Washington (1-0) at Houston (0-1)
When: Wednesday, October 23rd 2019
Where: Minute Maid Park,
Houston, Texas
Time: 8:07 ET | TV: FOX
Opening Odds: Houston -175/7.5
Juan Soto made quite a World Series debut and helped the underdog Washington Nationals grab a 1-0 series lead against the Houston Astros on Tuesday. The almost-21-year-old recorded a three-hit, three-RBI game as Washington rallied for a 5-4 victory over Houston in Game 1 of the Fall Classic. Soto launched a mammoth opposite-field, game-tying home run leading off the fourth inning then delivered a two-run double, also to the opposite field, an inning later to cap the Nationals’ scoring against Gerrit Cole. He became the fourth-youngest player to homer in a World Series game, trailing only Andruw Jones (19 years, 180 days in 1996), Miguel Cabrera (20 years, 187 days in 2003) and Mickey Mantle (20 years, 352 days in 1952). Washington handed Cole his first loss in 25 starts – 19-0 with a 1.59 ERA – and will look to take a commanding series lead when they oppose Justin Verlander on Wednesday. An inability to deliver with runners in scoring position plagued the Astros throughout, especially Alex Bregman, who is 3-for-22 in his last seven games after striking out three times Tuesday. Houston finished 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 baserunners. George Springer set a record by homering in his fifth straight World Series game and has gone deep a total of six times in eight career games.
Pitchers: Nationals – Stephen Strasburg (3-0, 1.64 ERA) | Astros – Justin Verlander (1-2, 3.70)
Strasburg has been outstanding this postseason and the Nationals have won all four games in which he has appeared – three starts. He limited the St. Louis Cardinals to one-unearned run over seven strong innings while striking out 12 in Game 3 of the NLCS. He threw a season-high 117 pitches in that contest but he will be pitching on plenty of rest. Strasburg, who boasts 33 strikeouts and just one walk in 22 innings this postseason, pitched six scoreless innings against the Astros in August of 2017.
Verlander has been a big-game pitcher most of his career, but has had his struggles in the Fall Classic, going 0-4 with a 5.67 ERA in five starts. He’s been homer-prone this postseason, giving up five over his last three starts, including two in Game 5 of the ALCS against the New York Yankees. Verlander has two career starts and two wins against Washington, but last saw them in 2013.
I went against Cole and won last night and I’m even more confident with this pitching matchup. Strasburg has been terrific, while Verlander has shown some kinks in the armor. This Washington team is not afraid of the big stage and have now won five straight postseason road games. I’ll take them again.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Wednesday. He finished 135-95 +2686 units in the regular season!
Pick: Nationals +165
BETTING TRENDS:
Nationals are 5-0 in their last 5 road games.
Nationals are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Nationals are 4-0 in their last 4 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 6-0 in their last 6 interleague games.
Nationals are 6-0 in their last 6 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 7-0 in their last 7 playoff games.
Nationals are 5-0 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Nationals are 5-0 in their last 5 playoff road games.
Nationals are 5-0 in their last 5 during game 2 of a series.
Nationals are 5-0 in their last 5 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 14-2 in their last 16 games following a win.
Nationals are 4-1 in their last 5 interleague road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 20-6 in their last 26 vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 25-9 in their last 34 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 21-8 in their last 29 Wednesday games.
Nationals are 41-16 in their last 57 overall.
Nationals are 41-16 in their last 57 games on grass.
Nationals are 5-2 in their last 7 interleague road games.
Nationals are 5-2 in their last 7 interleague road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 58-28 in their last 86 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 35-17 in their last 52 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 4-0 in Strasburg’s last 4 starts vs. American League West.
Nationals are 10-1 in Strasburg’s last 11 interleague starts.
Nationals are 27-8 in Strasburg’s last 35 Wednesday starts.
Nationals are 42-13 in Strasburg’s last 55 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 44-15 in Strasburg’s last 59 road starts.
Nationals are 29-10 in Strasburg’s last 39 starts during game 2 of a series.
Nationals are 59-23 in Strasburg’s last 82 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Nationals are 90-35 in Strasburg’s last 125 starts.
Nationals are 90-35 in Strasburg’s last 125 starts on grass.
Nationals are 40-17 in Strasburg’s last 57 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 41-18 in Strasburg’s last 59 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 9-4 in Strasburg’s last 13 starts with 8 or more days of rest.
Nationals are 37-18 in Strasburg’s last 55 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Astros are 6-1 in their last 7 games following a loss.
Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Astros are 13-4 in their last 17 vs. National League East.
Astros are 40-13 in their last 53 home games.
Astros are 53-20 in their last 73 games on grass.
Astros are 54-21 in their last 75 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Astros are 5-2 in their last 7 interleague games.
Astros are 5-2 in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Astros are 5-2 in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Astros are 5-2 in their last 7 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
Astros are 15-6 in their last 21 playoff home games.
Astros are 36-15 in their last 51 overall.
Astros are 64-31 in their last 95 during game 2 of a series.
Astros are 37-18 in their last 55 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Astros are 5-1 in Verlander’s last 6 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Astros are 8-2 in Verlander’s last 10 Wednesday starts.
Astros are 18-6 in Verlander’s last 24 home starts.
Astros are 12-4 in Verlander’s last 16 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Astros are 10-4 in Verlander’s last 14 starts during game 2 of a series.
Astros are 15-6 in Verlander’s last 21 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Astros are 9-4 in Verlander’s last 13 starts with 4 days of rest.
Astros are 36-16 in Verlander’s last 52 starts.
Astros are 56-25 in Verlander’s last 81 starts on grass.
Astros are 11-5 in Verlander’s last 16 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Astros are 17-8 in Verlander’s last 25 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 5-0-1 in Nationals last 6 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-0 in Nationals last 5 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 5-0 in Nationals last 5 interleague games.
Over is 5-0 in Nationals last 5 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 9-2 in Nationals last 11 vs. American League West.
Over is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Over is 6-2-1 in Nationals last 9 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 6-2 in Nationals last 8 playoff road games.
Under is 9-3-1 in Nationals last 13 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 14-5 in Nationals last 19 interleague road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 5-2 in Nationals last 7 road games.
Over is 5-2 in Nationals last 7 games following a win.
Under is 5-2 in Nationals last 7 interleague road games.
Under is 4-1 in Strasburg’s last 5 starts during game 2 of a series.
Over is 8-2 in Strasburg’s last 10 interleague starts.
Over is 3-1-1 in Strasburg’s last 5 starts on grass.
Over is 3-1-1 in Strasburg’s last 5 starts overall.
Under is 18-7-1 in Strasburg’s last 26 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-2-1 in Strasburg’s last 8 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Over is 5-0 in Astros last 5 interleague home games.
Over is 5-0 in Astros last 5 interleague home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 7-1 in Astros last 8 interleague home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 5-1-1 in Astros last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Under is 5-1 in Astros last 6 during game 2 of a series.
Under is 4-1 in Astros last 5 Wednesday games.
Over is 4-1 in Astros last 5 vs. National League East.
Over is 15-4-2 in Astros last 21 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 6-2-1 in Astros last 9 games following a loss.
Under is 5-2 in Astros last 7 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-2 in Astros last 7 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 7-1 in Verlander’s last 8 Wednesday starts.
Under is 6-1 in Verlander’s last 7 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Under is 21-5 in Verlander’s last 26 starts with 4 days of rest.
Under is 16-5 in Verlander’s last 21 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 6-2 in Verlander’s last 8 interleague starts.
Under is 6-2 in Verlander’s last 8 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 14-5-1 in Verlander’s last 20 home starts.
Under is 8-3 in Verlander’s last 11 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 13-5 in Verlander’s last 18 starts overall.
Under is 5-2 in Verlander’s last 7 starts during game 2 of a series.
Under is 5-2 in Verlander’s last 7 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 11-5 in Verlander’s last 16 starts on grass.
Nationals are 9-1 in the last 10 meetings in Houston.
Under is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings in Houston.
Nationals are 20-6 in the last 26 meetings.
