World Series Game 2 open thread

For anyone out there whose prime rooting interest in the World Series is that the games would be close and interesting, Game 1 could not have done much more to deliver it, with a one-run game won by the Nationals and a lingering what-if for the Astros for a play where George Springer could have gotten to third base with less than two outs, didn’t, and then the second out was a fly ball that may have scored the tying run, if only Springer had been on third base.

If the Astros ultimately lose the series, their fans will surely be in agony over things like that. Not that I will feel especially bad for those fans, who just experienced the joy of winning a World Series only two years ago. They are not missing out on some once-in-a-lifetime experience if their favorite team blows this series. They’ve already gotten it.

Wednesday night’s contest looks just about as good on paper. The starting pitchers squaring off, Justin Verlander and Stephen Strasburg, have been excellent this season. The lineups are as loaded as they were yesterday. These are a couple of great teams with great players on them, Probably they will play another nail-biter.

The game will feel even more tense for the Astros if they fall behind early. The odds aren’t good for a team that manages to lose the first two games of a best-of-seven series when they were the home team in those games. It’s tough to come back from that no matter how good you are.

Tonight’s game, like last night’s, is on Fox.

Walgreens lineup

1. Trea Turner - SS
2. Adam Eaton - RF
3. Anthony Rendon - 3B
4. Juan Soto - LF
5. Howie Kendrick - DH
6. Asdrubal Cabrera - 2B
7. Ryan Zimmerman - 1B
8. Kurt Suzuki - C
9. Victor Robles - CF

Astros lineup

1. George Springer - CF
2. Jose Altuve - 2B
3. Michael Brantley - LF
4. Alex Bregman - 3B
5. Yuli Gurriel - 1B
6. Yordan Alvarez - DH
7. Carlos Correa - SS
8. Robinson Chirinos - C
9. Josh Reddick - RF