Houston (1-2) at Washington (2-1)
When: Saturday, October 26th 2019
Where: Nationals Park,
Washington, DC
Time: 8:07 ET | TV: FOX
Opening Odds: Washington -125/8.5
The Houston Astros showed Friday that they won’t go down without a fight and will lean on their bullpen in Saturday’s Game 4 of the World Series in hopes of evening the best-of-seven series. Robinson Chirinos hit a home run, Michael Brantley drove in a pair of runs, and five relievers shut down the Washington Nationals in the 4-1 victory in Game 3 Friday. While Houston got just enough offense, the bullpen was an equally big factor, recording 4.1 scoreless innings including 1.2 innings from Will Harris. Starter Zack Greinke departed in the fifth inning after allowing one run on seven hits and three walks. Astros right-hander Josh James (2-0) earned the victory by getting a strikeout to close out the fifth, while Roberto Osuna pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his second save of the postseason despite a chorus of boos from the Nationals Park crowd. The Nationals saw their eight-game postseason winning streak come to an end and just three of those eight wins were played at home. The Nationals also lost catcher Kurt Suzuki with a hip flexor strain in the sixth inning and will undergo an MRI on Saturday. Chirinos’ home run off the netting of the left-field foul pole was his second of the playoffs. Game 3 was the first World Series game played in Washington, D.C. since the Washington Senators played host to the New York Giants in 1933. Washington slugger Juan Soto was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and a walk in Game 3 after going 4-for-7 with a homer, two doubles, three RBI, three runs scored, two walks and a stolen base in the first two games in Houston.
Pitchers: Astros – Jose Urquidy (0-0, 2.08 ERA) | Nationals – Patrick Corbin (1-2, 6.91)
Kicking off the ‘bullpen’ game for Houston will be right-hander Jose Urquidy and manage A.J. Hinch indicated that he will pitch as far as he can. Urquidy has come out of the bullpen for his only two appearances this postseason and has eight strikeouts in 3.1 innings while allowing six hits and one run (solo homer). He appeared in nine games during the regular season (seven starts) and posted a 3.95 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 41 innings of work.
Corbin will appear in his seventh game this postseason and get his third start after mixed results in his first two. He struck out two and gave up one hit in an inning of relief in Game 2 of this series but was knocked-around by the Cardinals in his last start (four runs in five innings), but did strike out 12. During these playoffs, Corbin has allowed one earned run in 8.2 road innings and 10 earned runs in 5.2 home innings.
I still like Washington to win this series and one loss isn’t going to set off a panic. Houston is hitting just .135 against lefties over their last 10 games and I expect Corbin to be at his best on Saturday night.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Saturday. He finished 135-95 +2686 units in the regular season!
Pick: Nationals -115
BETTING TRENDS:
Astros are 7-1 in their last 8 interleague games vs. a left-handed starter.
Astros are 10-2 in their last 12 interleague road games vs. a left-handed starter.
Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Astros are 8-2 in their last 10 during game 4 of a series.
Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 interleague road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Astros are 40-11 in their last 51 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Astros are 40-12 in their last 52 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Astros are 44-14 in their last 58 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Astros are 40-13 in their last 53 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
Astros are 38-13 in their last 51 Saturday games.
Astros are 14-5 in their last 19 vs. National League East.
Astros are 11-4 in their last 15 road games.
Astros are 54-21 in their last 75 games on grass.
Astros are 37-15 in their last 52 overall.
Astros are 39-16 in their last 55 games following a win.
Astros are 37-18 in their last 55 interleague road games.
Nationals are 5-0 in their last 5 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Nationals are 4-0 in their last 4 during game 4 of a series.
Nationals are 8-1 in their last 9 playoff games.
Nationals are 7-1 in their last 8 interleague games.
Nationals are 7-1 in their last 8 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 6-1 in their last 7 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 5-1 in their last 6 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Nationals are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Nationals are 4-1 in their last 5 interleague home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 4-1 in their last 5 interleague home games.
Nationals are 7-2 in their last 9 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Nationals are 23-9 in their last 32 games following a loss.
Nationals are 5-2 in their last 7 Saturday games.
Nationals are 42-17 in their last 59 overall.
Nationals are 42-17 in their last 59 games on grass.
Nationals are 38-16 in their last 54 home games.
Nationals are 35-17 in their last 52 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 59-29 in their last 88 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 6-0 in Corbin’s last 6 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 5-1 in Corbin’s last 6 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 5-1 in Corbin’s last 6 starts.
Nationals are 5-1 in Corbin’s last 6 starts on grass.
Nationals are 5-1 in Corbin’s last 6 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Nationals are 14-3 in Corbin’s last 17 home starts.
Nationals are 4-1 in Corbin’s last 5 Saturday starts.
Under is 3-0-1 in Astros last 4 interleague road games vs. a left-handed starter.
Under is 21-5-1 in Astros last 27 interleague road games.
Under is 4-1 in Astros last 5 World Series road games.
Under is 4-1 in Astros last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 4-1 in Astros last 5 road games.
Under is 4-1 in Astros last 5 playoff road games.
Under is 4-1 in Astros last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 22-6-2 in Astros last 30 interleague road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 10-3 in Astros last 13 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Under is 6-2 in Astros last 8 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
Over is 5-2 in Astros last 7 vs. National League East.
Under is 4-1 in Urquidy’s last 5 starts on grass.
Under is 4-1 in Urquidy’s last 5 starts overall.
Under is 5-0-1 in Nationals last 6 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 6-1 in Nationals last 7 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 6-1 in Nationals last 7 interleague games.
Over is 6-1 in Nationals last 7 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 on grass.
Over is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 overall.
Over is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 interleague home games.
Over is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 playoff games.
Over is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 interleague home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 10-3 in Nationals last 13 vs. American League West.
Over is 6-2 in Nationals last 8 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 3-1-1 in Nationals last 5 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 3-1-2 in Nationals last 6 games following a loss.
Over is 6-2 in Nationals last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Under is 11-5-2 in Nationals last 18 during game 4 of a series.
Over is 3-0-1 in Corbin’s last 4 home starts.
Over is 3-1-2 in Corbin’s last 6 starts on grass.
Under is 3-1-1 in Corbin’s last 5 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 3-1-2 in Corbin’s last 6 starts overall.
Under is 9-3-2 in Corbin’s last 14 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 3-1-1 in Corbin’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 14-6 in the last 20 meetings in Washington.
Astros are 3-10 in the last 13 meetings in Washington.
Astros are 6-21 in the last 27 meetings.
