back injury this season but still joined Strasburg and Corbin in finishing among the NL's top 10 pitchers in ERA, strikeouts and hits allowed per nine innings. Strasburg has a 1.10 ERA in 41 career postseason innings and can opt out of his contract to become a free agent this fall.

Astros: What a trio at the top in Cole, Verlander and Greinke, who was obtained from Arizona just before the July 31 trade deadline. Cole is 19-0 in his last 25 starts and hasn't lost since May 22. That includes 3-0 in the AL playoffs, when he yielded one earned run in 22 2/3 innings with 32 strikeouts. A victory in the opener would give him the longest winning streak for a pitcher in one year. Cole was 20-5 with an AL-low 2.50 ERA and major league-leading 326 strikeouts during the season. He can become a free agent after the Series and is expected to command more than $200 million. Verlander went 21-6 with a 2.58 ERA and a career-high 300 Ks. He led the majors with 223 innings pitched and threw his third career no-hitter. The right-hander is 14-9 with a 3.26 ERA in his postseason career, but 0-4 with a 5.67 ERA in the World Series. Greinke was spotty during the playoffs and the Astros are expected to go with a bullpen game in Game 4 as they did in Game 6 of the ALCS. Rookie right-hander Jose Urquidy could be a big part of that again.

Edge: Even.

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Bullpen:

Nationals: A weak spot all season, the relief corps looks different in October. Washington's bullpen ERA of 5.68 was the worst in the NL and ranked 29th in majors. To help cover for that, the Nationals used Strasburg, Scherzer and Corbin in relief during the playoffs. The unit has been more reliable in the postseason, with lefty Sean Doolittle regaining his All-Star form and Daniel Hudson supplanting Doolittle as an effective closer. Tanner Rainey has a live arm and 42-year-old Fernando Rodney, the oldest active player in the majors, offers tons of experience. But there are still plenty of question marks for this group, especially the further down the depth chart it goes.

Astros: Hard-throwing closer Roberto Osuna was 38 for 44 in save chances this season with a 2.63 ERA. He was having a solid postseason, too, before giving up a tying, two-run homer to DJ LeMahieu in Game 6 of the ALCS. Osuna recovered for the rest of the ninth inning, though, and he'll need to bounce back in the World Series. Houston's bullpen has several answers and is better than many realize - the unit's 3.75 ERA ranked second in the majors behind Tampa Bay. Will Harris is a stingy setup man who is pitching well. Josh James has a big arm, submariner Joe Smith is tough on right-handers and versatile Brad Peacock is experienced in postseason games. Ryan Pressly, an All-Star this season, got some very important outs against the Yankees but aggravated his surgically repaired right knee in the ALCS finale. He said he'll be ready for the World Series.

Edge: Astros.

---

Pick: Astros in 6.

 

[Cnotes53]

World Series in Houston a homecoming for Nats star Rendon
October 21, 2019
By The Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) Anthony Rendon vividly remembers his one visit to the Astrodome as a child to see the Houston Astros and his beloved Killer B's.

''I was really young at that time but that memory still sticks in my head,'' the Washington Nationals star said.

And along with the excitement of seeing Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell and Derek Bell, something else is seared in his senses. It has to do with the condition of the once-famed stadium that was in disrepair near the end of its run as the home of the Astros.

''It was a very smelly place,'' he said. ''We got a tour, a behind the scenes kind of deal, and that place was really dirty and really stinky.''

This week Rendon is back in his hometown, and it's not as a fan. Instead, he's leading the Nationals to their first World Series against the team he rooted for as a child.

The Astrodome has long been closed and he'll get a chance to put on a show for friends and family in the domed (and very pleasant smelling) confines of Minute Maid Park.

The third baseman laughed and shook his head when asked how many tickets he'll have to get for Game 1 on Tuesday night.

''I really don't know,'' he said. ''I can't put a number out there but it's definitely going to be a lot.''

And he made a rule for all his Houston people coming to the game: If he gets them a ticket, they have to root for the Nationals.

''Oh yeah,'' he said. ''Definitely.''

Rendon is notoriously low-key and rarely shows much emotion on the field. He admitted this week will be a bit different after spending his entire life in Houston before the Nationals drafted him out of Rice with the sixth overall pick in the 2011 draft.

''As a kid growing up, obviously you want to play for the hometown team,'' he said. ''But I think this will do.''

Before Rendon starred at Rice, he was a standout player for Lamar High School, which sits in Houston's posh River Oaks neighborhood. David Munoz was an assistant at Lamar when Rendon was there, and remains at the school as the head coach.

Munoz still keeps in touch with Rendon and raved about his former pupil.

''His most enduring quality is that he has not changed,'' Munoz said Monday. ''This is a kid who is still someone who is not caught up in any kind of anything. Ego. Brand. A very selfless person. He's the same person he was when he was at Lamar.''

Something else that hasn't changed about Rendon, who led the National League with 126 RBIs this season, since he was a teenager is his knack for making big plays.

''The thing that set him apart more than anything else was his ability to come through in clutch situations for us,'' Munoz said. ''The bigger the situation, the better he was. And his demeanor never changed. Very calm. Always smiling.''

He wore that big smile at World Series media day on Monday as hordes of reporters crowded around him, jockeying for position and shouting questions over each other. The beginning of his interview was interrupted by teammate Kurt Suzuki walking by, noticing the crowd and yelling: ''We get it, you're from Houston.''

Suzuki was mocking the attention that Rendon was getting, but his status in Houston is no laughing matter. Rendon was such a big deal while playing for the Owls that then-mayor Annise Parker honored him with `Anthony Rendon Day' after he won the Dick Howser Trophy Winner as the National Player of the Year in 2010.

Rendon thinks Parker might have been a bit biased since she was a Rice alumna, but he was thrilled by the honor nonetheless. Although there was a little bit of a letdown when he realized what the ceremony would entail.

''You hear all these stories like so and so he plays for the Rockets or he's the best fireman in the world, he gets a key to the city,'' Rendon said. ''That's what was going through my mind and I was like: `I'm about to get a key to the city.' And she just hands me like this piece of paper. But it was still an awesome experience.''

Though Rendon has spent his entire major league career in the nation's capital, he's never wavered in his love for Houston and said Monday that is something that will never change.

''This is my city for sure,'' he said. ''Born and raised. Still live here in the offseason and I don't plan on leaving.''

So this week he'll hit up some of his favorite taquerias because he can't get Mexican food up to his standards in Washington, and will probably grab some barbecue at his college haunt Demeris Bar-B-Q. Then he'll try and make sure his team doesn't end up like the 2005 Astros, who made a run similar to Washington's turnaround to reach their first World Series.

''Hopefully that's not our fate,'' he said. ''They got swept.''

 

[Cnotes53]

MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Tuesday, October 22

Game 1, World Series
Nationals @ Astros
Scherzer is 3-0, 2.77 in his last five games (4 starts); he is 3-1, 3.38 in seven games (6 starts) vs Houston, and is 6-5, 3.35 in 20 playoff games (16 starts).

Cole is 8-0, 0.92 in his last eight starts; they won his last 16 starts. Cole is 3-2, 2.92 in six starts vs Washington, and is 5-3, 2.26 in eight playoff starts.

Washington is in its first World Series; they?re 16-2 in last 18 games overall.

Astros won 2017 World Series; they won six of their last seven home games- under is 5-2-1 in their last eight games. Houston is 13-5 in its last 18 games overall.

 

[Cnotes53]

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

WAS at HOU 08:08 PM

WAS +170

O 6.5

 

[Cnotes53]

Nationals vs. Astros score: World Series Game 1 goes to Washington as Juan Soto shines

20-year-old Juan Soto was the star of a gripping Game 1

The Washington Nationals defeated the Houston Astros 5-4 on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the 2019 World Series. The Nationals now hold a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series heading into Game 2 on Wednesday, which will also take place at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Justin Verlander and Stephen Strasburg are the probable pitchers.

But before that happens, let's recap what happened in Game 1.

Why the Nationals won
Typically, a victory in a game started by Max Scherzer can be credited foremost to Scherzer. Not Game 1. Rather, the Nationals owe their victory more to Juan Soto, the 20-year-old phenom who recorded three hits and drove in three of Washington's five runs. Ryan Zimmerman also pitched in by opening the Nationals' scoring with a solo home run of his own. As for Scherzer, he gutted out five innings and seven strikeouts, permitting two runs on five hits and three walks. Davey Martinez then turned to a combination of Patrick Corbin, Tanner Rainey, Daniel Hudson, and Sean Doolittle to close down the Astros' operations. It wasn't the prettiest effort at times, but it proved to be effective in the end.

Why the Astros lost
Two big reasons: 1) Cole wasn't as dominant as he had been in his first three postseason starts, and 2) Houston failed to cash in its opportunities. Cole had allowed just one run in his first 22 postseason innings. On Tuesday, he gave up two home runs (and five runs) in seven innings. Meanwhile, the Astros lineup did him few favors, stranding runners left and right. As a team, the Astros were credited (or debited, depending on the perspective) with leaving 25 runners left on base. (That, of course, double-counts many individual runners.) The Nationals, conversely, stranded just 12 runners, albeit while reaching base five fewer times.

Turning point
Obviously it involves Soto. We're going with his two-run double in the fifth that extended the Nationals' lead to 5-2. Those extra runs came in handy, and the play itself was worth .190 Win Probability Added. No other play on the night topped .170, which shows how important that play was -- both objectively and subjectively -- for the Nationals. Washington was also likely thrilled when Daniel Hudson checked in and worked out of a mess created by Tanner Rainey, who had walked two and permitted a home run while recording just one out in what was at that point a 5-3 game.

Highlight of the Game
It has to be Soto, who won't celebrate his 21st birthday for a few more days. Take a look at this opposite-field homer and do note where it lands -- there aren't many other left-handed hitters who could deposit the ball there against Cole:

Impressive.

Next up
The Nationals and Astros will play Game 2 on Wednesday night. It's an 8:08 p.m. start and the pitching matchup looks to be a great one: Justin Verlander vs. Stephen Strasburg. The Nationals will look to extend their series lead to 2-0 before the series moves to D.C.

 

[Cnotes53]

SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23, 2019
Time (ET) Away Home Site
8:07 PM Washington Nationals Houston Astros Minute Maid Park

SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY OCTOBER 25, 2019
Time (ET) Away Home Site
8:07 PM Houston Astros Washington Nationals Nationals Park

SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY OCTOBER 26, 2019
Time (ET) Away Home Site
8:07 PM Houston Astros Washington Nationals Nationals Park

********************************

2019 WORLD SERIES BEST BETS AND OPINIONS:

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

10/22/2019 2-0-0 100.00% +13.50

TOTALS..... 2-0-0 100.00% +13.50


BEST BETS


DATE..........................ATS...............UNITS..............O/U...............UNITS..............TOTALS

10/22/2019................1 - 0..............+8.50..............1 - 0..............+5.00..............+13.50

TOTALS......................1 - 0..............+8.50..............1 - 0..............+5.00..............+13.50

 

[Cnotes53]

Cole's streak ends as Nats rough up Astros ace in Game 1
October 23, 2019
By The Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) Gerrit Cole trudged slowly off the mound, wiped the sweat from his upper lip and took a handshake and pat on the backside from manager AJ Hinch.

Walking away without a lead - not something Cole and the Houston Astros are used to. Certainly not what they expected in the World Series opener.

The Washington Nationals roughed up Cole for five runs in seven innings Tuesday night, beating Houston 5-4 to jump ahead in the best-of-seven series.

Cole suffered his first loss since May 22. Set to cash in as a free agent this offseason, he had won a single-season record 19 consecutive decisions. His postseason prior to Tuesday was nearly perfect: 3-0 record, one run allowed, and 32 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings.

In his first World Series appearance and ninth postseason game, the 29-year-old right-hander gave up his most runs since the White Sox tagged him for six in that May 22 loss.

''He's been so good for so long that there builds this thought of invincibility and that it's impossible to beat him,'' Hinch said. ''So when it happens it is a surprise to all of us.''

The Astros gave Cole a lead with a two-run first, but a shot by Ryan Zimmerman an inning later cut the lead to 1. Cole didn't even turn around to watch where that one landed, simply throwing his right hand up and preparing for the next pitch.

Houston still had the lead when 20-year-old Juan Soto knocked a fastball from Cole onto the train tracks atop left field. Soto struck again in the fifth, lining a two-run double that stretched Washington's edge to 5-2.

''The Zimmerman pitch was a mistake, and Zimmerman made him pay with a homer,'' Hinch said. ''He never really controlled Soto the whole night. He punched him the first at-bat and the after that Soto took some really good swings''

Along with teammate and Game 2 starter Justin Verlander, Cole is a favorite for the AL Cy Young Award. He led the league with a 2.50 ERA, and he allowed just seven home runs over the last two months of the regular season. No lineup had connected for two home runs against him since Colorado on Aug. 7, a span of 11 starts.

Cole struck out six, his lowest total since punching out four on Aug. 1 against Cleveland. After leading the majors with a career-high 326 strikeouts, he never looked so dominant Tuesday. His slider - a swing-and-miss machine this postseason - lacked bite. He threw the pitch 27 times and got just three whiffs.

''These guys are really tough to put away,'' Hinch said. ''They don't strike out a lot. And they proved tonight they're putting the ball in play.''

Cole allowed a single in a scoreless sixth and struck out two in a sharp seventh. By then his fate was all but sealed and instead of helping Houston take advantage of home-field advantage from its 107-win season, his uncharacteristic outing left the Astros in a hole as they chase their second title in three seasons.

 

[Cnotes53]

MLB
Dunkel

Wednesday, October 23


Washington @ Houston

Game 903-904
October 23, 2019 @ 8:07 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Washington
(Strasburg) 18.832
Houston
(Verlander) 16.817
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Washington
by 2
8
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Houston
-185
7 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Washington
(+165); Over




MLB

Wednesday, October 23

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Houston Astros
Houston is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games
Houston is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games at home
Houston is 1-11 SU in its last 12 games when playing Washington
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games when playing Washington
Houston is 1-9 SU in its last 10 games when playing at home against Washington
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Houston's last 9 games when playing at home against Washington
Washington Nationals
Washington is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Washington is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 6 games
Washington is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Washington is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Washington's last 7 games on the road
Washington is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games when playing Houston
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 6 games when playing Houston
Washington is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Washington's last 9 games when playing on the road against Houston


------------------------------------------------------------------------------


903WASHINGTON -904 HOUSTON
WASHINGTON is 78-44 SU (33 Units) vs. good defensive catchers - allowing 0.5 or less SB's/game in the current season.

------------------------------

MLB
Long Sheet

Wednesday, October 23

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WASHINGTON (102 - 71) at HOUSTON (114 - 60) - 8:07 PM
STEPHEN STRASBURG (R) vs. JUSTIN VERLANDER (R)
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 99-85 (-18.7 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 102-71 (+13.3 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
WASHINGTON is 22-17 (+14.1 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +125 to +175 over the last 3 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 9-2 (+8.8 Units) against the money line in October games this season.
WASHINGTON is 9-2 (+8.8 Units) against the money line in playoff games this season.
WASHINGTON is 56-46 (+7.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
WASHINGTON is 34-22 (+14.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
STRASBURG is 33-13 (+18.1 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
STRASBURG is 17-7 (+11.1 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
HOUSTON is 11-13 (-16.7 Units) against the money line when playing on Wednesday this season.
HOUSTON is 74-48 (-9.6 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
HOUSTON is 70-52 (-18.6 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 95-76 (-20.3 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 23-22 (-17.7 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
VERLANDER is 23-17 (-19.4 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
VERLANDER is 15-15 (-21.9 Units) against the money line in home games in night games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 1-0 (+1.8 Units) against HOUSTON this season
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.0 Units)

STEPHEN STRASBURG vs. HOUSTON since 1997
STRASBURG is 1-0 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 1.80 and a WHIP of 0.933.
His team's record is 3-0 (+3.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-0. (+3.0 units)

JUSTIN VERLANDER vs. WASHINGTON since 1997
VERLANDER is 2-0 when starting against WASHINGTON with an ERA of 2.57 and a WHIP of 1.143.
His team's record is 2-0 (+2.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-0. (+2.1 units)

 

[Cnotes53]

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

WAS at HOU 08:07 PM

WAS +155*****

O 7.0*****

 

[Cnotes53]

Strasburg stars as Nats rout Astros 12-3 for 2-0 Series lead
October 23, 2019

HOUSTON (AP) Stephen Strasburg's time had come.

Famously held out of the postseason seven years ago, Strasburg delivered on the biggest stage of all Wednesday night.

The right-hander outdueled fellow ace Justin Verlander, overcoming a shaky start to give the Washington Nationals a 12-3 win over the Houston Astros and a commanding 2-0 lead in the World Series.

Kurt Suzuki hit a tiebreaking homer in what became a messy six-run seventh inning, and the Nationals headed back home to Washington for three games - if needed.

Adam Eaton paraded around the bases pointing to the Houston crowd after a late home run as the Nationals won their eighth in a row. They've won 18 of 20 overall dating back to the regular season, with the last two over AL Cy Young Award favorites Gerrit Cole and Verlander.

Game 3 is Friday night when Anibal Sanchez opposes Houston's Zack Greinke in the first World Series game in the nation's capital since 1933.

The 31-year-old Strasburg had waited years for this chance. Back in 2012, he was about two years removed from Tommy John surgery when Nationals brass decided protecting his elbow was more important than pitching him in the playoffs, so he was shut down late in a season full of promise.

Making his Series debut, Strasburg allowed a two-run homer to Alex Bregman in the first before throwing five shutout innings to improve 4-0 this postseason. He allowed seven hits and struck out seven.

Verlander, so good in the regular season, fell to 0-5 in six World Series starts. He gave up seven hits and four runs, and was lifted after walking a batter following Suzuki's home run.

Verlander led the majors with 21 wins this season and struck out a career-high 300 to reach 3,000 in his career. He has a World Series ring, MVP and Cy Award trophies, and three no-hitters on his resume.

He struck out six to become the career leader in postseason Ks with 202 - another impressive statistic on a stellar resume that is still missing that elusive World Series win.

Their dominance against Houston's best pitchers turned the underdog Nationals into heavy favorites to win the title. Only three of the previous 25 teams to lose the first two games at home under the 2-3-2 format have come back to win the Series. No one has done it since the 1996 New York Yankees.

Things went wrong immediately for Verlander when he walked leadoff man Trea Turner on four pitches. Eaton, who homered in the eighth, singled before Anthony Rendon, the Houston native who said he'd certainly have 100 friends and family members at Minute Maid Park for each game, knocked a ball off the wall in left field for a double that put the Nationals up 2-0.

Michael Brantley singled with two outs in the bottom of the first before Bregman's homer to left tied it. After hitting .167 with no homers in the ALCS and struggling in the opener of this series, Bregman took a second to admire his homer before nonchalantly tossing his bat and trotting to first.

All eight of Bregman's postseason home runs have come off All-Stars.

Verlander got his 200th postseason strikeout when he fanned Victor Robles for the second out in the second inning. The eight-time All-Star passed John Smoltz, who had 199 and was in the TV booth for Fox to see his record fall.

Verlander and Strasburg both settled in after their early wobbles and neither pitcher allowed the hitters to string much together until things fell apart for Houston in the seventh.

Suzuki sent Verlander's 100th pitch sailing above the seats in left field to start the inning and put the Nationals on top. Ryan Pressly, who left Game 6 of the ALCS with a knee injury, took over and didn't look right from the start.

He walked Turner before manager AJ Hinch called for his first intentional walk of the season when he gave Juan Soto a free pass to load the bases with two outs. Howie Kendrick, Asdrubal Cabrera and Ryan Zimmerman followed with successive singles to bust this one open, putting the Nationals up 8-2. As those hits were piling up and run after run crossed the plate, many in the stunned sellout crowd of 43,357 began streaming for the exits.

Michael A. Taylor padded the lead further when he hit a solo shot off Chris Devenski in the ninth.

The only time Strasburg was under any kind of real duress after the first inning came when Yuli Gurriel doubled with one out in the sixth before the Nationals intentionally walked Yordan Alvarez. But slumping Carlos Correa hit a weak fly ball for an out before rookie pinch-hitter Kyle Tucker struck out to allow Strasburg to wriggle out of the jam and end his solid night.

While the game was still close, Verlander made a play guaranteed to put him on the World Series blooper reel. It came in the fourth inning when he spun to the ground and skidded on his back to snag a soft tapper from Zimmerman on the third base side. The grab was fine, but his worst throw of the night came next when he bounced it off his left shin. He got to his feet to reveal grass stains on the back his jersey and on his hip, shook his head and chuckled at his errant toss.

UP NEXT

Sanchez returns after two sharp starts this postseason, capped by taking a no-hitter into the eighth inning in Game 1 of the NLCS against St. Louis.

Greinke, a trade-deadline pickup, hasn't been nearly has strong this postseason and is 0-2 with a 6.43 ERA in three October starts. A bonus of playing in an NL park is that Greinke will get to hit, something he enjoys - and is pretty good at. He's a career .225 hitter with nine homers, including a career-high three this season.

 

[Cnotes53]

Late call: Springer phones Hinch, rehashes baserunning play
October 23, 2019
By The Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) Before going to sleep, George Springer wanted to put to bed what happened on the bases.

So the Astros star phoned manager AJ Hinch well after a 5-4 loss to Washington on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the World Series to rehash what went wrong.

''He called me. He initiated the conversation,'' Hinch said Wednesday before Game 2. ''We followed up today with a personal meeting and walked through the different scenarios.''

The play in question occurred in the eighth inning with Houston trailing 5-3. With Kyle Tucker on second base and one out, Springer had a deep drive to right-center field.

Springer - who earlier had homered in a record fifth straight World Series game - took about a half-dozen hops out of the batter's box while watching the ball sail, possibly for a tying home run. Instead, it hit off the glove of leaping right fielder Adam Eaton, and Springer ended up with an RBI double.

Known for his hustle and aggressive play, Springer didn't begin running hard until getting to first base. There was speculation he could've gotten a triple if he'd broken fast from the box - that became magnified when Jose Altuve followed with a flyball that might have been long enough for a sacrifice fly.

''He just wanted to talk about the play,'' Hinch said. ''It wasn't a malicious play where he was disrespecting the game. He wasn't disrespecting his teammates.

''I think George got caught up in the moment of the play, in the anxiousness to see if the ball was leaving. It wasn't an egregious showmanship kind of pimp job, as they call it. It was a delay in reading the play correctly,'' he said.

The ball caromed off Eaton's glove, hit the wall and rolled toward center field, where Victor Robles retrieved it and threw it in.

Tucker had gone back to second base to tag up, in case the ball was caught. Once it dropped, he scored easily.

Springer said he was watching Eaton the whole way.

''That's one of those things where I don't want to necessarily run as fast as I can, because for some reason, if (Tucker) tags or whatever the case and I run by him, it's not good. So I was just kind of watching the outfielder,'' he said after the game.

Springer also said he wouldn't have made it to third base.

''I can't go to third right there because the guy on second had gone back to tag,'' he said. ''If I had gone to third, I'm out.''

Hinch called it ''an honest mistake.'' He said he felt no need to tear into Springer on their late-night call and that ''was important for me so he could sleep at night.''

''All in all, I've been around George, I know how hard he plays. I know he leaves it all out on the field,'' he said. ''I'm not sure if the play ends any differently, but everybody understands the look when it's a late entry into a play like that.''

 

[Cnotes53]

Astros' Verlander 1st pitcher to go 0-5 in World Series
October 24, 2019
By The Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) All of Justin Verlander's illustrious accomplishments mean little right now.

Not those 225 wins, not the 3,006 regular season strikeouts, not the record 202 postseason Ks. Not the eight All-Star selections, not the 2011 Cy Young Award and Most Valuable Player prize.

Verlander dropped to 0-5 in World Series games Wednesday night as the Washington Nationals pounded the Houston Astros 12-3 for a 2-0 series lead. That skid on baseball's biggest stage is dragging the right-hander's reputation down like ballast sinking a ship to the bottom of the sea.

Never before has a pitcher lost his first five World Series decisions.

He wound up flat on his back in the fourth inning, slipping on Ryan Zimmerman's grounder and firing the ball off his own left foot. Verlander could smile about that one, an instant blooper reel staple.

But he was razed along with all the Astros in the seventh, and that was no laughing matter.

Verlander gave up a go-ahead home run to Kurt Suzuki , who had not driven in a run in this postseason, the start of a spirit-crushing six-run inning that lifted Washington.

And the big home run off a fastball at the letters came on Verlander's second pitch to catcher Martin Maldonado, who had not been behind the plate for Verlander since last year. Prior to Suzuki's at-bat, every pitch by Verlander this season had been delivered to Robinson Chirinos, who left when manager AJ Hinch replaced him with pinch-hitter Kyle Tucker, who struck out with two on for the final out of the sixth.

A likely Hall of Famer with a supermodel wife, the 36-year-old Verlander has a 5.73 ERA in six World Series starts.

He had a chance to close out the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the World Series two years ago but wasted a sixth-inning lead in a 3-1 loss. The Astros rebounded the next night for their first title.

Then, in this month of frustration, he had a chance to close out the AL Division Series against Tampa Bay in Game 4 on short rest, but he gave up three runs in the first inning of a 4-1 loss.

He had a chance to finish out the AL Championship Series against the New York Yankees in Game 5 but allowed four runs in the first inning of another 4-1 defeat.

Verlander was 21-6 with a 2.58 ERA during the regular season, leading the major leagues in wins for the third time, throwing his third no-hitter and forming a dynamic duo with Gerrit Cole. In the World Series, they've hardly been so formidable. Cole allowed five runs in a 5-4 loss to open the Series.

Verlander is just 1-3 with a 4.15 ERA in five October starts, winless in four since the Division Series opener.

 

[Cnotes53]

SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY OCTOBER 25, 2019
Time (ET) Away Home Site
8:07 PM Houston Astros Washington Nationals Nationals Park

SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY OCTOBER 26, 2019
Time (ET) Away Home Site
8:07 PM Houston Astros Washington Nationals Nationals Park

SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY OCTOBER 27, 2019
Time (ET) Away Home Site
8:07 PM Houston Astros Washington Nationals Nationals Park


**********************


2019 WORLD SERIES BEST BETS AND OPINIONS:

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD


10/23/2019...........2-0-0..........100.00%..........+12.75
10/22/2019.......... 2-0-0..........100.00%..........+13.50

TOTALS................ 4-0-0.......... 100.00%........ +26.25


BEST BETS


DATE..........................ATS...............UN ITS..............O/U...............UNITS..............TOTALS

10/23/2019................1 - 0..............+7.75..............1 - 0..............+5.00..............+12.75
10/22/2019................1 - 0..............+8.50..............1 - 0..............+5.00..............+13.50

TOTALS......................2 - 0..............+16.25............2 - 0..............+10.00.............+26.25

 

[Cnotes53]

World Series Game 3
by: Matt Blunt

Houston Astros at Washington Nationals
(FOX, 8:07 p.m. ET)

The 2019 World Series has been full of surprises across the board through two games, as the great pitching matchups everyone expected to see has resulted in 24 total runs being scored in 18 innings of play. It's been the heavily underdogged Washington Nationals who came out on the right end of both of those results, now heading home to the nation's capital for three games and a chance to clinch the organization's first ever World Series crown.

Admittedly, I'm on the wrong side of this 2-0 series lead, as most of my pre-series bets look like nothing more then good fire-starting kindle at this point. But the Astros are far from dead though, as this team still heads to Washington with a 49-37 SU record away from home this year, and most of this core was there when the Astros won Game 7 on the road of the 2017 World Series. We haven't quite reached that true ?must-win? stage yet with Houston, but going down 0-3 with two more games still to go in Washington will have Houston's backs pinned against the wall and struggling to kick out.

This is why Houston went out and got a form of insurance in bringing Zack Greinke to the team, and the Astros are hoping that a guy who's spent plenty of time in National League parks in recent years will help them get back on track in this World Series with a win in a NL park. Even down 0-2 in the series, Houston still comes into Game 3 as the 'chalk', and Greinke on the hill has a lot to do with it.

So will Greinke be the guy that helps get this thing turned around, or will the underdog Nationals continue to cash and grab a stranglehold on this World Series?

Game 3 MLB Betting Odds

Houston (-125) vs Washington (+115); Total set at 8

I'll begin with discussing the side here as it really is one that probably deserves to be held off on for the most part. There are just too many narratives and scenarios that bleed into the handicapping process here to really have a true handicap of the game. I mean, you can say stuff like ?Houston isn't going to lose three in a row,? or ?How is Washington still an underdog now that they are at home.?

Eventually, if you are betting this side, you'll use one of those types of narratives as support for your selection, and it's as simple as that. That's not something I prefer to get into all that often, and if that's what you're looking for I'm sure you'll find plenty of it over the next 48 hours from mainstream media outlets and others out there in this industry.

Instead, I'm looking at this total, and in a series that's been full of surprises in terms of results on both the side and total, I do believe we see that pattern hold true again for Game 3.

Early action on this total for Game 3 has seen nothing but 'over' action really, as the number opened up at 7 for a short while before getting to 7.5 with plenty of juice, and now flat 8's are popping up. That's such a reactionary move based on how the first two games have gone, and the more you are reactive and not proactive in your handicapping, chances are you'll be left paying the oddsmaker more times then not.

There is no argument from me that a pitching matchup of Greinke vs Anibal Sanchez looks much worse on paper than what we saw for Games 1 and 2, and simple reasoning would suggest that if the first two games easily cashed 'over' tickets, Game 3 has to as well right? The Nats have gotten offensive contributions from everyone in their lineup through the first 18 innings, and Houston's bats aren't exactly chopped liver either right. Yet, the key word I mentioned there is ?simple? and you've always got to do as much digging as possible to find long-term success with your handicapping methods.

For one, the venue change brings a couple of significant changes. Obviously the biggest one is that there is no DH for either side here, and the ?automatic? out that comes with the pitcher's spot batting for the first 5+ innings isn't exactly conducive to 'over' plays. Yes, I know Greinke is actually one of the better hitting pitchers in the game, and the use of ?automatic? may be a little harsh, but the point remains the same. But that's just the first layer of the iceberg, as NL parks have not been kind to 'over' plays all year long when the Astros have been involved.

During the regular season, Houston went 2- 8 O/U as visitors in a National League park, averaging just 7.7 total runs scored per game. Yes, that average run number might be a little too close for some to pull the trigger on the 'under', but it includes a two-game set at Coors Field where one of the games finished with 17 total runs. You take out both of those Coors Field appearances (the other game finished with 6 total runs), and that average runs scored number drops to 6.75 runs per game which looks a whole lot better. Let's remember too, all of those games came in much more favorable conditions for baseball back in the summer, not being outdoors in Washington in cold, late-October evening weather.

And while the Astros did have Cole or Verlander pitching in a few of those NL ballpark games ? which would help support an 'under' result ? is Greinke really a huge step back in terms of talent level from those guys? I wouldn't say so as his career resume stacks up quite well with both of them, and I do expect him to be at or near his best for this critical game from Houston's perspective.

Furthermore, it was back in mid-June that Greinke ? then a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks ? came into Nationals Park and blanked Washington in a 5-0 win that saw him finish with a stat line of 7.1 IP and just two hits allowed on 75 pitches. His last seven career starts against the Nats ? going back to 2013 ? have all cashed 'under' tickets, and four of them have come at this ballpark specifically. Not one of those games finished with more than 5 total runs scored, and Greinke's teams came away with three shutout victories in his most recent four starts against Washington. Sometimes guys just like the way a particular mound or stadium looks and feels, and history suggests that may be the case with Greinke in, and against Washington.

Now, Anibal Sanchez on the other side does bring a few more concerns in terms of backing the 'under', as he's not always the most consistent guy out there, but his start in the NLCS was something special and hopefully he can recapture most of that performance a few weeks later here.

Houston's bats are nowhere near warm from a full lineup perspective in the playoffs right now, and given their lack of run production visiting NL ballparks this year ? 3.625 runs scored per game at NL parks not named Coors Field ? I'm not sure how you can rely on them to be successful in carrying their own weight in terms of an 'over' play.

The pitching duel that everyone expected in Game 1, and a little less so in Game 2, ends up showing up in Game 3 when the majority of the market has moved on from that line of thought. Colder, outdoor baseball with no DH already lends itself that way, and the more this total climbs, the more units I'll have on the low side of this number.

Best Bet: Under 8

 

[Cnotes53]

905HOUSTON -906 WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON is 79-44 SU (34 Units) vs. good defensive catchers - allowing 0.5 or less SB's/game in the current season.


MLB
Dunkel

Friday, October 25


Houston @ Washington

Game 905-906
October 25, 2019 @ 8:07 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Houston
(Greinke) 16.041
Washington
(Sanchez) 19.608
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Washington
by 3 1/2
6
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Houston
-125
7 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Washington
(+105); Under



MLB
Long Sheet

Friday, October 25

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON (114 - 61) at WASHINGTON (103 - 71) - 8:07 PM
ZACK GREINKE (R) vs. PAT CORBIN (L)
Top Trends for this game.
HOUSTON is 47-37 (-14.3 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
HOUSTON is 33-27 (-9.3 Units) against the money line in road games in night games this season.
HOUSTON is 17-19 (-14.5 Units) against the money line in road games after a loss this season.
HOUSTON is 95-77 (-22.0 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 51-44 (-19.0 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
GREINKE is 35-41 (-21.3 Units) against the money line as a road favorite of -125 to -175 since 1997. (Team's Record)
WASHINGTON is 103-71 (+14.9 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
WASHINGTON is 10-2 (+10.4 Units) against the money line in October games this season.
WASHINGTON is 10-2 (+10.4 Units) against the money line in playoff games this season.
WASHINGTON is 57-46 (+9.3 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
WASHINGTON is 35-22 (+15.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
HOUSTON is 74-33 (+25.1 Units) against the money line as a road favorite of -125 to -175 over the last 3 seasons.
HOUSTON is 21-4 (+14.2 Units) against the money line in road games when playing with a day off over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 43-14 (+22.7 Units) against the money line in road games against left-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
GREINKE is 22-7 (+13.9 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
WASHINGTON is 22-28 (-15.0 Units) against the money line when playing on Friday over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 100-85 (-17.1 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 2-0 (+3.4 Units) against HOUSTON this season
2 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+2.0 Units)

ZACK GREINKE vs. WASHINGTON since 1997
GREINKE is 6-1 when starting against WASHINGTON with an ERA of 1.27 and a WHIP of 0.830.
His team's record is 7-2 (+4.8 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-8. (-7.5 units)

PAT CORBIN vs. HOUSTON since 1997
CORBIN is 2-1 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 5.21 and a WHIP of 1.263.
His team's record is 2-1 (+1.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-1. (+0.8 units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


MLB

Friday, October 25

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Washington Nationals
Washington is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Washington is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games
Washington is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games at home
Washington is 13-1 SU in its last 14 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Washington's last 8 games at home
Washington is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Houston
Washington is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games when playing Houston
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 7 games when playing Houston
Washington is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Houston
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Washington's last 8 games when playing at home against Houston

Houston Astros
Houston is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games
Houston is 10-4 ATS in its last 14 games on the road
Houston is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Houston's last 18 games on the road
Houston is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Washington
Houston is 1-12 SU in its last 13 games when playing Washington
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 7 games when playing Washington
Houston is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Washington
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Houston's last 8 games when playing on the road against Washington

 

[Cnotes53]

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

HOU at WAS 08:07 PM

WAS +120 *****

U 8.0 *****

 

[Cnotes53]

Brantley's big hits help Astros win Game 3 of World Series
October 26, 2019
By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) Michael Brantley is healthy at the most important time and not letting that go to waste.

After waiting so long to play on this stage, the veteran outfielder whose career has been interrupted by a laundry list of injuries cashed in on his most important chances in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday night. Brantley hit two run-scoring singles and was a big part of the Houston Astros reversing their dreadful trend with runners in scoring position to beat the Washington Nationals 4-1 and cut their series deficit to 2-1.

Given his team's struggles at the plate, manager AJ Hinch could have put hot-hitting rookie Yordan Alvarez in left field hoping for a big hit or two. He stuck with the sure-handed Brantley, who remained steady as ever.

Brantley singled off starter Anibal Sanchez in the third and fifth innings and was intentionally walked in the sixth so he couldn't do more damage. He's 5 for 12 in the World Series, which is becoming a showcase of the 32-year-old as a professional hitter.

He blooped an 0-2 pitch from Sanchez into left field for Houston's first run of the night and perfectly timed a 3-1 changeup to lace a single to right and restore a two-run lead.

Houston entered the game hitting .175 this postseason with runners in scoring position. Brantley led the way as the club went 4 for 10 in those key spots Friday.

Brantley has seen this spotlight up close, just not in uniform. A right shoulder surgery sidelined him during the 2016 World Series, when his Cleveland Indians teammates lost to the Chicago Cubs in seven games.

He was used to sitting out by then, of course. A right wrist injury and hand surgery ended his 2011 season, sports hernia surgery was his reward for getting through 2012, right shoulder surgeries spoiled 2015 and 2016, and a right ankle strain hampered him in 2017.

None of that stopped Brantley's progression, and he has been an All-Star three years in a row. He got his groove back hitting .309 with 17 home runs and 76 RBIs last season, his final with Cleveland before signing a $32 million, two-year deal to join the Astros.

Brantley was even better this season with 22 home runs and 90 RBIs. This is the first playoffs he's been able to get past the first round, and thanks to a couple of timely hits, Brantley guaranteed the Astros will play at least two more games in this World Series.

 

[Cnotes53]

2019 WORLD SERIES BEST BETS AND OPINIONS:

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

10/25/2019...........1-1-0...........50.00%...........+0.00
10/23/2019...........2-0-0..........100.00%..........+12.75
10/22/2019.......... 2-0-0..........100.00%..........+13.50

TOTALS................ 4-0-0.......... 100.00%........ +26.25


BEST BETS


DATE..........................ATS...............UN ITS..............O/U...............UNITS..............TOTALS

10/25/2019................0 - 1..............-5.00...............1 - 0..............+5.00..............+0.00
10/23/2019................1 - 0..............+7.75..............1 - 0..............+5.00..............+12.75
10/22/2019................1 - 0..............+8.50..............1 - 0..............+5.00..............+13.50

TOTALS......................2 - 1..............+11.25............3 - 0..............+15.00.............+26.25

 

[Cnotes53]

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

HOU at WAS 08:07 PM

WAS -112

O 8.5 *****

 

[Cnotes53]

Corbin 1 of many problems for Nats as Series lead vanishes
October 27, 2019
By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) Patrick Corbin didn't immediately turn and watch the homer he served up to Houston's Robinson Chirinos in Game 4 of the World Series.

Instead, before eventually spinning around and tugging at the red brim of his cap, the Nationals lefty kept staring straight ahead toward home plate, where his changeup found the middle of the strike zone, as if a batting practice toss for the Astros catcher.

This was not what Washington wanted, nor expected, when it handed over $140 million over six years last offseason to add Corbin to a staff that already featured All-Stars Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. And this wasn't what the Nationals needed, either: A second consecutive home loss to the Astros, this one by an 8-1 score Saturday night, to leave the Fall Classic tied at two games apiece.

No, this flop was not entirely Corbin's fault, even if he did leave while trailing 4-0. Yes, Washington reliever Fernando Rodney gave up Alex Bregman's grand slam in the seventh as part of the sort of bullpen meltdown that happened over and over early this season.

And, don't forget, the Nationals' bats stayed silent for the second straight game: They have scored a total of two runs over the past 18 innings.

Still, while Corbin and his sweeping slider did what they were supposed to during the regular season - 14-7, 3.25 ERA, 238 strikeouts, 202 innings - it's this time of year that really matters the most, and he has not produced as promised in his first October in the majors.

''These are games I want to pitch in. I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to go out there and help us win a ball game,'' Corbin said Friday, looking ahead to Game 4. ''This is what you prepare for all offseason, to pitch in these games and just to have the opportunity to go out there, give it my best.''

This outing - four runs, seven hits, two walks over six innings - dropped Corbin's postseason record to 1-3 in seven appearances, three as a starter, four as a reliever. Get this: He's been so mediocre, that Saturday's so-so showing actually lowered his ERA to 6.64.

Things were tough for him right from the get-go, with Houston getting four singles in a row in the first inning as a group of Astros fans in the upper deck beyond right field waved their orange towels and chanted for the visitors.

Jose Altuve reached base for the 24th postseason game. Michael Brantley got the first of his three hits. Bregman and Yuli Gurriel delivered RBIs. A double-play eventually extricated Corbin from that mess, but more problems arose in the fourth.

That's when he gave Carlos Correa a leadoff walk before missing the mark on a 1-0 pitch to Chirinos, who sent it out to left in a hurry.

No one was yet warming up in the home bullpen. This was Corbin's game to win or lose. It didn't turn out how Washington hoped.