Houston Astros vs. Washingotn Nationals: pitching matchups of the century

The Houston Astros and Washington Nationals have three bona fide aces headlining their rotations in the World Series. Could this be the best matchup ever?

The Houston Astros defeated the New York Yankees to earn a spot in the World Series to face off against the Washington Nationals.  There is one thing in common about both of these teams and it is the starting pitching.

Both of these starting rotations feature three bonafide aces, all three could lead any other rotation in the league.  For the Nationals, these pitchers are Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Patrick Corbin, while the Astros star rotation comprises Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole and Zack Greinke.

I for one am most excited about watching these six pitchers deal.  It will be an epic matchup and there are so many ways these pitchers are interconnected.  For example, Verlander, Scherzer and Annibal Sanchez were all teammates on the Detroit Tigers.

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There are many other intricate connections, but that is a subject for another piece.  Here are the stats for these Astros starters: Verlander went 21-6 with a 2.58 ERA and 300 strikeouts, Cole went 20-5 with a 2.50 ERA and 326 strikeouts and Greinke went 18-5 with a 2.93 ERA and 187 strikeouts.

For the Washington Nationals starters: Scherzer went 11-7 with a 2.92 ERA and 243 strikeouts, Strasburg went 18-6 with a 3.32 ERA and 251 strikeouts and Corbin went 18-6 with a 3.25 ERA and 238 strikeouts.

To be honest, I really can’t say who has the edge here.  On paper, looking at the stats, you would have to say the Houston Astros have the edge here, but the eye test says these six pitchers are a lot closer than you would think.

All of them have been stellar in the playoffs, especially Cole, Verlander, Scherzer, and Strasburg.  Corbin and Greinke have been the shakier of each trio of aces, but also have bounced back.  I look for all of them to have stellar series.

This is a dream matchup in the World Series.  In an age when people feel like the long ball reigns supreme, these guys are out here to prove that theory wrong and I can’t wait to watch them deal.