HOUSTON ASTROS VS. WASHINGTON NATIONALS – 10/25/2019 FREE PICK & MLB BETTING PREDICTION

The Nationals have done more than just take a 2–0 lead in in the World Series; they beat Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander; and they did it on the road. The Astros are in deep doo-doo as the series shifts to Washington.

Houston Astros

Cole and Verlander were good in the first two games but they weren’t their typically dominant selves either.

The Astros’ offense has been the real problem, however. It was another quiet night on Wednesday. Alex Bregman finally snapped his long slump with a game-tying two-run homer in the bottom of the first that gave the game a completely new feel after Washington struck for a quick two in the top half.

But that was it until Martin Maldonado’s solo home run against the Nationals’ mop-up crew in the ninth.

Houston hasn’t hit the big home runs it hit against the Yankees so far in this series and it just hasn’t been able to string hits together for some time now really.

Anibal Sanchez will be a completely different look in Game 3 but, remember, Houston loses the DH in the National League park. That probably means no Yordan Alvarez, who has been one of the few guys putting together good at-bats so far in the series.

Washington Nationals

Max Scherzer got the first World Series win of his career in Game 1; Sanchez looks for his in this one. Like Scherzer, Sanchez started one of the games in 2012, when the San Francisco Giants swept the Detroit Tigers.

This time, Sanchez is playing for the side looking to sweep. He’s been money in two starts this postseason, too: five hits, one run, three walks and fourteen strikeouts in nearly 13 innings.

He comes into this start with two full weeks of rest, which is actually a number you worry about being too high. I’m not concerned. Everybody on this roster is so locked in and you know that shoulder appreciates the extra time at his advanced age (35 years old).

And because the Nationals blew things open before it got too late on Wednesday, Sean Doolittle and Daniel Hudson avoided more wear and tear. They will be fresh ahead of this one and you know Dave Martinez won’t wait around to go to them.

Patrick Corbin is also an option after throwing just an inning in Game 1. If he doesn’t go, however, he’ll likely start Game 4, scheduled for the very next night.

MLB Baseball Betting Trends:

HOU are 53-21 in their last 74 games on grass.
HOU are 10-4 in their last 14 road games.
HOU are 51-21 in their last 72 Fri. games.
WAS are 8-0 in their last 8 playoff games.
Over is 6-2-1 in WAS last 9 home games.
WAS are 42-16 in their last 58 overall.
Head to Head: HOU are 5-21 in the last 26 meetings.
Head to Head: Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Washington.

Free Houston Astros vs. Washington Nationals MLB Prediction: I’m not so sure but I’m taking the home underdog.

Washington at +130 is a little hard to believe. The Nationals have all the momentum and home field. I know the Astros are desperate but there’s no way I don’t play the Nats for at least something small.