Astros World Series Hopes Hinging on a Zack Greinke Road Start is Beyond Gloomy
By Parker White
The Houston Astros are down 0-2 in the World Series to the Washington Nationals, losing both games that were started by Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander, arguably the two best pitchers in the league.
But hey, they have a former Cy Young Award winner going in Game 3. That's great news, right? Well, it would be if that starting pitcher wasn't named Zack Greinke.
In 14 career postseason starts, Greinke is 3-6 with a 4.44 ERA, and in three starts this October, the soft-tossing righty is 0-2 with a 6.43 ERA, including a 7.88 ERA in two postseason starts on the road.
#Astros Greinke starts game 3. In his 3 starts this postseason:
— Adam Wexler (@KPRC2AdamW) October 24, 2019
0-2, 6.43 ERA, 1.43 WHIP.
Astros 3 aces this postseason:
4-6, 3.65 ERA (team rec: 6-6)
Astros 3 aces in reg. season:
49-12, 2.60 ERA (team rec: 58-19). @KPRC2 @SportsTalk790 #WorldSeries
That doesn't give the fans back in Houston a lot of confidence, which you can understand.
Looking on the bright side, at least Greinke has great career numbers against the Nationals. In nine career starts against Washington, the 35-year-old hurler is 6-1 with a 1.27 ERA, including 2-1 with a 1.11 ERA in four starts at Nationals Park.
It’s cool, Astros fans. You’ve got *checks notes* Zack Greinke starting next game to stop the bleeding. pic.twitter.com/erb9ZSgLdX
— DodgersMemeTeam (@DodgersMemeTeam) October 24, 2019
Of course, this Washington team is red hot, winning eight-straight playoff games. If they can defeat Cole and Verlander, there isn't a pitcher out there who will intimidate them, especially someone like Greinke who doesn't blow you away with elite stuff at this stage of his career.