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World Series: Nationals and Astros reset in Game 5

By Jake Mastroianni

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 26: Fans cheer prior to Game Four of the 2019 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on October 26, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 26: Fans cheer prior to Game Four of the 2019 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on October 26, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 22: Gerrit  Cole #45 of the Houston Astros reacts after allowing a two-RBI double to Juan Soto (not pictured) of the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning in Game One of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 22, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 22: Gerrit  Cole #45 of the Houston Astros reacts after allowing a two-RBI double to Juan Soto (not pictured) of the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning in Game One of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 22, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

Gerrit Cole vs Nationals hitters — round 2

This is exactly what the Washington Nationals were hoping to avoid, and exactly what the Houston Astros wanted.

Another chance for Gerrit Cole to redeem himself and give the Astros the lead in the World Series.

As we all know and already talked about in our Game 1 preview, Cole was possibly the best starting pitcher in all of baseball in 2019.

But the Nationals were able to get to him in Game 1 scoring 5 earned runs on 8 hits and a walk over 7 innings with 6 strikeouts.

It was the first time in 13 starts he didn’t have more strikeouts than innings pitched. And that seemed to be the gameplan for the Nationals hitters.

They attacked early in the at-bat and didn’t give Cole a chance to get to two strikes. Five of their eight hits against Cole came with less than two strikes.

It will be interesting to see if Cole changes up his gameplan and works backwards in the count to try and take advantage of the aggressiveness of the Nationals hitters.

Game 1 was just the third game all season in which Cole gave up more than 4 earned runs, and just the sixth time he gave up more than 3 earned runs.

So the likely hood that the Nationals put up another big number against him is not good.

Adam Eaton and Juan Soto both had a couple of hits off Cole, and they both had a hit in that 3-run fifth inning.

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