World Series: Washington Nationals look to step on gas with Strasburg in Game 2
After the Washington Nationals stole Game 1 on the road with a 5-4 win, they will look to Stephen Strasburg in Game 2 of this World Series matchup.
One could certainly make the case that Stephen Strasburg has been the ace of the Washington Nationals in the second half of this season.
The Nats certainly hope he gives an ace-like performance in Game 2 of this World Series after the bullpen was taxed in a Game 1 win.
Scherzer struggled with command in Game 1 and the Astros hitters were very patient as they drove up his pitch count and ran him off after 5 solid innings.
As a result, Dave Martinez had to use Patrick Corbin, Tanner Rainey, Daniel Hudson, and Sean Doolittle out of the bullpen.
Hudson and Doolittle both threw more than an inning (1.1), but Doolittle only threw 13 pitches and should still be fresh for Game 2.
Juan Soto was the hero offensively in Game 1 with 3 hits and 3 RBI.
The top of the lineup did a good job of getting on base as well with Trea Turner and Adam Eaton combining to get on base three times.
Despite giving up 8 hits and 5 runs, Gerrit Cole was able to eat up 7 innings for the Houston Astros in Game 1, keeping their bullpen fresh for Game 2.
The Astros actually out-hit the Nationals in Game 1 with 10 hits compared to nine for Washington, but the Astros were just 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
With Game 1 behind us, the Washington Nationals look to keep their foot on the gas in Game 2.
This will be round 2 in a matchup of aces between these two teams as Justin Verlander takes the mound for the Houston Astros against the Washington Nationals.
Justin Verlander vs. Washington Nationals
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Like Max Scherzer for the Washington Nationals, Justin Verlander is on a Hall of Fame path.
He was incredible in the first half of his career with the Detroit Tigers, and he’s been even better in his two-plus years with the Houston Astros and is in the running for another Cy Young award.
He posted a 2.58 ERA this season with a WHIP of 0.80 in 223 innings with 300 strikeouts.
But he’s had his struggles in the postseason — at least by his standards — giving up 10 earned runs in his last three postseason starts.
Still, this righty is capable of going out and throwing a no-hitter every time he steps on the mound.
Verlander hasn’t pitched against the Nationals since 2013, so that’ not really that relevant.
Asdrubal Cabrera has seen him the most with 21 hits in 76 at-bats, including 3 home runs.
Yan Gomes, who I thought would get the Game 1 start, will likely start in Game 2 with 11 hits in 41 at-bats against Verlander. However, Kurt Suzuki is 14-42 against him and was tremendous behind the plate in Game 1.
Brian Dozier (6-for-31), Adam Eaton (7-for-31), Howie Kendrick (5-for-23), and Gerardo Parra (4-for-12 with a home run) are the other Nationals hitters with double-digit at-bats against Verlander.
This season Verlander has allowed lefties to hit just .163, while righties have hit .182. Over his career, lefties are hitting lower (.220) than righties (.236) as well.
Stephen Strasburg vs. Houston Astros
It was Stephen Strasburg that carried this Washington Nationals starting rotation in the second half of the season with Scherzer banged up.
In the last three months of the regular season he posted a 2.70 ERA in 100 innings pitched allowing just 71 hits and 29 walks (1.00 WHIP) with 126 strikeouts.
He won all five of his July starts and finished the season with 18 wins.
That success has carried into the postseason as the Nationals have won all four games that he’s pitched in and he’s given up just 4 earned runs in 22 postseason innings with 33 strikeouts.
Like the righty Verlander, the right-handed Strasburg has done better against lefties this year holding them to a .192 average compared to .224 for righties.
Strasburg did face the Houston Astros in 2017 — the year they won the World Series — and pitched 6 shutout innings allowing just 3 hits and 1 walk with 7 strikeouts.
Still, no one on the Astros roster has faced Strasburg more than five times. And that is Jose Altuve who is 2-for-5 off him. Alex Bregman has had his number as well with 2 hits in just 3 at-bats, but nobody has homered off of him.
Typically the pitcher has the advantage when hitters haven’t seen him as much, let’s hope that’s the case in Game 2 for Strasburg.
Preview and Prediction
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This is one game I thought the Washington Nationals had a really good chance of winning. I like the matchup of Strasburg going up against Verlander who has not been as dominant lately.
Still, in no way will this be a cakewalk for the Nationals. They’ll need to have the same approach at the plate against Verlander as they did against Cole — be aggressive in the zone.
While the Astros hitters tried to be patient and get Scherzer out of the game early in Game 1, which worked, the Nationals hitters were aggressive against Cole and were able to get some pitches to hit.
Guys like Cole and Verlander are going to work deep into the game regardless, no sense in sitting around and waiting until you’ve got two strikes on you to try and hit.
Look for the Nationals hitters to stay aggressive early in the count against Verlander.
The key for Strasburg will be getting out of the first inning. He’s had his struggles in the first inning, and the Astros have been very good in the first inning this postseason.
Strasburg had a 4.36 ERA in the first inning during the regular season. He’ll need to do his best to get through the first unscathed and then I think he’ll be able to settle in and hold down this struggling Astros offense.
And with the bullpen usage for the Nationals in Game 1, they could really use a 7 inning outing from Strasburg.
Winner: Nationals
Soto leads Nats to Game 1 win. dark. Next
I really thought the Astros would win Game 1 with Cole, but with the Nationals pulling off the upset they have a great chance of taking a 2-0 lead in the World Series with Strasburg on the mound in Game 2.