Astros at Nationals 10/27/19 - MLB Playoffs Picks & Predictions

The 2019 World Series will continue on Sunday night, when the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals face off in Game Five from Nationals Park. On Saturday, SP Jose Urquidy allowed two hits across five shutout frames to pitch Houston to an 8-1 series tying victory. Alex Bregman broke the game open with a seventh inning grand slam for the Astros.

Twenty-nine year old righty Gerrit Cole (20-5 2.50 ERA) will take the mound for the Astros in this matchup. In the series opener, Cole was tagged for eight hits and five runs across seven innings during a 5-4 defeat.

The Washington Nationals won 50 games at home during the regular season, but have yet to win in front of their home fans in this best-of-seven series. In Game Four, Washington managed just four hits and went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. SP Patrick Corbin gave up four runs in six innings and took the loss. 

The Nationals will counter with three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (11-7 2.92 ERA) on Sunday. Washington has won each of Scherzer’s five postseason appearances and he has allowed six runs in 25 innings of work.