Washington (0-0) at Houston (0-0)
When: Tuesday, October 22nd 2019
Where: Minute Maid Park,
Houston, Texas
Time: 8:08 ET | TV: FOX
Opening Odds: Houston -185/6.5
The Houston Astros and Washington Nationals will bring All-Star starting pitching into this year’s edition of the World Series that begins Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park. The Astros come in as -215 favorites at most books to win the World Series – making them the biggest MLB title favorites in over a decade. That’s a lot of pressure for Houston against a team that boasts a pretty impressive rotation. Max Scherzer (2.92 regular season ERA) is expected to start for the Nats this Tuesday against Gerrit Cole (2.50 ERA). Both have pitched lights-out during the postseason. Each has a team record of 3-0, with Cole (one earned run) driving the Under to a 3-0 record and Scherzer (four earned runs) nearly doing the same at 2-0-1. Scherzer also struck out the side during an inning of relief against the Los Angeles Dodgers in their National League Division Series. Health has been kind to both clubs with the only concern of note is with Houston reliever Ryan Pressly (2.32 ERA). He left Game 6 of the ALCS versus the New York Yankees with discomfort in his right knee, but expects to be ready for Tuesday. The Astros managed to get by New York in six games, while Washington swept through the NLCS in four games and had a week to get the pitching well rested. The Nationals will be able to use NLCS MVP Howie Kendrick, first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and either Brian Dozier or Asdrubal Cabrera in the lineup in the first two games with the DH in place. Kendrick leads the team with nine RBIs in the postseason while third baseman Anthony Rendon is batting .375 with a .465 on-base percentage and a team-high 19 total bases. Houston features 2017 World Series MVP George Springer, but the outfielder is batting just .152 this postseason. Jose Altuve – ALCS MVP – launched a walk-off homer in Game 6 to clinch the pennant Saturday. The teams last met in an interleague series in 2017 with Washington taking two of three in Houston.
Pitchers: Nationals – Max Scherzer (2-0, 1.80 ERA) | Astros – Gerrit Cole (3-0, 0.40)
Scherzer only had to pitch once in the four-game NLCS sweep of St. Louis and had his best start of the postseason, taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning in Game 2 and ended up surrendering one hit while striking out 11 in seven scoreless innings. After allowing three runs, three walks, and two homers over five innings in the wild card game against Milwaukee, Scherzer has allowed one run and five hits over 15 innings since, including striking out the side in a one-inning relief appearance against the Dodgers. He is making his second career World Series start after allowing three runs in 6.1 innings back in 2012 as a member of the Detroit Tigers.
Remember how dominant Madison Bumgarner was for the Giants in the postseason a few years ago? Well, that’s how good Cole has been thus far in three appearances. The pending free agent has allowed a total of one run while striking out 32 in 22.2 innings this postseason. Cole is a perfect 19-0 with a 1.59 ERA and 258 strikeouts in 169.1 innings over his last 25 outings. This will be his firs World Series start.
It’s hard to go against Cole right now, but this Nationals team has been proving everyone wrong this postseason and they have their bulldog on the mound. Scherzer has been getting stronger since a rough wild card game and you will never get him at this price again.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Tuesday. He finished 135-95 +2686 units in the regular season!
Pick: Nationals +175
BETTING TRENDS:
Nationals are 4-0 in their last 4 road games.
Nationals are 5-0 in their last 5 interleague games.
Nationals are 5-0 in their last 5 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 6-0 in their last 6 playoff games.
Nationals are 4-0 in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Nationals are 4-0 in their last 4 playoff road games.
Nationals are 5-0 in their last 5 Tuesday games.
Nationals are 4-0 in their last 4 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 5-1 in their last 6 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 14-3 in their last 17 games following a win.
Nationals are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Nationals are 4-1 in their last 5 during game 1 of a series.
Nationals are 20-7 in their last 27 vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 14-5 in their last 19 games following an off day.
Nationals are 24-9 in their last 33 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 5-2 in their last 7 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 40-16 in their last 56 overall.
Nationals are 40-16 in their last 56 games on grass.
Nationals are 57-28 in their last 85 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 4-0 in Scherzer’s last 4 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 4-0 in Scherzer’s last 4 Tuesday starts.
Nationals are 8-1 in Scherzer’s last 9 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 15-3 in Scherzer’s last 18 starts.
Nationals are 15-3 in Scherzer’s last 18 starts on grass.
Nationals are 8-2 in Scherzer’s last 10 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Nationals are 4-1 in Scherzer’s last 5 starts with 9 or more days of rest.
Nationals are 4-1 in Scherzer’s last 5 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 5-2 in Scherzer’s last 7 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 37-15 in Scherzer’s last 52 road starts.
Nationals are 2-8 in Scherzer’s last 10 starts during game 1 of a series.
Astros are 5-1 in their last 6 interleague games.
Astros are 5-1 in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Astros are 5-1 in their last 6 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
Astros are 13-3 in their last 16 vs. National League East.
Astros are 46-11 in their last 57 during game 1 of a series.
Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 playoff games.
Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
Astros are 40-12 in their last 52 home games.
Astros are 39-13 in their last 52 games following an off day.
Astros are 53-19 in their last 72 games on grass.
Astros are 54-20 in their last 74 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Astros are 39-15 in their last 54 games following a win.
Astros are 23-9 in their last 32 playoff home games.
Astros are 10-4 in their last 14 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
Astros are 55-22 in their last 77 overall.
Astros are 20-8 in their last 28 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Astros are 5-2 in their last 7 interleague home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Astros are 18-8 in their last 26 interleague home games.
Astros are 37-17 in their last 54 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Astros are 13-6 in their last 19 interleague home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Astros are 35-17 in their last 52 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Astros are 35-17 in their last 52 Tuesday games.
Astros are 6-0 in Cole’s last 6 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Astros are 4-0 in Cole’s last 4 starts with 6 days of rest.
Astros are 8-0 in Cole’s last 8 Tuesday starts.
Astros are 4-0 in Cole’s last 4 interleague starts.
Astros are 24-3 in Cole’s last 27 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Astros are 23-3 in Cole’s last 26 home starts.
Astros are 15-3 in Cole’s last 18 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Astros are 19-4 in Cole’s last 23 starts during game 1 of a series.
Astros are 54-14 in Cole’s last 68 starts on grass.
Astros are 54-16 in Cole’s last 70 starts.
Astros are 19-7 in Cole’s last 26 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Astros are 21-8 in Cole’s last 29 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 interleague games.
Under is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 9-1 in Nationals last 10 vs. American League West.
Under is 6-1 in Nationals last 7 playoff road games.
Under is 5-1 in Nationals last 6 road games.
Under is 5-1 in Nationals last 6 interleague road games.
Under is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 interleague road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 interleague road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 6-2-2 in Nationals last 10 during game 1 of a series.
Under is 28-11 in Nationals last 39 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 5-2-1 in Nationals last 8 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 7-3-1 in Nationals last 11 Tuesday games.
Under is 39-19-4 in Nationals last 62 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 8-0 in Scherzer’s last 8 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 6-1-1 in Scherzer’s last 8 road starts.
Over is 5-1-1 in Scherzer’s last 7 Tuesday starts.
Under is 5-1-1 in Scherzer’s last 7 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Under is 5-1 in Scherzer’s last 6 starts on grass.
Under is 5-1 in Scherzer’s last 6 starts overall.
Under is 5-1 in Scherzer’s last 6 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 14-3-1 in Scherzer’s last 18 interleague starts.
Over is 3-1-1 in Scherzer’s last 5 starts with 9 or more days of rest.
Under is 3-1-1 in Scherzer’s last 5 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 4-0 in Astros last 4 Tuesday games.
Over is 4-0 in Astros last 4 interleague home games.
Over is 4-0 in Astros last 4 interleague home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 6-1 in Astros last 7 interleague home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-1 in Astros last 6 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 4-1-1 in Astros last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Over is 12-3-2 in Astros last 17 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 3-1-1 in Astros last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 3-1-1 in Astros last 5 playoff home games.
Under is 3-1-1 in Astros last 5 home games.
Under is 3-1-1 in Astros last 5 World Series games.
Under is 3-1-1 in Astros last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Under is 6-2 in Astros last 8 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-2-1 in Astros last 8 on grass.
Under is 5-2-1 in Astros last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-2-1 in Astros last 8 overall.
Under is 5-2-1 in Astros last 8 playoff games.
Under is 3-0-1 in Cole’s last 4 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-1-1 in Cole’s last 7 starts on grass.
Under is 5-1-1 in Cole’s last 7 starts overall.
Under is 4-1-1 in Cole’s last 6 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Under is 4-1 in Cole’s last 5 starts during game 1 of a series.
Over is 5-2-1 in Cole’s last 8 home starts.
Over is 5-2 in Cole’s last 7 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 8-1 in the last 9 meetings in Houston.
Under is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings in Houston.
Nationals are 19-7 in the last 26 meetings.
Under is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
