Nationals vs Astros 2019 World Series Game 1 Odds & Pick

The Washington Nationals enter their first World Series as a franchise, while the Houston Astros look to win their second World Series in three years. Washington came back to eliminate the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series in five games and then rolled right over St. Louis in a four-game sweep of the National League Championship Series. Houston was also pushed to the limit in their ALDS by the Tampa Bay Rays, and they needed six games to down the New York Yankees in the ALCS. Washington and Houston have not played since the 2017 season, when the Nationals won two of three down in the Lone Star State. Both teams have aces on the hill for Game 1 of the Fall Classic, with Max Scherzer starting for the Nats and Gerrit Cole starting for the Astros. Who will draw first blood? Don’t miss our MLB betting preview of the 2019 World Series opener of the Nationals vs Astros!

Nationals vs Astros 2019 World Series Game 1 Odds & Pick

When: Tuesday, October 22, 2019, 8:08 pm ET Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston TV: FOX Radio: ESPN Radio Live Stream: ESPN+ MLB Odds: Houston -209 / Washington +170 / O/U 6.5 Projected Pitching Matchup: Max Scherzer (2-0, 1.80 ERA) (WAS) vs Gerrit Cole (3-0, 0.40 ERA) (HOU)

Why should you bet on the Nationals?

Through the regular season, Max Scherzer went 11-7 with a 2.92 ERA, striking out 243 hitters while walking 33 over 27 starts. In his last start, he threw seven innings of one-hit ball against St. Louis in the NLCS, striking out 11 and walking two in a 3-1 Nats win. He did not permit any hits through the first six innings before permitting a single to lead off the seventh. In the postseason, he has a 6-5 career record, posting a 3.35 ERA in 20 appearances. This season, his numbers have been much better in four appearances (including three starts). He has not faced Houston since 2014, back when the Astros were in the basement of the American League West. Washington has gone 17-13 in the games Scherzer has started this year. On the season, Washington won 93 games — 46 at home and 47 on the road. That even keel should pay off playing in an American League park — a setting where National League teams tend to enjoy a bit of an advantage because they get to put a designated hitter into the lineup instead of having to let the pitchers bat. Yes, Washington has won eight of their last nine against Houston, but except for the 2017 series, that was against an Astros team in the middle of a rebuild.

Why should you put your money on the Astros?

Gerrit Cole has permitted one earned run in the postseason, which came on a solo shot by the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5 of the ALDS, a game in which Cole threw eight innings of two-hit, one-run ball. He led the major leagues in strikeouts on the season, with 326, and he has 32 strikeouts in three postseason starts. In his last start, he threw seven shutout innings in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Yankees. He faced Washington several times while pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates, with a 3-2 record and a 2.92 ERA over six starts. No team won more home games this year than Houston did, with a 65-22 record at Minute Maid Park. Center fielder Michael Brantley has hit well against Scherzer in his career, going 15 for 44 (.341 average) with a home run and nine RBI. The Astros’ lineup is a real gauntlet for pitchers to negotiate, and while the Washington bullpen has pitched well so far in this postseason, they were not reliable during the regular season.

Final Score Prediction

Betting on the Astros does not offer a lot of value in this game. Given how well Cole has pitched this postseason, one does wonder if he is set for an off night. However, Washington has also had a bit of a rest after sweeping the Cardinals, and it is always possible that having that time to think will add pressure for the Nats. If Washington is going to get the road split in these first two games, it seems more likely in Game 2, when Justin Verlander will pitch for the Astros. I predict a final score of Houston 4, Washington 1.