Through the force of their superlative pitching staff, the Houston Astros won Game 4 on Wednesday to knot this World Series at two games apiece.
The 5-0 win was historic, as Astros starting pitcher Cristian Javier and three relievers pitched the second no-hitter in World Series play. The other came in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series by Don Larsen of the Yankees.
The Philadelphia Phillies have now flipped from favorites at -140 before Game 4, to underdogs at +155, according to updated World Series odds at BetMGM. The loss in Game 4 was the first at home for the Phils this postseason.
The Astros, who now have home-field advantage back, are priced at -190 to win the 2022 World Series. That means bettors need to wager $190 to make $100 on a winning Houston series betting slip. Before the Fall Classic began, Houston was favored at -175 to win the championship.
The Phillies host Game 5 on Thursday, Nov. 3, with the series now a best-of-three. The teams have a day off on Friday before returning to Houston for Game 6 on Saturday, and Game 7 on Sunday, if necessary.
The Astros are -162 favorites to win Game 5, according to early odds from FanDuel, with the Phillies priced at +136.
Game 5 World Series Odds
The fifth game of the 2022 World Series is scheduled for Thursday at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Here are current odds from top sports betting apps.
It’s Yes Yes, No-No! for Astros in Historic Game 5 Win
After Cristian Javier contributed to a no-hitter on Wednesday, the Astros are back to being betting favorites over the Phillies, according to new World Series odds at top sportsbooks (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
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One night after Dusty Baker called his team’s 7-0 loss in Game 3, “embarrassing,” the Astros did just that to the Phillies.
Houston did not allow a hit to the high-scoring Philly offense in their own ballpark, for just the third no-hitter in postseason history. It was the first multi-pitcher no-hitter in the postseason, and first no-hitter in the World Series since 1956.
Cristian Javier (whom we picked as WS MVP prior to the series) served notice to baseball fans everywhere that he is the real deal, tossing six no-hit innings while striking out nine. Only two Phillies reached base against the Astros starter, both by walk. In the fifth, the dormant Houston lineup made sure Javier’s effort would not be wasted.
The Astros sacked Aaron Nola in the fifth, and a few batters after relief ace Jose Alvarado entered the game with the bases juiced, Houston pushed across four runs. A tack-on run made it five in the frame. That was more than enough to beat a lineup that had no chance again Javier and three relievers.
The combined no-hitter was the second for Javier and his bullpen teammates in 2022. The other came in June against the Yankees.
The Houston team allowed themselves to celebrate what is a rare and impressive feat, even knowing it was only one of the three remaining wins the team needed to win the World Series. The performance by Javier and his pitching teammates is one more highlight for a dynasty that’s won four pennants in six seasons.
Manager Dusty Baker will turn to his veteran ace to give the team a series lead tomorrow night. Justin Verlander will hope to shake off a bad start in Game 1, and repudiate his career 6.07 ERA in the World Series.
But tonight, the Astros and everyone else in baseball (except Phillies fans) can celebrate an amazing feat that most experts never would have predicted: a combined no-hit game in the Fall Classic.
“It’s the best fastball I have ever seen,” Astros catcher Christian Vanquez said of his teammate Javier’s performance in Game 4.
That fastball by one of the most gifted pitchers in baseball, may be what sparks the Astros to come back to win the series they’re favored in.
Also read: World Series Game 5 Props & Home Run Bets
Game 5 Pitching Matchup, Astros vs. Phillies
Justin Verlander (1-0, 7.20 ERA in PS) vs. Noah Syndergaard (0-0, 1.69 ERA in PS)
Verlander will try to erase the memory of his Game 1 start last Friday, when he squandered a five-run lead. For Syndergaard, it’s his first appearance on the mound since Oct. 22 in the National League Championship Series.
Verlander has only one blemish on his career, which one day will end in Cooperstown when he accepts a Hall of Fame plaque. That blemish is his record in the World Series. In eight starts, JV has allowed 29 earned runs in 43 innings for a 6.07 lifetime ERA on the biggest stage in baseball. Verlander is 0-6 in the World Series, including 0-3 for the Astros in three Fall Classics.
For three innings in Game 1, Verlander was spot on: retiring the first nine batters he faced. But as he likes to do, Verlander featured a new set of pitches the second time through the lineup, and Philadelphia pounced. In Game 5, the two-time Cy Young Award winner will need to change his approach to help the Astros snatch the lead in the series.
Manager Dusty Baker allowed Verlander to stay on the mound in Game 1 in an attempt to wriggle out of trouble. That strategy proved costly, but Baker won’t make that same mistake again. Any sign of serious difficulty in Game 5, and the 39-year old Verlander will be taking a seat in the dugout. The stakes are too high.
Phillies manager Rob Thompson will hope for three solid innings from Syndergaard, who hasn’t pitched past the third inning in a start in more than a month (Oct. 1 in the regular season). Once a hard thrower who made opposing batters knees weak, Syndergaard is now a 9 to 12 out guy who locates his breaking pitches. His pitch execution against the aggressive Houston lineup will be crucial.
World Series Game 5 Prediction
Being no-hit in the World Series is a gut punch that will sting the Phillies. The Astros flexed their biggest advantage in this series: the bullpen. In Game 5, Dusty Baker will go for the jugular and use his amazing corps of dominant relievers to secure a win on the way out of town.
We like Verlander to give five solid innings, this time making sure to mix his pitches the second time he sees Bryce Harper and company. There are signs of resurgence in the Astros lineup: Jose Altuve is hitting again, and Yordan Alvarez is too. Then you have the threat of Alex Bregman, who has seven extra-base hits and 11 RBI in 11 postseason games.
Noah Syndergaard won’t be up for the challenge to keep the Houston lineup from putting up crooked numbers. And if the ‘Stros have anything more than a two-run lead by the fifth, the no-hit caliber bullpen at Baker’s fingertips will finish this game.
Take the Astros at -152 on the moneyline via FanDuel.
World Series Schedule
The schedule for the 2022 World Series:
- Game 1: Friday, Oct. 28 at Houston; Phillies 6, Astros 5 (1o innings)
- Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 29 at Houston; Astros 5, Phillies 2
- Game 3: Tuesday, Nov. 1 at Philadelphia; Phillies 7, Astros 0
- Game 4: Tuesday, Nov. 2 at Philadelphia; Astros 5, Phillies 0
- Game 5: Wednesday, Nov. 2 at Philadelphia
- Game 6: Friday, Nov. 4 at Houston
- Game 7: Saturday, Nov. 5 at Houston
The World Series is televised on FOX, and you can listen on ESPN Radio.
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