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5:07 pm - Nationals @ Astros (1-0)
The Nationals managed to do something last night, nobody had managed since May: beat Gerrit Cole. The Astros had been 16-0 in Cole’s last sixteen appearances, but that proved to be of little help to them in Game 1. Not that things are going to get much easier for Washington in Game 2, but there’s a credible case to be made that they have the pitching edge, at least based on post-season performance. Steven Strasburg is 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA over three starts in these playoffs, while Justin Verlander is 1-2 with a 3.70 ERA. His only W came in the opening game of the ALDS against the Rays. There’s a real risk the Astros may find themselves 2-0 down heading on the road. That’s not what anyone expected!