Scherzer, Nationals Are +121 Underdogs vs Greinke, Astros in World Series Game 7 – Picks & Odds

• The Washington Nationals are +121 underdogs to win Game 7 of the World Series at Houston’s Minute Maid Park
• Washington is 3-0 in Houston in the series
• The home team has yet to win a game in the 2019 World Series

The Washington Nationals made history at the expense of the Houston Astros on Tuesday. They’ll seek to make more history on Wednesday in Game 7 of the World Series.

The road team had never won the first six games of any World Series. That is, until Game 6 of this series, when the Nats throttled Houston 7-2 at Minute Maid Park.

No team has ever four won road games in a single World Series. The Nationals will seek to achieve that in Game 7. But sportsbooks list Houston as -131 favorites to win Game 7.

Nationals vs Astros Game 7 World Series Odds

Odds taken October 30th

Houston lost Game 6 of the 2017 World Series with a chance to clinch but won Game 7.

Nationals Go to the Max

Max Scherzer was forced to pull out of his scheduled Game 5 start due to neck stiffness, but the Nats insist all systems are go for Game 7 with their three-time Cy Young Award winner.

Just three days ago, Scherzer couldn’t lift his right arm – his pitching arm – after suffering spasms in his neck and right trapezius muscle. He played light catch in the outfield prior to Game 6 and pronounced himself fit.

So we're getting a Game 7, and Max Scherzer is going to start it. yes, I believe I will watch that. pic.twitter.com/Lb4uqhe0HR

— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) October 30, 2019

When Scherzer or Stephen Strasburg have taken the mound during this postseason, the Nationals are 9-0. Strasburg was the Game 6 winner as Washington improved to 4-0 when facing elimination during the 2019 postseason.

Washington catcher Kurt Suzuki, out since Game 3 due to a right hip flexor injury, declared himself fit to play Game 7.

Astros Game 7: Been There, Done That

In the 2017 World Series, the Astros headed to Los Angeles, also with Justin Verlander taking the mound, for Game 6 with a 3-2 lead. They lost 3-1 to the Dodgers. But they rebounded to win Game 7 by a 5-1 count.

This October, Houston won a win-or-go-home Game 5 of the ALDS over the Tampa Bay Rays. The Astros are 3-0 in the playoffs in the game following a Verlander loss.

The Astros are looking to join the 1996 New York Yankees, 1986 New York Mets and 1985 Kansas City Royals as teams that won a World Series after falling behind 2-0.

Washington’s Minute (Maid) Men

There’s something about the water – or is it the orange juice – in Houston that puts the pop into Washington’s bats.

The Nationals scored just three runs combined in Games 3-5 at home. But moving back to Houston’s Minute Main Park, the picked up right where they left off in Games 1 and 2.

Washington has scored 24 runs in three games at Houston. The Nats have hit .291 (32-for-110) on the road in this series, and .333 (9-for-27) with runners in scoring position.

Nationals are Road Warriors

Tuesday’s win not only left the road team with eight consecutive wins in the World Series, it established a milestone for North American pro sports.

It’s the first time in 1,420 best-of-seven playoff series in the MLB, NBA and NHL in which the road team has won all of the first six games.

Scherzer vs. Greinke. First Game 7 in World Series history featuring former Cy Young winners.

— David Schoenfield (@dschoenfield) October 30, 2019

Now we’re supposed to believe the home team is suddenly going to turn this trend around in the biggest game of the season? Road teams are 20-19 in Game 7 of the World Series. and 19-17 in the 2019 playoffs.

Houston starter Zack Greinke hasn’t won a postseason start since 2015. He’s only made it through five complete innings twice in his last six playoff starts.

Pick: Washington Nationals (+121)