Astros' Gerrit Cole looks for redemption against struggling Nationals offence
Ace pitcher wants to keep things tilting Houston's way with Series tied 2-2
Gerrit Cole is a top contender for this season's American League Cy Young Award as top pitcher, and he could be responsible for whether Houston takes control of the World Series.
The Fall Classic heads into Sunday's pivotal Game 5 at 8:07 p.m. ET all even at two games apiece after the Astros beat the Nationals 8-1 on Saturday night for their second victory in a row in Washington. It's the fifth time the road team has won each of the first four World Series games.
"We expected them to punch back," Nationals shortstop Trea Turner said, "and they did."
But Scherzer was scratched from his scheduled start late Sunday afternoon due to spasms in his neck and back and replaced by fellow right-hander Joe Ross.
Cole heads into this outing in an unfamiliar position.
"The focus on the pitches just continues to just raise across the board," Cole said. "And so you have to deal with that. You have to respond to that."
Gerrit's not really the guy who's going to lose twice in a row.— Astros outfielder Josh Reddick on ace pitcher Gerrit Cole
He had not taken an "L" since May, going 19-0 over his previous 25 starts.
"Gerrit's not really the guy who's going to lose twice in a row," Astros outfielder Josh Reddick said.
On Sunday, he will face a Nationals offence that is slumping, with a grand total of two runs over the past two nights.
WATCH | Astros pull even with Nationals in Game 4:
The way Cole described what happened in Game 1, when he allowed five runs in seven innings?
"I didn't have my A-game," Cole said then.
Working away from strike zone
In 2019, the Nationals are 4-0 in his appearances, including three as a starter and one out of the bullpen.
Until Sunday, Scherzer had not shown any effects from the upper-back problem that put him on the injured list for about a month during the season.
"All those back issues, I have to really address in the off-season. ... How I'm going to train and everything," Scherzer said. "So I've been dreaming up different things I might be doing this December and January to really address that."
Cole, on the other hand, wants to keep things tilting Houston's way.
"It's always fun to compete against the best," said Alex Bregman, who had an RBI single in the first inning and a grand slam in the seventh Saturday. "We've got two of the best pitchers in the game facing off tomorrow in the World Series, tied 2-2. It's a lot of fun."