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World Series Game 1 Preview: Getting you ready for Nats-Astros

Chris Graham

washington nationalsHow you can tell Washington is buzzing over its first World Series in 86 years: look at the secondary ticket market.

Tickets for Games 1 and 2 in Houston are starting at $386 for Game 1 Tuesday night and $350 for Game 2 on Wednesday.

The DC tickets are … a tad more expensive.

Try $700 for Game 3 on Friday, $739 for Game 4 on Saturday, and $600 for the if necessary Game 5 on Sunday.

That’s demand outstripping supply.

Houston, in its second Fall Classic in three years, sends ace Gerrit Cole (20-5, 2.50 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 13.8K/9) to the mound for Game 1 to face Nats ace Max Scherzer (11-7, 2.92 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 12.7K/9).

Cole, rather famously, hasn’t lost since May 22, winning 19 consecutive decisions over a span of 25 starts.

The Astros are 23-2 in Cole starts in that stretch.

Cole has a 3-0 record with a 0.40 ERA in three starts in the 2019 postseason, giving up one run on 10 hits in 22.2 innings, striking out 32 and walking eight, which is just ridiculous.

Scherzer is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in four postseason appearances, including three starts, in 2019, getting the win in Game 4 of the NDLS over Los Angeles with a seven-inning stint in which he gave up a run on four hits, striking out seven and walking three.

Mad Max also got the win in Game 2 of the NLCS over St. Louis, striking out 11 and walking two in seven one-hit innings.

Astros hitters vs. Scherzer

Good numbers overall: 27-for-96 career, .281/.324/.469 slash.

The damage, though, is two guys, primarily.

  • Michael Brantley: 15-for-44, 8 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 3 BB, 1 K
  • Josh Reddick: 5-for-11, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 3K

The rest of the lineup is a collective 7-for-41 against Scherzer

Nats hitters against Cole

Cole has had success dating back to his days in Pittsburgh, where he pitched from 2013-2017. Nats hitters are 22-for-97 with a .227/.265/.340 slash.

  • Trea Turner: 2-for-5
  • Adam Eaton: 1-for-5, 2K
  • Anthony Rendon: 5-for-13, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2K
  • Juan Soto: no career ABs vs. Cole
  • Howie Kendrick: 2-for-9, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 1 K
  • Ryan Zimmerman: 2-for-8, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 2 K
  • Asdrubal Cabrera: 2-for-17, 3 RBI, 6 K
  • Kurt Suzuki/Yan Gomes: no career ABs vs. Cole
  • Victor Robles: no career ABs vs. Cole

Story by Chris Graham

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Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, TikTok, BlueSky, or subscribe to Substack or his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].