World Series Game 2: Astros Big Favorites vs Strasburg Despite Loss in Opener

The OVER has hit a lot lately when the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals match up, including the first game of the World Series, which featured Gerrit Cole and Max Scherzer. Will it happen again in Game 2, when Stephen Strasburg and Justin Verlander take the mound?

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

While Washington has a recent history of success against the Astros, especially in Houston, the Astros remain heavy favorites as Justin Verlander is on the mound and the Astros are that much tougher in the playoffs at Minute Maid Park. The total is set at 7.5, as Verlander has been better at home, while Strasburg is throwing as well as any pitcher in the 2019 postseason.

Washington News & Notes

There clearly is no stage too big for Nationals slugger Juan Soto, as the 20-year-old outfielder has done nothing but deliver clutch hits all postseason. First it was a go-ahead single against Josh Hader in the eighth inning of the NL wild-card game. Then came a game-tying home run off Clayton Kershaw in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the NLDS. In his first World Series game, he went 3-for-4, including a game-tying home run in the fourth inning and a go-ahead two-run double in the fifth, both off Gerrit Cole.

Soto’s big debut was enough support for starter Max Scherzer, who allowed two runs through five laborious innings and watched the bullpen hang on for a 5-4 victory.

The Nationals now look to Stephen Strasburg to give them a 2-0 series lead. While his playoff track record is impressive, he’ll need Washington to continue scoring runs — and expect Soto to again play a big part in that.

Houston News & Notes

So Gerrit Cole is human, after all. The AL Cy Young favorite has been utterly dominant since June, but he stumbled against the Nationals, yielding eight hits and five runs over seven innings, taking his first loss in 26 outings.

While Cole had a forgettable World Series game, outfielder George Springer had a historic evening. He blasted a home run in the seventh inning, which marked his fifth straight World Series game (dating back to 2017) with a long ball, breaking the MLB record he previously shared with legends Lou Gehrig and Reggie Jackson. He added an RBI double in the eighth to cut the deficit to one, but the Astros were unable to complete the comeback.

A sixth straight game with a dinger seems improbable, but Game 2 starter Justin Verlander will take all the offense he can get, as Strasburg has a 1.64 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in four postseason appearances this year.

Betting Pick: OVER 7.5

Both starters have been throwing well. But these offenses will get to the bullpens and they love scoring in the later innings. I’ll take the OVER.