Nationals Release Lineup Backing Stephen Strasburg for World Series Game 2 in Houston
By Sam Dunn
Fresh off an impressive World Series opener that saw them make Astros ace Gerrit Cole look mortal for the first time in basically forever, the Washington Nationals aren't making a single lineup change.
Stephen Strasburg will have the same bats behind him Wednesday at Minute Maid Park as Max Scherzer did in Tuesday's 5-4 victory in Game 1.
Go 1-0 today. #Strasmas // #STAYINTHEFIGHT pic.twitter.com/DPx7KecDRW
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) October 23, 2019
NL MVP candidate Anthony Rendon aims to get himself back in the saddle from the No. 3 spot following a hitless performance, something that will surely excite the man right behind him. Cleanup phenom Juan Soto just keeps getting better, putting his stamp on Game 1 with a home run, a double, and a single to go with 3 RBI. Justin Verlander will have his hands full, to be sure.
Dominant in the #Postseason ?@stras37 | @Nationals pic.twitter.com/jxUMf8nxL6
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 23, 2019
In four 2019 postseason appearances, Strasburg has gone 22 total innings, striking out 33 and surrendering just four earned runs. If he stays locked in, this series could start to look a heck of a lot like the blink-and-you'll-miss-it NLCS.