5 reasons to believe the Nationals could win it all after Game 2

5 reasons to believe in the Nationals after Game 1

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 22: Washington Nationals relief pitcher Sean Doolittle (63) and Washington Nationals center fielder Victor Robles (16) celebrate closing out Game 1 of the World Series between the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday, October 22, 2019. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /

4. Two words: Juan Soto

It’s perfectly reasonable to think that the Nationals wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for the bat of Juan Soto.

The 20-year-old left fielder was primed to take over for the now-departed Bryce Harper as the power bat in the Nationals’ lineup, and in his first year as Washington’s star hitter, he certainly did not disappoint. He hit for .282 with 34 homers and 110 RBIs, and he’s been an absolute force in the postseason, raising his batting average to .286 with three homers and 10 RBI.

So from the jump, Soto was going to be a problem for the Astros, but with Cole, who has had a near-historic run pitching, it was widely believed that the Astros’ new Ace would quiet Soto’s bat, and to that extent, the Nationals’ hitting order.

That didn’t happen.

Soto, who still can’t legally buy a can of beer, went deep against Cole, becoming only the fourth player in MLB history to homer in the World Series before turning 21. And he added three RBIs to go along with that historic home run.

Soto is the engine that makes the Nationals’ offense go, and if the Astros’ pitching staff can’t find a way to shut down his bat, this is going to be a long series for Houston.

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