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World Series: Nationals look to bounce back in Game 4 with Patrick Corbin

By Jake Mastroianni

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 25: Fans cheer during the first inning in Game Three between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals of the 2019 World Series at Nationals Park on October 25, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Semansky - Pool/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 25: Fans cheer during the first inning in Game Three between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals of the 2019 World Series at Nationals Park on October 25, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Semansky - Pool/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, COLORADO – JULY 02: Jose  Urquidy #65 of the Houston Astros makes his Major League debut, throwing in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on July 02, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO – JULY 02: Jose  Urquidy #65 of the Houston Astros makes his Major League debut, throwing in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on July 02, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Astros bullpen vs. Nationals hitters

While the Houston Astros may have the best 1-2-3 starting rotation in baseball –Nationals would like to argue that — they don’t have much beyond that third starter at the moment.

Wade Miley was their number four starter all season, but he struggled down the stretch and was left off the ALCS and World Series roster.

Instead, the Astros will likely go with a bullpen game in Game 4 with Jose Urquidy expected to get the start.

They will try to get as far as they can in the game with Urquidy who went 2.2 in that bullpen game against the Yankees with 5 strikeouts.

In the regular season, Urquidy made 7 starts and 2 relief appearances with an ERA of 3.95 in 41 innings with 40 strikeouts.

He also pitched 1.2 innings in the ALDS and didn’t give up a run but did allow 3 hits and a walk with 3 strikeouts.

Brad Peacock started that bullpen game against the Yankees — a game that they won — after being left off the ALDS roster.

He’s pitched 3 innings this postseason — including 0.1 innings in Game 3 — and has allowed 1 earned run on 2 hits and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts.

During the regular season he made 15 starts and had 8 relief appearances with a 4.12 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 91.2 innings with 96 strikeouts.

Lefties have hit Peacock very well this season with a .279 average against the right-handed pitcher. Nobody on the Washington Nationals roster has much experience or success against Peacock.

But Peacock will stay in the game as long as he’s not in trouble. Especially with the Astros down in the series, he and Urquidy will both be pulled at the first sign of trouble.

In Game 6 of the NLCS they went with Josh James next and then Ryan Pressly.

If they can get it to the seventh with those guys, they’ll then likely deploy their set-up guys and closer, which includes Joe Smith, Will Harris, and Roberto Osuna.

Harris has been lights out this postseason not allowing a run in 8.1 innings pitched with 10 strikeouts and 5 holds. He pitched 1.2 innings in Game 3, but I’m assuming he’ll still be available with the Astros season on the line in Game 4.

Smith, who worked a clean inning in Game 3, has been nearly as good allowing just 1 earned run on 3 hits and a walk over 7.1 innings with 6 strikeouts.

And Osuna has given up 3 earned runs on 5 hits and 3 walks this postseason with 9 strikeouts in 8.2 innings pitched.

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