Nothing should make the Astros feel more at ease than hearing the words "Game 5 of the World Series." Don't get me wrong, the fifth game of any best-of-seven series is usually a nail-biting experience, especially in the World Series, but Houston has a pretty good track record in Game 5 of the Fall Classic. The Astros are 3-0 all-time in Game 5, beating the Dodgers at home in 2017, the Nationals in Washington in '19 and the Braves in Atlanta last year. In 2017 and '19, the series was tied at 2-2 -- the same as it is against the Phillies after Houston combined for a stunning no-hitter Wednesday to even the series heading into Game 5 on Thursday night in Philadelphia -- and last year the Astros won Game 5 to keep their season alive. They were then blanked in Game 6 in Houston, 7-0, and watched the Braves celebrate a championship on their field. Game 5 of the 2017 World Series was one of the most exciting games in postseason history, with the Astros hitting three game-tying homers and outlasting the Dodgers, 13-12, in 10 innings. Alex Bregman's two-out single off closer Kenley Jansen scored pinch-runner Derek Fisher from second base with the winning run. "We realize how tough these guys have been in this ballpark, and the reality when you go on the road, if you can win two out of three, then you've had a pretty good series," Astros manager Dusty Baker said. "So it's a big [game] before we head back home. We know that they have a great offensive club over there, and they got a lot of energy in this ballpark." |
WORLD SERIES GAME 5 GUIDE |
Game 5, which will air on FOX at 7 p.m. CT, is scheduled for Thursday. All games are available in the U.S. on MLB.TV (authentication to a participating Pay TV provider is required). Live games are also available in select countries outside the U.S. For full details, click here. Probable starters Astros: RHP Justin Verlander Phillies: RHP Noah Syndergaard Projected lineups | 1. Jose Altuve, 2B
2. Jeremy Peña, SS
3. Yordan Alvarez, LF
4. Alex Bregman, 3B
5. Kyle Tucker, RF
6. Yuli Gurriel, 1B
7. Aledmys Díaz, DH
8. Chas McCormick, CF
9. Martín Maldonado, C |
1. Kyle Schwarber, LF
2. Rhys Hoskins, 1B
3. J.T. Realmuto, C
4. Bryce Harper, DH
5. Nick Castellanos, RF
6. Alec Bohm, 3B
7. Bryson Stott, SS
8. Jean Segura, 2B
9. Brandon Marsh, CF More information on Game 5 can be found here. |
BUY YOUR WORLD SERIES TICKETS HERE |
Astros: With Verlander on the mound, Martín Maldonado will get the start behind the plate in Game 5. As has been the case throughout the playoffs, the only question beyond that is who starts at designated hitter, which has been a black hole for the Astros in the postseason (5-for-42). Aledmys Díaz is 1-for-22 in the playoffs, but he is 2-for-6 lifetime against Syndergaard, with one homer, two RBIs and two walks. Phillies: Manager Rob Thomson is not one to panic, so expect him to continue with this lineup, which he has used against right-handed starters this postseason. |
Astros: Verlander (1-0, 7.20 ERA this postseason) will make his fourth start of the postseason and second in the World Series. He was roughed up for five runs on six hits and two walks over five innings in the Astros' Game 1 loss to the Phillies in Houston, unable to hold a 5-0 lead. Phillies: Syndergaard (10-10, 3.94 ERA) will make his fourth appearance of the postseason, but just his second start. Originally scheduled to pitch Game 3, Syndergaard was bumped to Game 5 following Monday's postponement. One of the benefits to that move was having an off-day on Friday after Game 5. That should help a Phillies team that figures to lean heavily on its bullpen behind Syndergaard, who is expected to pitch only three or four innings. |
Astros: Despite using three of his four main postseason high-leverage pitchers -- Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly -- in Game 4, Baker should have all three available for Game 5, especially with a day off Friday. Abreu threw 15 pitches, Montero threw 10 and Pressly threw 19 on Wednesday. Neither Héctor Neris nor Ryne Stanek appeared in Game 4, so they'll be available after multiple days off. Phillies: Everybody should be available in Game 5, even though Thomson used some of his high-leverage relievers in Game 4. That group includes left-handers José Alvarado and Brad Hand, and right-handers Andrew Bellatti, David Robertson and Zach Eflin. Bellatti has pitched back-to-back days, though he threw only nine pitches on Wednesday. "Everybody's available," Thomson said after Game 4. "Bellatti would be three in a row, but he didn't [throw] too many pitches tonight. So I think everybody would be fine." |
ASTROS NO-HITTER AND MORE |
Astros: McCormick is 4-for-12 with three walks in the World Series, leading the way for the Astros in the Fall Classic. … Gurriel is 5-for-16 and Peña is 5-for-17 with two doubles. … On the flip side, Bregman is 3-for-16 in the World Series, but he had a two-run double in Game 4, and Alvarez is 2-for-15 with two RBIs. Díaz (0-for-8) and Trey Mancini (0-for-5) are hitless in the Fall Classic. Phillies: Philadelphia has not recorded a hit since the sixth inning in Game 3. |
• Gurriel's 26 World Series hits are three more than any other Cuban-born player (Tony Pérez, 23). He has now gone 47 consecutive postseason at-bats without a strikeout, four short of Joey Cora's record 51 at-bats in the 1995 postseason. • Altuve's single in Game 4 of the World Series gave him 100 career postseason hits, which is the sixth most in Major League history behind Yadier Molina (102), Jorge Posada (103), Manny Ramirez (117), Bernie Williams (128) and Derek Jeter (200). • In postseason series with the current 2-3-2 format that have been tied after four games, the team playing on the road in Game 5 has gone on to take the series 32 of 57 times (56 percent). In all best-of-seven series tied 2-2, the Game 5 winner has won the series 45 of 64 times (70 percent). |
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