For the first time in 1,420 seven-game series in the playoffs for the National Hockey League, the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball, the road team has won each of the first six games of a series. This happened last night when the Washington Nationals downed the Houston Astros, 7-2, in Game 6 of the 2019 World Series. Those seven runs that Washington scored were four more than Washington scored in Games 3, 4 and 5 combined up in D.C. Now comes Game 7, with Max Scherzer slated to start for the Nationals opposite Houston’s Zack Greinke. Can the Astros finish off the Nationals, or will Washington make this a seven-game series in which the road team wins every game? Don’t miss our World Series betting preview for this Fall Classic cliffhanger.
Nationals vs Astros 2019 World Series Game 7 Odds and Preview
When: Wednesday, October 30, 2019, 8:07 pm ET Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston TV: FOX Radio: ESPN Radio Live Stream: FOX Sports GO MLB Odds: Houston -135 / Washington +125 Projected Pitching Matchup: Max Scherzer (3-0, 2.16 ERA) (WAS) vs Zack Greinke (0-2, 5.30 ERA) (HOU)Why should you bet on the Nationals?
Max Scherzer returns for what would be a fourth victory in these playoffs. He pitched well in the series opener, throwing five innings of five-hit, two-run ball, striking out seven and walking three, in a game that Washington would win, 5-4. He has not been as dominant in this series as he was in the two previous rounds, but he has the stuff to get the Nationals to the late innings. He also has had plenty of rest, as he was scratched from a scheduled Game 5 start with neck stiffness but has since recovered.
The offensive differential between what Washington has done in Houston and what they did at home is dumbfounding. The Nationals have scored 24 runs in three games in Houston, and just three runs in three games in Washington. Adding the designated hitter to the lineup in an American League park doubtless makes a difference, but there’s nothing suggesting that it makes this much of a difference. After dispatching with Justin Verlander and hitting the Houston relievers hard, the Nationals have seized offensive momentum back once again.
Why should you put your money on the Astros?
Zack Greinke has ace stuff during the regular season — but gets shaky during the postseason. There is no situation with more pressure in baseball than pitching in Game 7 of the World Series, so it will be interesting to see how Greinke holds up. He pitched well enough in Game 3 to lead the Astros to a win, but he came out after 4 ⅔ innings, already having thrown 95 pitches thanks to some deep counts — and after having permitted seven hits. He also failed to make it out of the fifth inning in his second start against the Yankees in the ALCS. The Astros already had to use their bullpen a great deal last night in Game 6, but you could also see Gerrit Cole come back after his start in Game 5 to throw an inning — it’s all hands on deck in Game 7.
Scherzer’s health is also a question. If his neck was so stiff that he could not turn his head before Game 5, he might have issues during Game 7. The Houston bats have been locked in all season long — and they delivered a lot of punishment up in Washington. If you like the Astros, you see them rebounding from the Game 6 loss just like they did to the Game 1 and 2 losses — leading with their bats, swinging early in the count, and driving in runs.
Final Score Prediction
You have the 107-win Houston Astros against the lightning-in-a-bottle Washington Nationals, who did not even win their own division, and yet they stand toe to toe for Game 7. I don’t think Greinke will pitch as well as Scherzer, and I don’t think the Houston bullpen will be as solid AS Washington’s. I predict a final score of Washington 5, Houston 3.
