MLB: World Series game six preview

bet365 News Team Updated: May 10 2023 06:53 Published: Nov 04 2022 13:46

The Philadelphia Phillies have it all to do if they want to win the World Series as they will have to come from a game down to overcome the Houston Astros.

The Astros won a tight game five 3-2 to take the series back to Houston with a chance to claim the Commissioner's Trophy in game six at Minute Maid Park.

What	Houston Astros v Philadelphia Phillies; World Series, Game Six of Seven
Where	Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
When	20:03 EDT November 5th, 2022
How to watch	Fox & bet365's Sports Live Streaming
Odds	Houston Astros -140, Philadelphia Phillies +120

Houston doesn't have a problem

The Houston Astros have won the last two games in the World Series to take a 3-2 lead going into Game Six at their home ground, Minute Maid Park. Justin Verlander celebrated his first ever World Series win at 39-years-old, he'd been 0-6 with a 6.07 ERA prior to the match and a disastrous game one of the series.

This may be the last time that Verlander pulls on an Astros jersey as his World Series will be done, the player holds a $25 million option which he is expected to turn down.

Speaking to the official Houston Astros website after the game, Verlander said: "I can say I got one. It was one of the best feelings in my career, I truly love these guys. I love this team.

"So many people were part of this win. They rallied around me and they were almost just as happy that I got the win as I was. Just an incredible feeling. It feels great."

Two early RBI's from Jeremy Pena, who singled home a run in the first inning and also became the first rookie shortstop to homer in the World Series with a solo shot off Noah Syndergaard in the fourth, were enough to give Houston a 2-1 lead. In the five innings Verlander pitched, he only gave up one run off his second pitch, a Kyle Schwarber leadoff blast.

Ryan Pressly was called by manager Dusty Baker to try and grab his first five-out save of the season and he finished the job in the ninth. Largely thanks to centre-fielder Chas McCormick's leaping grab at the wall in right-centre to rob J.T Realmuto of extra bases for the second out.

McCormick said after the game to MLB.com: "It's a tough one. It's one of my better catches. One of the most important games of my life. It's a tough one. But playing centre-field for this team, you've got to make tough catches at all times. You've got to be ready to play defence."

Now the Astros head home with Framber Valdez on the mound for game six, hoping to clinch the World Series on home soil.

Phillies still believe

To win the next two games not in your own ballpark is a task, but not an impossible one. The Astros have just done it, however only eight teams in baseball history have won a best-of-seven World Series by winning Games Six and Seven on the road.

Kyle Schwarber played for the Chicago Cubs when they landed the World Series in 2016, winning the final two games.

Speaking to the official Phillies website, Schwarber said: "No one said this was going to be easy. We've overcome a lot of things this year to be in this position. I think when we get there, you're going to see a really resilient club and we're going to play until the very end and we're going to see where it takes us.

"It's going to take everything. It's going to take everyone. We're excited. Trust me. Sure, it's frustrating (to lose Game Five), but we're also very excited."

The Phillies are resilient. When they sacked Joe Girardi they were 22-29 on the June 3rd and they then went 14-2 under new leadership in Rob Thomson to jump back into postseason contention. They struggled in September, but managed in the final couple of weeks to secure that third Wild Card spot and a place in the playoffs two days before the end of the season.

They weren't expected to beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the Wild Card, they weren't expected to defeat the Atlanta Braves in the Division series, nor were they expected to get through the San Diego Padres in the NLCS, but they did. They have Zack Wheeler on the mound and they need him.