Verlander, Astros Can Clinch World Series vs Nats in Game 6

WASHINGTON (AP) — George Springer shook his head at the mere mention of Houston Astros teammate Justin Verlander’s past October trouble, the only pitcher in baseball history to go 0-5 in the World Series.

Then, as if to emphasize the point, the Astros outfielder said, “We wouldn’t be here without him. So I’m glad that we’re handing the ball to him. We’ll see what happens.”

Verlander will get a chance to make people forget his postseason struggles, including losses in win-and-advance games in this year’s AL Division Series and Championship Series if he can help Houston clinch a second championship in three years. The 36-year-old right-hander will start Game six at home against Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.

It’s really been rousing to be on the road so far: Only two other times in baseball history did the home team fail to win any of the first five games of a World Series.

The Nationals won the first two games in Houston by a combined score of 17-7, before the Astros switched everything around and took all three games in Washington by a total tally of 19-3.

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