Washington Nationals: AL team face tough test in World Series
Regardless of whether the Astros or Yankees come out of the American League, they will have their work cut out for them against the Washington Nationals.
All of the talk going into the postseason was the Houston Astros or the New York Yankees was going to win the World Series. Well, that talk might need to slow down because the Washington Nationals are the real deal and might be set up better for the World Series.
The Astros and Yankees American League Championship Series is going to go at least 5 games with the possibility of extending all the way to Sunday for a Game 7 in Houston, so the Nationals will be getting a lot more rest than either of the AL teams.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
In fact, the Nats will be getting 6 days of rest before Game 1 of the World Series, which should give them a big advantage because it doesn’t just rest their pitching but it rests their veterans in the starting lineup.
Howie Kendrick isn’t getting the most run since his Game 5 heroics in Los Angeles, but he carried the Nats offense in Game 3. He is 36 years old so he has not been playing every day the whole season. Ryan Zimmerman, who is 35, is also going to benefit from a nearly week-long break to get his body ready for the Fall Classic.
The Nationals will have the advantage over the Astros or the Yankees because of their starting rotation. I get that the Nats didn’t face a great lineup but they have 4 starting pitchers who will give them quality starts every night, which will be great for their bullpen.
If the Yankees come out, then Aaron Boone will be deeply relying on their rotation to give them some innings because their bullpen would be exhausted after the long Houston series.
If the Astros were to come out of the AL, they would also be relying on their starters past Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander, which isn’t an ideal scenario right now.
Zack Greinke has struggled mightily this postseason, losing both of his starts to the Rays in the DS and the Yankees last Saturday.
dark. Next. Nationals close out Cards with one very big inning
The Nationals should be favorites believe it or not and will be a tough test for Houston or New York.