Astros Turn Back to Cole vs Scherzer-less Nationals

Gerrit Cole and the Houston Astros have regained the momentum in the World Series and now get to face the Washington Nationals without their ace for Game 5. The Nats turn to Joe Ross with Max Scherzer scratched due to neck spasms. 

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

Houston opened as a moderate favorite at -147, because with Gerrit Cole back on the mound, the Astros will always be favored — regardless of his Game 1 performance. Once the Nationals made Max Scherzer was a surprise scratch, the Astros odds immediately jumped to -220. Despite Ross filling in for the Scherzer, the total only moved from 7 to 7.5.

Houston News & Notes

The Astros dug themselves a big hole in the first two games of the World Series, losing at home twice with Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander pitching, but it turns out a visit to D.C. was all they needed.

Behind five shutout innings from Jose Urquidy, followed by another dominant performance by the bullpen, Houston has evened the series at two games apiece following their 8-1 victory.

Besides the great pitching performance, Houston also finally got an MVP-type performance from Alex Bregman. Hitting just .208 entering Game 4, Bregman went 3-for-5 with five RBI, including a grand slam in the seventh inning that blew the game open.

With home-field restored and the series now a best-of-3, Houston will turn back to Cole, in hopes that he can erase his ugly Game 1 and pitch like we’ve all been accustomed to — and put the Astros one win away from another World Series title.

Washington News & Notes

The Nationals gave Patrick Corbin $140 million dollars this offseason to be the third piece of a three-headed rotation monster. They needed him to deliver in the biggest game of his career Saturday night… and he fell short; giving up four hits on seven hits across six innings as the Nats and Astros are knotted up in the World Series at two games apiece.

The blame can’t entirely be put upon Corbin, however, as the Washington offense has completely disappeared. After scoring 17 runs in the first two games, the Nationals have scored a single run in each of their previous two contests. Second-year phenom Juan Soto has just one hit in his last ten at-bats, while the entire team is 1-for-19 with runners in scoring position over the last two losses.

Washington had a golden opportunity to close the series quickly but failed to capitalize on Zack Greinke and Jose Urquidy starting against them. Now things get tougher as they get to have a second trip through the Gerrit Cole-Just Verlander meat grind and scoring 17 runs again in those two games is highly unlikely.

Betting Pick: UNDER 7.5

Washington tagged Cole in Game 1, but that’s not going to happen again. Joe Ross will likely play the role of opener for the Nationals and if his 2019 home ERA is any indication (7.63 in 30.2 innings), the Nats will need to go to the bullpen early to try and stave off the Astros batting order.