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The Nationals became the seventh team since 1995 to sweep their best-of-seven League Championship Series on Tuesday evening. And they did it in convincing fashion, never trailing in the series.
They will have a week to savor and prepare for the World Series that starts next Tuesday in either Houston or New York.
The Astros took the lead in the American League Championship Series with another strong pitching performance from Gerrit Cole.
However any momentum from their Game 3 win could be stalled because there is a good chance today’s game will be postponed due to rain in New York.
Astros at Yankees - Game 3 (Astros lead 2-1)
The Astros have wins only in the games started by Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole so far but that formula can still produce a World Series victory. Cole won his third game in 2019 postseason with seven scoreless innings pitched at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday.
Since May 22, @GerritCole45 has been nearly untouchable.
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) October 16, 2019
In that span he’s gone 19-1 with a 1.86 ERA and 265 Ks. pic.twitter.com/nUxwJ640da
Cole got an early lead from José Altuve who hit another postseason home run.
After his 1st-inning HR, @JoseAltuve27 is averaging 1 HR every 13.25 AB in his postseason career, behind only Nelson Cruz and Mickey Mantle all-time. pic.twitter.com/YoLVQh9rIV
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) October 15, 2019
Houston still hasn’t hit much at all in the postseason and they are 1-for-19 with runners in scoring position against the Yankees.
BREAKING NEWS
Today’s Game 4 has been postponed and will be played on Thursday with Game 5 now scheduled for Friday.
Tonight's game has been postponed.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 16, 2019
Please see below for information regarding the next two ALCS games. ALCS Home Game 2 tickets will be valid tomorrow. ALCS Home Game 3 tickets will be valid Friday. pic.twitter.com/4waiSbwtzf
Cardinals at Nationals - Game 4 (Nationals win series 4-0)
The Nationals took most of the suspense away by scoring seven runs in the first inning of Game 4. They did have to hold on and also bring in their bullpen earlier than they might have liked but nonetheless, they were able to hold on and win 7-4 to complete their sweep over the Cardinals.
The Nationals had a poor start to this season when they found themselves with a 19-31 record. They would then finish the regular season tied with the Dodgers for the best record when they each went 74-38.
The @Nationals are the 4th team in @MLB history to reach the World Series after being at least 12 games below .500 during the regular season. Only the 1914 Braves won the title.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 16, 2019
(h/t @EliasSports) pic.twitter.com/gJjHvScYSL
How fast did they put this game and series away, pretty fast.
Here's more: Dakota Hudson was charged with all 7 runs.
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) October 16, 2019
He threw 15 pitches.
How many pitchers in the pitch-count era have allowed that many runs with that few pitches in a postseason game?
None. Of course! https://t.co/iJxoyndVlx
Washington’s pitching staff dominated the Cardinals who just never got anything going at the plate.
The Cardinals hit .130 in the NLCS, the lowest BA by a team in a best-of-7 series.
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 16, 2019
The prior lowest was .142 by the 1966 Dodgers against the Orioles in the World Series.
Howie Kendrick delivered the winning blow in their NLDS win and then proceeded to hit well against St. Louis.
This is Howie do it in the NLCS. pic.twitter.com/HSR3OFyNVL
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) October 16, 2019
It will be interesting to see how the Nationals line up their pitching for whomever they face but they will take a six-game postseason winning streak with them wherever they play next Tuesday.
Tuesday’s scoreboard
Wednesday’s schedule - Championship Series
Game 4 of the ALCS has been postponed. It will be played Thursday, with Game 5 now pushed to 7:08pm on Friday.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) October 16, 2019