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SPORTS Monday 21 october 2019

Capital hill: Astros, Nats rely on rotations in World Series

By BEN WALKER
AP Baseball Writer
Now this is a serious World
Series throw-down.
Gerrit Cole, Justin Verlander
and Zack Greinke vs. Max
Scherzer, Stephen Stras-
burg and Patrick Corbin —
all of them All-Star starters,
still pitching at their peak.
It's a mound meeting that
every fan can enjoy, the
Houston Astros against the
Washington Nationals.
Capital hill, indeed.
"We've got the best pitch-
er in the world going. And
then after that, we've got
the best pitcher in the world
going, too. And then after
that, we've got the best
pitcher in the world going,
too," Astros third baseman
Alex Bregman said. "It's go-
ing to be a lot of fun." Houston Astros pose after winning Game 6 of baseball's American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees
Bregman and fellow MVP Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in Houston. The Astros won 6-4 to win the series 4-2.
candidate Anthony Ren- Associated Press
don certainly did their parts of the Palm Beaches spring gave up a homer to the first AJ Hinch. ger Bryce Harper leave as
to make this the Year of training complex in Florida. batter of the game. "Philosophically, whether it's a free agent, the Nats were
the Home Run. And José "I know a few guys in their Now, eight months later, about the new-age open- just 19-31 in May. The slow
Altuve lit up Minute Maid rotation, and I'm personally they meet for real. The 107- er or pulling guys third time start prompted speculation
Park with his walk-off homer excited that they're in this win Astros trying to capture through, most of the people that manager Dave Mar-
to beat the Yankees in the position, and I'm just very their second crown in three that support that haven't tinez would be fired and
AL Championship Series. excited to get in there," years, the wild-card Na- had Verlander or Cole on management would sell off
But the focus of this Fall Cole said late Saturday tionals making their Series their team," he said. stars at the trade deadline.
Classic is right on the rota- night. debut. The Nationals stack up just Instead, the Nation-
tions. Houston opened as a "They've worked their tails "The World Series comes fine, too. Consider their als bounced back. They
2-1 favorite at the Las Ve- off. I know a lot of the guys through Houston. I like staff includes Aníbal Sán- earned a playoff spot, elim-
gas sportsbooks. on the team, and I know the sound of that. I think chez, who took a playoff inated the favored Los An-
Cole is set to throw the first how they prepare," he said. it should be that way for no-hit bid into the eighth geles Dodgers in the NL Di-
pitch on Tuesday night in "I'm looking forward to the many years to come," Breg- inning. vision Series and swept the
Houston. He led the majors challenge." man said. The Astros, who began as surging St. Louis Cardinals
with 326 strikeouts, was sec- Like when he faces Wash- No slight to Bregman and the National League ex- behind NLCS MVP Howie
ond to Verlander in the big ington's big bopper. other big hitters here: Al- pansion Colt .45s in 1962, Kendrick.
leagues with 20 wins and "Anthony Rendon is one tuve, the ALCS MVP, post- led the majors in setting a For Washington, the city
topped the AL with a 2.50 of the greatest hitters in season star George Spring- franchise record for wins. gets its first World Series
ERA. the game right now," Cole er and top shortstops Trea Their playoff path was since the Senators played
He also is 19-0 in his last 25 said. "There's no real way to Turner and Carlos Correa. more of a struggle, beating in 1933. For the Nationals,
starts. That includes 3-0 in get him out. You just kind of And not to overlook the wild-card Tampa Bay in the the old October question:
the playoffs so far, allowing hope that he misses some young stars on this stage deciding Game 5 of the rest or rust?
one earned run in 22 2/3 in- balls or he scorches them for the first time, rookies like AL Division Series and then The Nationals will have a
nings while fanning 32. right at your guys, I guess. Juan Soto and Yordan Ál- stopping the 103-win Yan- full week between games
Cole was acquired by the "I've been watching him varez. kees on Altuve's pennant- while the Astros get only
Astros a few months after since I was in college. It's Yet in an era when teams winning homer off Aroldis two days off. A fact on this:
they won the 2017 World very unique what he's been search for new pitching Chapman in the ninth in- Boston had two more days
Series. He has fit in fine with able to do and he's just a strategies — witness the As- ning. of rest last year and beat
his Houston teammates pleasure to watch play." tros' parade of relievers in The Nationals, who started the Dodgers. But before
and also has gotten ac- The clubs saw each other Game 6 of the ALCS — the out as the Montreal Expos that, the past nine cham-
quainted with some of the back in February when two clubs left figure to rely in 1969, took the reverse pions were the clubs that
Washington aces — the they played in the exhibi- heavily on their starters. route. had less rest.
teams share the Ballpark tion opener, and Scherzer Fine by Houston manager A season after letting slug- Martinez isn't worried.q