When the third game of the World Series between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night was postponed due to rain, a lot of things changed for both teams moving forward.
With the World Championships tied 1-1, the pivotal third game will now be played Tuesday night in Philadelphia, the first of three consecutive nights where the Phillies will host the World Championships. If necessary, games six and seven of the Fall Classic will take place in Houston on Saturday and Sunday.
What changed for the Astros and Phillies when the Game 3 World Championships was postponed
Changes to Philadelphia
As for host Phillies, Noah Sendergaard was originally scheduled to start on Monday night, but director Rob Thompson has now changed his role due to the postponement. Ranger Suarez, who made a 0.2-goal streak in the first game in Houston, will now re-start Game Three on Tuesday night, with Aaron Nola, who started Game One, and start Game Four. Return to Syndergaard in Game 5 (if not used off the playing field before), Zack Wheeler (who started Game 2) gets the nod in Game 6 and Suarez starts Game 7 (if needed).
Those changes are certainly positive for Philadelphia, which can now push Bullpen into Game 5 and get Nola back in the mix for Game 4. Plus, Suarez’s two starts now gives the Phillies another arm that has performed well so far this postseason (9.2 innings with 1.86 ERA and opponents hit .167 only against him).
In his only home early in the season (October 14 against Atlanta), he scattered Nola five times over 6.0 innings and did not allow an earned run.
Changes for Houston
Even with the postponement and change to the starting pitch for the Phillies, Houston manager Dusty Baker already announced That he would keep the same squad and go on to start Lance McCullers Jr. in game 3.
After the McCullers, Cristian Javier will show Game 4 for the Astros with Justin Verlander returning to the hill in Game 5 after a shaky stroll in Game 1 and greeting Phillies fans with an NSFW gesture at Halloween. Continuing the Houston cycle, Game 6 will fall to Framber Valdez with McCullers likely to get a nod in Game 7 at Minute Maid Park.
The McCullers are tagged in eight rounds in 5.0 innings by the New York Yankees on their final start and will start in an emotionally-packed 3 game for Phillies fans, who have been waiting since 2009 to cheer at one of their World Series matches. He and Javier will be key because Verlander has never been dominant in his previous eight starts at the World Championships, posting a 6.07 cumulative ERA, the highest of any pitcher with over 20 rounds thrown at the Fall Classic.
Which team benefits the most?
On paper, it’s the Phillies, a team that already has a lot of momentum on their side with Philadelphia in their corner for the next three games.
If Suarez can take on the role that Syndergaard was originally playing as a starter for Game 3 and succeeds, setting Nola’s table the following night, the Phils could have a definite advantage on the hill.
Game 3 is set for Tuesday, with the first show timed at 8:03 p.m. (East) and TV coverage provided by FOX.
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