Justin Verlander gives Phillies fans NSFW welcome before Game 3 (Video)

Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander has arrived in Philadelphia, and he’s given fans quite the welcome after stepping off the bus.

The Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies are fighting hard against each other for the World Series title. The two teams are tied 1-1 coming into Game 3, and that’s certainly unfavorable for Astros pitcher Justin Verlander, who underperformed and contributed to the Game 1 loss.

It’s understandable that Verlander would be frustrated with himself, and he seems to be expressing that to Phillies fans by flipping them off as he stepped off the bus.

The gesture was in a joking manner as he smiled and laughed. However, competition is heating up in Philadelphia as Game 3 approaches and the tie is bound to be broken.

The Phillies could take the lead over the Astros in Game 3

Anything can happen, as the postseason has proven with the Phillies taking down the Atlanta Braves. However, as tough of a matchup as the Astros are, the Phillies, in true underdog form, have proven to be hungry for success and have surprised many with how far they’ve made it.

They’re also yet to lose a 2022 postseason game at home, so if the trend continues, they have a good chance of moving up 2-1 in Game 3. With the next three games being in Philadelphia, that could give them an advantage to win it all in five games.

The Astros rotation and bullpen is the most important aspect in taking the Phillies down. Philadelphia’s offense has been unbelievable through the playoffs with 17 home runs total, 65 runs, 97 hits and the team slashing .233/.306/.423 for an OPS of .729. They lead the league in the postseason in each of these areas.

The Astros took the Phillies down 5-2 in Game 2 with a stellar performance on the mound from Framber Valdez and Rafael Montero, but Verlander wasn’t so lucky in Game 1 as he blew a 5-0 lead.

Verlander’s performance should’ve been predictable considering his postseason history. He has the worst ERA in Fall Classic history.

The Astros have a good rotation, but considering the regular season, Verlander should’ve been their best shot at success, yet he was far from it. Only time will tell if the other pitchers will be able to perform under pressure.

Lance McCullers is set to start Game 3 for the Astros, which could be unpredictable. In Game 3 of the ALDS against the Seattle Mariners, he threw six scoreless innings which ultimately led to a win in the lengthy 18-inning game. However, in Game 4 of the ALCS against the New York Yankees, he gave up four runs on eight hits and one walk over five innings.

Game 3 will certainly be competitive, and Verlander set the tone as soon as he stepped off the bus in Philadelphia.