Washington Nationals Keys to Victory
With the World Series heading back to Houston, the pressure is on the Washington Nationals to succeed. As the Houston Astros have the advantage, the Nationals are poised to change that. However, the Nationals won both Games 1 and 2 of the World Series which were played in Houston. Here are some keys the Nationals must follow to win the World Series.
No Home Field Advantage
One of the strangest narratives of this series is that the home team has yet to win a game. With the Nationals winning the first two in Houston; they hope to win the last two in Houston. There has never been a World Series where the away team won every game, but the Nationals hope to change it this season. Washington didn’t have home-field advantage in either the NLDS or NLCS and yet they won, can they do it a third time?
Contain the Long Ball
While the postseason has seen fewer Home Runs than the regular season, the Houston Astros has seen offensive power from Jose Altuve, George Springer, Carlos Correa, and Alex Bregman. The Astros as a team hit 23 Home Runs in 16 playoff games; compared to the Nationals who hit 14 home runs in 15 games. As the Astros hit 150 homers at home this season, the pressure is on Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin, and the Nationals bullpen to contain the long ball. A home run can change a game in an instant; preventing them is vital especially since the Astros have the momentum.
Keep it Traditional
Small ball is a noble part of the game. While bunting and stealing bases are useful to teams, they aren’t as valued in this day in age. The Nationals have 48 sacrifice bunts on the season. With players like Juan Soto and Trea Turner, the Nationals are inclined to use small ball to their advantage. If they want to win the World Series, it can be through small ball. However, Justin Verlander allowed 42 Home Runs this season, so the Nationals may also be able to outslug the Astros in Game 6.
The Impact of the Shift
The Nationals do occasionally hit against the shift for a base hit as opposed to hitting into the shift for an out. Despite the shift being an analysis of where a hitter may put the ball in play, it may not always apply in crucial moments. Players are too enticed to hit a weak liner in open space because of its convenience. This series, 4 weak ground balls have resulted in base hits for the Nationals including a Trea Turner double. This has been important for the Nationals in this series as the Astros have arguably the best infield in baseball.
Forget What Happened in Washington
In a series dominated by the visitor, the Washington Nationals seem to have the advantage. While they are coming off three tough losses at home, they do have the ability to win two more games on the road. As the series shifts to Houston, the Nationals hope the bats wake up tonight. Scoring one run in each of the last three games is not nearly enough to beat a powerful Astro team.
Playing Loose
One of the biggest things hurting the Nationals this series seems to be the playing tight in front of their home fans. After a 4-1 record at home in the earlier rounds, three straight losses are a concern. The World Series is something many of these players dream of. For some of these players, this could be the last opportunity to play in the World Series as the Nationals are the oldest team in baseball. The Nationals must not play tight in Game 6.
The Wild Card
Prior to his last scheduled start, the Nationals scratched starter Max Scherzer the morning of Game 5. It seems that after a few days rest, he will be fine to play. Scherzer will start Game 7 if the series gets that far. Scherzer’s health changes the strategy going forward. As he is the best pitcher in the National League, it can be the difference in this series. Nationals fans have to be thankful he is healthy and ready to pitch in a potential Game 7.
Final Thoughts
The Astros have been here before with many players still remaining from that 2017 World Series Championship. They understand the moment’s significance and what it takes to be victorious. While the Nationals are the underdogs, they should take their game to the next level. With hopefully two games left in the season, the Nationals can shock baseball with their first World Series title, if they follow these tips.
