The WorldSeries is here! Tom Verducci has you covered with everything you need to know heading into the Fall Classic between the Astros and Phillies
Ok, the Astros don’t have a Hader to neutralize Harper. They don’t even have a lefty reliever.Abreu is a right-handed reliever who is a master of two breaking balls: slider and curve. Lefties can’t hit them. When you play the Phillies, you don’t defend batting average, you defend slug. Keep the ball in the ballpark. Their singles won’t beat you.
Baker’s Dozen doesn’t have to challenge Harper with fastballs. Against Harper he can lean on elite breaking pitches and off-speed . for much of the season. Coming off Tommy John surgery, Verlander thrived in that environment. He has made only five of his 30 starts on four days of rest, none since Aug. 28.
1. He is throwing with the highest release point of his career—the highest of any starter in baseball.