Game 7 FAQ: Winner take all (FOX)
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HOUSTON -- Perhaps the Astros should have spent the night in a hotel, taken a bus together to the ballpark on Wednesday and asked for “Baby Shark” to be blasted from the speakers at Minute Maid Park. Anything to make Game 7 of the World Series feel like a road game would be fair game at this point.
For the first time in World Series history, the road team has won the first six games after the Nationals, fresh off getting outscored 19-3 in Games 3-5 at home, returned the favor at Minute Maid Park and beat the Astros, 7-2, in Game 6 on Tuesday night to force a winner-take-all Game 7 on Wednesday night.
| Game | Date | Result | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gm 1 | Oct. 22 | WSH 5, HOU 4 | Watch |
| Gm 2 | Oct. 23 | WSH 12, HOU 3 | Watch |
| Gm 3 | Oct. 25 | HOU 4, WSH 1 | Watch |
| Gm 4 | Oct. 26 | HOU 8, WSH 1 | Watch |
| Gm 5 | Oct. 27 | HOU 7, WSH 1 | Watch |
| Gm 6 | Oct. 29 | WSH 7, HOU 2 | Watch |
| Gm 7 | Oct. 30 | WSH 6, HOU 2 | Watch |
Shop for postseason gear: “We're going to Game 7,” Nats manager Dave Martinez said. “It's a lot of fun. Let's come back tomorrow and do it again.”
How unusual has this World Series been? It’s the first time in 1,420 best-of-seven series across MLB, the NHL and the NBA that the road team has won the first six games. So much for home-field advantage.
“Doesn't look like there is one right now, but I hope there's one tomorrow,” Houston manager AJ Hinch said. “We're waiting until the last game to have it on our side.”
The pitching matchup will also be a first for Game 7 of the World Series when two former Cy Young Award winners take the mound: Max Scherzer of the Nationals vs. Zack Greinke of the Astros. In the previous 39 Games 7s in World Series history, the road team has won 20 times and the home team 19 times.
“Yeah, it’s going to be a big game,” Greinke deadpanned.
Scherzer, who briefly warmed up in the bullpen during Game 6, says he’s good to go after being scratched from his Game 5 start in Washington on Sunday night with neck spasms. He got a cortisone shot that relieved the pressure on his nerve and spent some quality time with a chiropractor.
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“And even when I was warming up tonight I felt really good,” he said. “I'm good to go.”
This will be the first Game 7 in Nats history, while the Astros are 2-1 in three previous Game 7s. That includes the 2017 World Series when they beat the Dodgers in Game 7 at Dodger Stadium. Perhaps that experience is why Houston didn’t seem to be feeling the pressure in the moments following the Game 6 loss.
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“It would be an absolute dream come true to win it here in front of our fans that have been with us all year,” third baseman Alex Bregman said.
This year, that would be a first.
When is the game and how can I watch it?
Game 7 will be tonight at 8 p.m. ET/7 CT on FOX.
The game is available to MLB.TV subscribers who are authenticated subscribers to the applicable network through a participating pay TV provider.
What do the starting lineups look like?
Nationals: After being held to one run in three consecutive games at home, the Nats found their offense in Game 6, scoring in the first inning and hammering three homers against the Astros. Catcher Yan Gomes starts for the fourth straight game over Kurt Suzuki (right hip flexor), who was in the initial lineup.
1) Trea Turner, SS
2) Adam Eaton, RF
3) Anthony Rendon, 3B
4) Juan Soto, LF
5) Howie Kendrick, DH
6) Asdrúbal Cabrera, 2B
7) Ryan Zimmerman, 1B
8) Yan Gomes, C
9) Victor Robles, CF
Astros: Houston stuck with the same lineup it had in Game 6.
1) George Springer, CF
2) Jose Altuve, 2B
3) Michael Brantley, LF
4) Alex Bregman, 3B
5) Yuli Gurriel, 1B
6) Yordan Alvarez, DH
7) Carlos Correa, SS
8) Robinson Chirinos, C
9) Josh Reddick, RF
Who are the starting pitchers?
Nationals: Just a few days after he woke up barely able to lift his arm, Scherzer (3-0, 2.16 ERA in postseason) will take the ball in a decisive Game 7. Scherzer was scratched from his most recent start in Sunday’s Game 5 with a muscle spasm in his neck and right trapezius muscle, but he felt much better after a cortisone shot Sunday.
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Astros: Greinke (0-2, 5.30 ERA) will make his 16th career postseason start and second in the World Series after allowing one run and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings in Houston’s Game 3 win at Washington on Friday. Greinke has pitched in two winner-take-all games in the playoffs in his career: Game 5 of the 2015 National League Division Series and the 2017 NL Wild Card Game. He’s 0-1 with seven earned runs and 12 hits allowed in 10 1/3 innings in those games.
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How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Nationals: It’s all hands on deck. Scherzer should have plenty of help available in the bullpen, with Aníbal Sánchez and Patrick Corbin both available, along with relievers Sean Doolittle and Daniel Hudson.
Astros: Greinke hasn’t finished the fifth inning since Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against the Yankees, when he threw six innings. Expect Hinch to be aggressive with his bullpen, which could include some key innings from Game 4 starter José Urquidy to bridge the gap to Will Harris, Joe Smith and closer Roberto Osuna.
Are there any relievers who are unavailable?
Nationals: No.
Astros: According to Hinch, he expects everybody outside of Justin Verlander to be available.
Any injuries of note?
Nationals: Scherzer (neck) is ready to go, while Suzuki (hip) was scratched from the lineup. He hasn't played since sustaining the injury in Game 3.
Astros: None.
Who is hot and who is not?
Nationals: The Nats are driven by their stars, and both Rendon and Soto homered in Game 6. Rendon also reached base four times and drove in five runs, while Soto became the youngest player with three World Series homers.
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Astros: Alvarez (.429), Springer (.348), Brantley (.333), Altuve (.321) and Gurriel (.280) have all enjoyed solid performances at the plate in the World Series. Bregman is 6-for-26 but has three homers, Correa is 4-for-23 and Reddick is 2-for-12.
Anything else fans might want to know?
The home team has won nine of the last 12 Game 7s in the World Series. ... The Nationals are trying to become the 21st team down 3-2 in the Fall Classic in the current seven-game format to win the title. ... There have been 11 first-inning runs scored in the World Series, tying the 1909 and '12 Fall Classics for the most in World Series history.