The 2019 World Series starts off game 1 in Houston with the Astro’s taking on the Washington Nationals in their first ever World Series appearance in the history of the franchise.
Washington is coming in red hot winning 6 games in a row. Including the sweep of the Cardinals but they have not played a game in a week since Oct. 15th. This type of rest typically benefits the pitchers more than the hitters.
You have Max Scherzer with a 2.81 ERA taking the bump for the Nat’s and right handed Garret Cole with a 2.30 ERA for the Astro’s.
Scherzer is 3-0, 2.77 in his last 5 games (4 starts); he is 3-1, 3.38 in 7 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.
The Nationals bats were hot against the Cardinals as they continue to keep that going against Garrett Cole. The Nats have a lifetime batting average of .223 against Cole. The Astors have lifetime avg. around .281 vs Scherzer. Houston’s Michael Brantley leading the way with a .341 avg. and George Springer just behind him with a .333 average against Scherzer. Antony Rendon has a .385 career average against Cole in 13 at bats has 5 hits.
The Nationals scored 20 runs in just 4 games against the Cardinals whereas the Astro’s scored 22 runs in 6 games against the Yankees.
Weather will not be a factor because this game is being played indoors in the hitter friendly Minute Maid Park.
The line opened around -190/+180 and 6.5 o/u at 5dimes and continues to move around that same area with no strong indicators of Sharp betting. The public appears to be taking the under and the sharps appear to be hitting the over early on. With these 2 pitchers an under looks juicy but with both these teams offensive production the number at 6.5 looks too good to pass up as well. It is a toss up depending on who over powers who with their, hitting or pitching. Scherzer is much better at home than on the Road and Cole has been pretty much dominant at home.
Both of these teams have great starting pitching but skeptical bullpens. If any team gets into the others bullpen early they will have the best chance at winning. Disciplined at bats and high pitch counts is one way and the other is to attach early and often with aggressive first pitch bombarding.
This Game 1 will be a good watch to see how each team is going to approach their potential to be the MLB 2019 World Series Champion.