World Series: 5 biggest questions facing Astros, Nationals

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros celebrates retiring the side during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

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WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 15: The Washington Nationals celebrate a series-clinching win in Game Four of the NLCS between the Washington Nationals and the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /

3. How will the long layoff affect the Nationals?

The Nationals enter the World Series as the hottest team in baseball, but there’s nothing like a long layoff to cool a team down. By the time Game 1 begins on Tuesday, the Nationals will have been off a full week since sweeping the Cardinals in the NLCS.

The history of teams going into the Fall Classic after such a prolonged rest isn’t good. The last five teams, and seven of eight since the LCS went to a seven-game format in 1985, to sweep all lost in the World Series. The only club that managed to win in that span was the Atlanta Braves in 1995.

A few members of the Nationals know just what’s it’s like to start the World Series after having not played for such a long time. Max Scherzer and Anibal Sanchez were both members of the 2012 Tigers that had six days off after sweeping the Yankees in the ALCS. They were then swept themselves by the Giants in the World Series.

The 2007 Rockies went nine days before beginning the World Series, while the 2006 Tigers had seven days off. The combined record of those three teams in the World Series: 1-12.

For Olney, the long layoff might be beneficial for the pitchers but it’s the hitters whose timing is going to be thrown off.

“I think absolutely it could be a factor,” he says. “Now, if you’re Max Scherzer, you probably like the time off. The fact that you’re going to have nine days in between starts. But, for the hitters…the Nationals hitters are going to be the ones who are going to suffer from the layoff.”

The Astros, meanwhile, head into the World Series with the cheers from Jose Altuve’s walk-off home run in Game 6 against the Yankees still ringing in their ears. That victory allowed them to not have to use Cole in a potential Game 7 and instead start him for Game 1 and again in a possible fifth game.

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