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Washington Nationals World Series: Game 1 features first matchup of aces

By Jake Mastroianni

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - OCTOBER 12: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals prepares to deliver a pitch during the third inning of game two of the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on October 12, 2019 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - OCTOBER 12: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals prepares to deliver a pitch during the third inning of game two of the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on October 12, 2019 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 15: Gerrit  Cole #45 of the Houston Astros celebrates retiring the side during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 15: Gerrit  Cole #45 of the Houston Astros celebrates retiring the side during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Gerrit  Cole vs. Washington Nationals

The Houston Astros deployed a bullpen game for Game 6 of the ALCS in order to ensure their top ace, Gerrit Cole, was able to start Game 1 of the World Series.

That move paid off and now they’ll have the likely AL Cy Young winner starting Game 1 (or Game 2).

The soon free-agent-to-be has put together a phenomenal season with a 2.50 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 212.1 innings with 326 strikeouts.

He’s been even more dominant in the postseason with a 0.40 ERA in 22.2 innings pitched with 32 strikeouts. Cole has only allowed 1 earned run and 10 hits in three postseason starts.

The Astros big righty has faced the Nationals twice since 2016 and is 1-1 against them with a 2.92 ERA in 12.1 innings with 10 strikeouts and a .250 BAA.

A lot of Nationals players actually have a good bit of history against Cole.

Most notably, Anthony Rendon is 5-for-13 off Cole with a couple of walks.

Role players such as Matt Adams (4-for-17), Asdrubal Cabrera (2-for-17), and Gerardo Parra (2-for-15) are the Nationals with double-digits at-bats against him.

Adams and Micahel Taylor are the only Nats with a homer off Cole — one each.

Howie Kendrick, Trea Turner, and Ryan Zimmerman have a couple of hits against him in limited at-bats.

Looking at the splits for Cole in 2019, he’s held righties to a .198 average, and he’s actually held lefties to a minuscule .175 average.

Over his career he’s also held lefties to a lower average at .229 compared to .237 for righties.

He’s also been just as good at home (2.63 ERA) as he is on the road (.236 ERA).

If you’re looking for a hole in Cole’s game to try to exploit, good luck.

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