Houston (0-2) at Washington (2-0)
When: Friday, October 25th 2019
Where: Nationals Park,
Washington, DC
Time: 8:07 ET | TV: FOX
Opening Odds: Houston -120/7.5
The Washington Nationals are two wins away from one of the biggest World Series upsets of all-time. After taking the first two games on the road, the Nationals return to the Nation’s Capital on Friday to host the Houston Astros for Game 3. Anibal Sanchez (3.85 regular season ERA) will take the mound for Washington opposite Zack Greinke (2.93 ERA). The Nationals started this best-of-seven series as around +175 underdogs, but quickly turned into -120 favorites after beating Houston 5-4 in Tuesday’s opener. The offense exploded Wednesday night, taking the second game 12-3 as +165 road dogs to put the Astros’ hopes of a second title in three seasons in jeopardy. Washington became the 26th team to win Games 1 and 2 on the road in a best-of-seven series under the 2-3-2 format and only three clubs – the last was the 1996 Atlanta Braves in the World Series – have lost. 20-year-old outfielder Juan Soto is 4-for-7 with a home run, three RBI, two doubles and three runs scored in the World Series, while Houston 3B Alex Bregman is batting .233 in the postseason and 1-for-8 in the Fall Classic. The Nationals have won eight straight games, joining the 2004 Boston Red Sox, the 2005 Chicago White Sox and the 2014 Kansas City Royals as the only clubs to accomplish that feat in a single postseason. Game 4 is set for Saturday night with Patrick Corbin set to go for the Nationals, while the Astros will probably use a bullpen game, unless Gerrit Cole is forced to save the series.
Pitchers: Astros – Zack Greinke (0-2, 6.43 ERA) | Nationals – Anibal Sanchez (1-0, 0.71)
Greinke brings the added value of a good bat to a National League park, but if he keeps pitching the way he has, he might not get an at-bat. He led all pitchers with three home runs and eight extra-base hits this season, but the focus will be to at least earn a quality start in his first World Series appearance. He allowed one run, three hits and four walks with five strikeouts over 4.1 innings of Houston’s 8-3 victory over New York in Game 4 of the ALCS, but lost his first two postseason outings at Tampa Bay in the ALDS and against the Yankees in Game 1 of the ALCS.
Sanchez has done his job thus far as the best option after Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. During this postseason, he’s allowed a single earned run over 12.2 innings, but Washington’s beleaguered bullpen could only close one of his two starts. Sanchez was four outs away from a no-hitter in Game 1 of the NLCS versus St. Louis, but Washington prevailed 2-0. Sanchez makes his second World Series appearance after losing to San Francisco in 2012, allowing two runs with eight strikeouts over seven innings while with Detroit.
I really don’t know why the Astros are -135 favorites in this one. Their offense has gone cold with runners on base, and the Nationals are playing out of their mind. Greinke hasn’t done anything to convince me he’s a big-game pitcher, while Sanchez has been as consistent as they come. I will definitely take the Nationals at this price.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Friday. He finished 135-95 +2686 units in the regular season!
Pick: Nationals +125
BETTING TRENDS:
Astros are 6-2 in their last 8 games following a loss.
Astros are 6-2 in their last 8 interleague road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Astros are 39-14 in their last 53 games following an off day.
Astros are 13-5 in their last 18 vs. National League East.
Astros are 53-21 in their last 74 games on grass.
Astros are 10-4 in their last 14 road games.
Astros are 5-2 in their last 7 interleague road games.
Astros are 5-2 in their last 7 interleague road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Astros are 5-2 in their last 7 during game 3 of a series.
Astros are 51-21 in their last 72 Friday games.
Astros are 36-15 in their last 51 overall.
Astros are 4-9 in their last 13 World Series games.
Astros are 1-4 in their last 5 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Astros are 5-1 in Greinke’s last 6 starts on grass.
Astros are 5-2 in Greinke’s last 7 road starts.
Astros are 5-2 in Greinke’s last 7 starts.
Nationals are 7-0 in their last 7 interleague games.
Nationals are 7-0 in their last 7 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 8-0 in their last 8 playoff games.
Nationals are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Nationals are 4-0 in their last 4 games following an off day.
Nationals are 4-0 in their last 4 Friday games.
Nationals are 6-0 in their last 6 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 4-0 in their last 4 interleague home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 4-0 in their last 4 interleague home games.
Nationals are 7-1 in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Nationals are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. American League West.
Nationals are 4-1 in their last 5 playoff home games.
Nationals are 16-5 in their last 21 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Nationals are 42-16 in their last 58 overall.
Nationals are 42-16 in their last 58 games on grass.
Nationals are 38-15 in their last 53 home games.
Nationals are 18-8 in their last 26 during game 3 of a series.
Nationals are 35-16 in their last 51 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 36-17 in their last 53 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 59-28 in their last 87 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 39-19 in their last 58 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 47-23 in their last 70 games following a win.
Nationals are 4-0 in Sanchez’s last 4 Friday starts.
Nationals are 4-1 in Sanchez’s last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Nationals are 4-1 in Sanchez’s last 5 starts.
Nationals are 4-1 in Sanchez’s last 5 starts on grass.
Nationals are 9-4 in Sanchez’s last 13 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 2-6 in Sanchez’s last 8 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 4-0 in Astros last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 4-0 in Astros last 4 during game 3 of a series.
Over is 5-1 in Astros last 6 vs. National League East.
Over is 4-1 in Astros last 5 on grass.
Over is 4-1 in Astros last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 4-1 in Astros last 5 overall.
Over is 4-1 in Astros last 5 playoff games.
Under is 20-5-1 in Astros last 26 interleague road games.
Under is 21-6-2 in Astros last 29 interleague road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 6-2 in Astros last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 21-8-1 in Astros last 30 interleague road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 12-5-1 in Astros last 18 road games.
Under is 7-3-1 in Astros last 11 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 16-7-2 in Astros last 25 Friday games.
Under is 5-2 in Greinke’s last 7 road starts.
Over is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Over is 6-0-1 in Nationals last 7 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 on grass.
Over is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 games following a win.
Over is 6-0 in Nationals last 6 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 6-0 in Nationals last 6 interleague games.
Over is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 overall.
Over is 6-0 in Nationals last 6 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 interleague home games.
Over is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 playoff games.
Over is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 interleague home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 6-1 in Nationals last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Over is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 games following an off day.
Over is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 interleague home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 6-2-1 in Nationals last 9 home games.
Under is 9-3 in Nationals last 12 vs. American League West.
Over is 11-4 in Nationals last 15 during game 3 of a series.
Over is 18-7-2 in Nationals last 27 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 5-2 in Nationals last 7 playoff home games.
Over is 4-1 in Sanchez’s last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Under is 4-1 in Sanchez’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Washington.
Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
Astros are 6-18 in the last 24 meetings in Washington.
Astros are 5-21 in the last 26 meetings.
