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Verlander, Astros Favored at -175 vs Strasburg, Nationals in World Series Game 2 – Picks & Odds

Robert Duff

by Robert Duff in MLB Baseball

Updated Apr 1, 2020 · 2:57 PM PDT

Justin Verlander in wind up
The Houston Astros and Justin Verlander arre -175 favorites to win Game 2 of the World Series and pull even with the Washington Nationals. Photo by D. Benjamin Miller (Wikimedia Commons) [CC License].
  • Justin Verlander and the Houston Astros are -175 favorites to beat Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals in Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday
  • The Nationals took Game 1 from Houston 5-4
  • Washington handed Astros starter Gerrit Cole his first loss since May 22

The last time the Houston Astros handed the ball to Justin Verlander for Game 2 of the World Series, the scenario was hauntingly familiar.

The Astros lost Game 1 of the 2017 World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers. They could ill-afford to fall behind 2-0 in the best-of-seven set.

Verlander didn’t get the win but Houston did by a 7-6 margin, and the Astros carried on to beat the Dodgers in seven games.

Will history repeat itself? Well, Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals will have something to say about that.

The Nationals took Game 1 of the 2019 Fall Classic 5-4, handing Astros pitcher Gerrit Cole his first lost since May 22.

Nonetheless, sportsbooks are banking on a Houston rebound in Game 2. Verlander and the Astros have been established as the -175 chalk to take the decision in the Nationals vs Astros Game 2 odds.

Nationals vs Astros Game 2 World Series Odds

Team Moneyline Runline Over/Under
Washington Nationals +165 +1.5 (-140) Over 7.5 (+105)
Houston Astros -175 -1.5 (+120) Under 7.5 (-125)

Odds taken October 23rd

The Nationals are riding a six-game winning streak in the postseason.

Crushing Cole

It was Superman who could crush coal into diamonds but it was the Nationals who crushed Cole on the diamond.

Cole is Houston’s version of Superman. The last time Cole tasted defeat, most of America was busily making plans for their upcoming Memorial Day celebrations.

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Cole entered the game with a 0.40 ERA in 22.2 postseason innings and a 19-0 record over his previous 25 starts.

Juan Soto, 20, jacked a pair of home runs as the city of Washington, DC. won its first World Series game since the Senators blanked the New York Giants on October 5th, 1933.

Winning first, though, isn’t always foremost in winning it all when it comes to the World Series. Historically, Game 1 winners are 71-43 when it comes to winning the series. That’s a 62.2 percent success rate.

However, the previous team to win Game 1 in their first-ever World Series appearance was the 2012 Texas Rangers. Then they proceeded to lose the series to the San Francisco Giants in five games.

As well, the Nationals are the ninth team to sweep an LCS since baseball switched the LCS to a best-of-seven format in 1985. The previous eight teams went 1-7 in the World Series and 10-30 in World Series games.

Justin’s Time?

During the ALCS against the New York Yankees, Verlander insisted the toughest game to win for a starting pitcher is the second start of a playoff series. In that scenario this postseason, he’s 0-2. But how’s he fared historically in his first start of a postseason series?

Overall, Verlander is 8-4 in that scenario and his teams are 11-7 in games he’s started. In World Series play, however, Verlander is 0-2 and his team is 1-2 in his first start of a series.

Verlander and Cole are the first two teammates to each finish with 300 strikeouts in a season since Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling of the 2001 World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks.

Strasburg Unbeaten In Postseason

Not only is Strasburg 3-0 in this postseason and rolling with four straight playoff victories overall, he’s given his team a chance to win every game of these playoffs.

Washington is 4-0 in games started by Strasburg. He’s fanned 33 in 22 innings of work while posting an ERA of 1.64. Strasburg’s career postseason ERA is 1.10.

David slayed Goliath in Game 1, and the upset-minded Nationals are going to into Game 2 with an ace up their sleeve.

Pick: Washington Nationals (+165).

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