WASHINGTON — Even with a fairly tame Game 6, this has been a World Series for the ages. With the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers set to battle it out in Game 7 Wednesday night for the title, here are seven questions, the answers to which will determine who sprays the champagne and hoists the trophy when all is said and done.
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
Can Houston hit outside of Houston?
The Astros’ splits in this series are silly. Aside from their late-game breakout in Game 2, they’ve really struggled to hit at Dodger Stadium, scoring a run on three hits in Game 1 and a run on six hits in Game 6. They produced more chances Tuesday night, but went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, stranding eight runners. Houston slugged eight homers in their three home games, leaning on the longball to get them out of multiple deficits in Game 5. Can the Astros find other ways to string together rallies and score runs in Game 7?
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Will Yu Darvish’s slider slide?
One of the stranger storylines that’s developed during this World Series is the apparent slickness of the baseballs, which has most impacted those trying to throw sliders. There is perhaps no pitch meatier to a hitter and more dangerous to a pitcher than a hanging slider, which stays up in the zone and begs to be bashed a long way. That’s just what Houston did to Darvish in Game 3, punishing him for two doubles and a home run in just 1.2 innings. Can Darvish get the slider to work? If not, can he pitch effectively without it?
(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images
Who can the Astros trust after Lance McCullers?
Houston had what it wanted in Game 6 — its dominant ace, who hadn’t lost since being acquired at the trade deadline, on the mound. He lost. The good news? They didn’t burn the rest of their bullpen in defeat. But who can they trust behind starter Lance McCullers? Most of the bullpen, including once sterling closer Ken Giles, has been battered. But Game 4 starter Charlie Morton and Game 3 finisher Brad Peacock have both had solid outings. Where can A.J. Hinch turn to get the 27 (or more) outs he’ll need?
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Which Dodger bats will step up?
Joc Pederson has had himself a series — but no other Dodger regular is batting better than .267 or slugging higher than .458. Since his Game 1 home run, Justin Turner has been particularly inconspicuous, slashing .130/.259/.348 for the series. In the three games LA has won, the Dodgers have scored a total of just 12 runs, holding the Astros to four runs in those contests. If Game 7 isn’t a pitcher’s duel, where will the offense come from?
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
What can Clayton Kershaw give you?
Clayton Kershaw told manager Dave Roberts he’d be available in Game 6, on just one day rest after starting Game 5. Roberts’ response? Wait for Game 7. We saw Kershaw pitch in relief to close out the 2016 NLDS against the Nats, but can he give the Dodgers more than one inning? We saw in Game 5 what happens when Brandon Morrow gets stretched too far. Could Kershaw get the seventh inning? And the eighth?
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
How fresh is Kenley Jansen?
The Dodgers’ closer seems to have recaptured his mojo in Game 6 … but he also pitched two innings, throwing 19 pitches. After throwing 14 pitches in Game 1, the Astros broke through against LA’s best relief weapon the next night, clawing out of a 3-1 hole and eventually winning an insane, 7-6 game in 11 innings. If the game is tied late or LA has a narrow lead, will he be able to shut the door on a tough back-to-back?
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
What kind of game are we due for?
We’ve seen four fairly straightforward baseball games in this series and two of the most insane contests ever to take place on such a stage. So what should we expect out of Game 7? Like any pure elimination game, things have the chance to get really weird again. Game 7 of the ALCS was a 4-0 shutout, but we saw two crazy Wild Card games, as well as the bizarre world Game 5 between the Nats and Cubs already this postseason. And don’t forget Game 7 of last year’s World Series. If Wednesday night is anything like that, we’ll need helmets and a roll cage and medics standing by with fire extinguishers and defibrillators.
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
