Maybe the Astros' center fielder of the future was under their noses the whole time. Chas McCormick, who's outlasted Myles Straw, Jose Siri and Jake Meyers in the battle to replace franchise icon George Springer in center, has played well this postseason and is one of the key reasons why the Astros are one win shy of a World Series championship. McCormick has started every game this postseason and is slashing .250/.357/.417 with two homers and three RBIs and one of the best catches in World Series history. McCormick scaled the right-field wall at Citizens Bank Park in Game 5 on Thursday night and caught a long fly ball off the bat of Philadelphia's J.T. Realmuto, keeping the winning run off base. "He's a gamer and he's confident in himself," third baseman Alex Bregman said. "One thing you never have to worry about him is the compete. He's going to compete his tail off every single time he takes the field. I said it the other day, I could be his teammate every single day. He's a stud. … I love how confident he is in himself." McCormick, 27, was drafted in the 21st round by the Astros in 2017 -- the year they won their first World Series -- out of Division II Millersville. He reached Triple-A in 2019, but didn't play the entire 2020 season because of the pandemic. Still, the Astros added him to the active roster for the 2020 Wild Card Series and ALDS, though he didn't play. • Dusty Baker searching for first World Series title as manager Last year, he made the Opening Day roster and split time between right field and left field before Straw was traded to Cleveland in July. He then battled for playing time in center with Meyers, who suffered a major shoulder injury in last year's ALDS. This year, it was Siri and McCormick splitting time in center until Meyers came back from his injury in June, with a struggling McCormick briefly getting sent down to Triple-A for two days in June. But Siri was traded to the Rays, Meyers struggled at the plate and suddenly McCormick was the last man standing, with Mauricio Dubón getting the starts in center behind Justin Verlander to end the season. "Chas is a great ballplayer," Verlander said. "He gives it his all every single play, every single at-bat. Sometimes goes over the top with his emotions because he cares so much. So to see him be able to come up with that play and to see him after the game just sitting out there on the field … is just so incredible." |
WORLD SERIES GAME 6 GUIDE |
Game 6, which will air on FOX at 8 p.m. ET/7 CT, is scheduled for Saturday. 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: LHP Framber Valdez Phillies: RHP Zack Wheeler 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. Trey Mancini, DH
8. Chas McCormick, CF
9. MartÃn 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. Jean Segura, 2B
8. Matt Vierling, CF
9. Edmundo Sosa, SS |
BUY YOUR WORLD SERIES TICKETS HERE |
Astros: The big question is the health of first baseman Yuli Gurriel, who left Game 5 after straining his right knee in a collision during a rundown. It would be hard to imagine that would be enough to keep Gurriel out of the lineup in a potential clincher. Whether Trey Mancini, Aledmys DÃaz or David Hensley starts at designated hitter is anyone's guess. Phillies: Thomson has used a right-handed and a left-handed lineup throughout the postseason. The lineup vs. lefty starters includes center fielder Matt Vierling and shortstop Edmundo Sosa. But Thomson allowed the possibility that Bryson Stott could start Game 6 over Sosa because he has had quite a few long, quality at-bats in the playoffs. But until Thomson does that, we will assume he'll continue with the lineup he has used against southpaws. |
Astros: Valdez (2-0, 1.42 ERA) will make his fourth start of the postseason and second of the World Series -- with a chance to clinch the championship for Houston. In a Game 2 win over the Phillies on Saturday, he allowed one run on four hits and three walks, striking out nine in 6 1/3 innings. He's given up five runs (three earned) on 12 hits and six walks in 19 innings in the playoffs, with the Astros winning all three games. "I think I'm just going to try to continue doing what I've been doing all season," Valdez said. "Just try and attack hitters early, try to breathe, try to stay calm, try to meditate. It's something that's really exciting. I think it's something that really adds a lot to your career, and I'm really excited for this opportunity." Phillies: Wheeler (1-2, 2.67 ERA in five postseason starts) will start Game 6 on six days of rest, after struggling and experiencing a drop in velocity in Game 2. Wheeler's fastball velocity dropped from an average of 97 mph in his first four playoff starts to 95.2 mph on Saturday at Minute Maid Park, where he allowed five runs in five innings. (His fastball averaged 95.8 mph in the regular season.) Wheeler said he is experiencing arm fatigue. After throwing a bullpen session Thursday in Philadelphia, he said he feels "good," although he also said he is not sure if he will return to prior postseason form or not. "Time will tell," he said. |
Astros: Houston has gone deep into its bullpen in Games 4 and 5, but with a day off Friday, Dusty Baker should be able to reset his 'pen for Game 6. Ryan Pressly threw a combined 45 pitches in Games 4 and 5, Rafael Montero threw 27 in the same span and Bryan Abreu threw 32. Héctor Neris, the Astros' fourth high-leverage reliever this postseason, threw 11 pitches in Game 5 after not appearing in Game 4. If they need length, José Urquidy and Luis Garcia are well-rested. Phillies: It will be an all-hands-on-deck situation in Game 6. It starts with Thomson's most trusted high-leverage relievers, of course. But Thomson said Thursday they will not know if left-hander Ranger Suárez will start Game 7 (if necessary) on Sunday night, because there is a chance he will be needed to pitch before then. Would Thomson really use Suárez in Game 6? If there is an opportunity to extend the Fall Classic to a final game, the answer might be yes. |
Astros: Peña, the ALCS MVP, is making a bid to win World Series MVP after going 8-for-21 with a homer and three RBIs in five games. … Altuve has shaken off his woeful playoff start by going 7-for-22 in the World Series, though he's yet to drive in a run. … Gurriel is 6-for-19 in the World Series. … Among those who have scuffled in the Fall Classic are Maldonado (3-for-13), Bregman (4-for-18), Tucker (4-for-18) and Alvarez (2-for-19). Phillies: Philadelphia snapped a hitless streak of 20 at-bats with runners in scoring position with an eighth-inning single by Jean Segura. The Phils will need to do much better in Game 6 to force a decisive Game 7. … The bullpen has a 1.14 ERA in the World Series, striking out 28 and walking seven in 23 2/3 innings. |
In postseason series with the current 2-3-2 format that have been tied 2-2, teams winning Game 5 on the road before going back home for Games 6 and 7 have finished off the series win 19 of 24 times (79 percent). |
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