Nationals at Astros 10/22/19 - MLB Playoffs Picks & Predictions

The 2019 World Series will get underway on Tuesday night, when the Washington Nationals travel to Minute Maid Park to take on the Houston Astros. The Nationals are making their first World Series appearance in franchise history and their improbable run started when they were 12 games below .500 on May 24th. Washington swept St. Louis in the NLCS round and outscored them by a 20-6 combined score.

Three-time Cy Young Award winner (11-7 2.92 ERA) will take the mound for the Nationals in this matchup. Through 20 innings this postseason, Scherzer has struck out 27 batters and owns a sparking 0.85 WHIP.

The Houston Astros won a major league best 107 games during the regular season and are in search of their second World Series title in the last three years. On Saturday, Houston 2B Jose Altuve delivered a walk-off two-run blast during the 9th inning of a 6-4 home victory versus New York. Altuve scored three runs for the Astros, who disposed of the Yankees in six games.

The Astros will counter with dominant right-hander Gerrit Cole (20-5 2.50 ERA) on Tuesday. Cole has won each of his three starts this postseason and has allowed just one run over his last 22 plus innings of work.