When Game 3 of the World Series between the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies was postponed on Monday night because of rain, plenty of things changed for both teams moving forward.
With the World Series tied 1-1, the pivotal third game will now be played on Tuesday night in Philadelphia, the first of three consecutive nights where the Phillies will host the World Series. If necessary, the sixth and seventh games of the Fall Classic would be played in Houston on Saturday and Sunday.
What changed for the Astros and Phillies when World Series Game 3 was postponed
Changes for Philadelphia
For the host Phillies, Noah Syndergaard was originally slated to start on Monday night, but manager Rob Thomson has now shifted his rotation because of the postponement. Ranger Suarez, who pitched 0.2 scoreless innings in relief in Game 1 in Houston, will now draw the Game 3 start on Tuesday night, with Aaron Nola, who started Game 1, getting the start in Game 4. From there, the Phillies rotation will go back to Syndergaard in Game 5 (if he isn’t used out of the bullpen before that), with Zack Wheeler (who started Game 2) getting the nod in Game 6 and Suarez starting Game 7 (if necessary).
Those changes are certainly a positive for Philadelphia, who can now push the bullpen game to Game 5 and get Nola back in the mix for Game 4. Additionally, having Suarez now for two starts gives the Phillies another arm that has performed well so far this postseason (9.2 innings pitched with 1.86 ERA and opponents hitting just .167 against him).
In his only home start this postseason (October 14 against Atlanta), Nola scattered five hits over 6.0 innings and didn’t allow an earned run.
Changes for Houston
Even with the postponement and change in starting pitcher for the Phillies, Houston manager Dusty Baker has already announced that he will keep the same lineup and still start Lance McCullers Jr. in Game 3.
Following McCullers, Cristian Javier will pitch Game 4 for the Astros with Justin Verlander getting back on the mound in Game 5 after a shaky outing in Game 1 and greeting Phillies fans with a NSFW gesture on Halloween. Continuing the Houston rotation, Game 6 would fall to Framber Valdez with McCullers likely getting the nod in Game 7 at Minute Maid Park.
McCullers was tagged for eight hits in 5.0 innings by the New York Yankees in his last start and will draw the start in an emotion-filled Game 3 for Phillies fans, who have been waiting since 2009 to cheer at a World Series game. He and Javier will be key as Verlander has been anything but dominant in his eight previous World Series starts, posting a 6.07 cumulative ERA, the highest of any pitcher with 20-plus innings thrown in the Fall Classic.
Which team benefits the most?
On paper, it’s the Phillies, a team that already has plenty of momentum on its side with the Philadelphia faithful in their corner for the next three games.
If Suarez can step into the role that Syndergaard originally was going to have as Game 3 starter and succeed, setting the table for Nola the next night, the Phillies could have a decided advantage on the mound.
Game 3 is set for Tuesday, with first pitch slotted for 8:03 p.m. (Eastern) and television coverage provided by FOX.