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The FOX broadcast is playing, I swear, The War On Drugs heading out of this commercial break.
I feel pandered to but as a 40-year-old middle class white male, I am used to this.
FOX points out that Mancini is 0-for-18 in the series. I am definitely feeling better about my “Phillies force Game 7” prediction. I do like former Boston Red Sox catcher Vázquez at DH though, we do share a birthday after all, look for him to hit a home run here.
Houston Astros starting lineup
1. Jose Altuve, 2B
2. Jeremy Peña, SS
3. Yordan Álvarez, LF
4. Alex Bregman, 3B
5. Kyle Tucker, RF
6. Christian Vázquez , DH
7. Trey Mancini, 1B
8. Chas McCormick, CF
9. Martín Maldonado, C
Pitcher: Framber Valdez
National anthem
Wait are we doing the national anthem this early? It’s somebody named Andy Grammer. He’s very bad and has absolutely no range, or if he does he has decided to hide it for reasons unbeknownst to me! He goes wildly off-key at “free.” No wonder they tried to get this out of the way while fans were still filing in. (1/10)
Philadelphia Phillies starting lineup
1. Kyle Schwarber, LF
2. Rhys Hoskins, 1B
3. J.T. Realmuto, C
4. Bryce Harper, DH
5. Nick Castellanos, RF
6. Alec Bohm, 3B
7. Jean Segura, 2B
8. Matt Vierling, CF
9. Edmundo Sosa, SS
Pitcher: Zack Wheeler
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Now that Justin Verlander finally has secured his first World Series win, we’re down to one major narrative: will Astros manager Dusty Baker finally get his first World Series ring?
It has to feel this very much feels like a “now or never” situation for the well-loved baseball lifer.
Predictions
Well, last time around I said that the Phillies would drop Game 5, which they did, but would manage to figure out a road win in Game 6 in order to force a Game 7. Well, here we are with the Phillies on the ropes and it feels like they’ll squeak by simply because this series has been too unpredictable to stop now.
Want me to be more specific? Let’s say that it’s a tied game late and Bryce Harper once again drives in the winning run, maybe in the 7th or 8th inning. I’m going to say the final score is 5-4 Phillies, but the game ends with the Astros stranding the tying run at third base. Nothing will be easy for them.
Then the Phillies, of course, lose in an anticlimactic Game 6. I’ll break down my Game 7 prediction tomorrow assuming that we actually have one. If we don’t, just pretend I never wrote any of this.
Agree? Disagree? Send your predictions here and we’ll post them throughout. You can email them to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com or tweet them to @HunterFelt.
Today’s big news. Following Yuli Gurriel’s knee injury in Game 5 where he was hurt in the midst of a rundown, he’s been taken off the World Series roster. The 38-year-old first baseman will be replaced by catcher Korey Lee. Backup catcher Christian Guzman will now be the DH for the Astros.
I’ll have my prediction a little later but it’s safe to say that I’m pretty sure at least a little weirdness will be on the docket for Game 6.
The story so far
I want to thank Earlier Version of Me for writing these succinct game summaries yesterday. Is it plagiarism when you copy what you’ve written in the past? Am I going to get sued like when John Fogerty gave us “The Old Man Down The Road?”
Game 1. Phillies 6-5 Astros. In Game 1, the Phillies stunned the Astros by recovering from a 5-0 deficit to hand Houston its first defeat in the playoffs.
Game 2. Phillies 2-5 Astros. In Game 2, the Phillies couldn’t rally back from a 5-0 deficit, which is usually how that plays out. With the win, the Astros tied up the series 1-1.
Game 3: Astros 0-7 Phillies. In Game 3, the series moved from Minute Maid Park to Citizens Bank Park, which ended up working out in favor of the Phillies who played home run derby to take a 2-1 series lead.
Game 4. Astros 5-0 Phillies. It looked like Philadelphia had Houston on the ropes, but the Astros simply decided to not allow the Phillies to get a single hit.
Game 5. Astros 3-2 Phillies. In what was the tightest game so far, the Astros relied on some good fortune and the Phillies’ struggles hitting with runners in scoring position to hang on to a one-run victory that has put them on the verge of their second World Series win.
Where to watch Game 6 of the World Series
While it was delayed by MLS Cup Final coverage (Philadelphia Union just lost to LAFC in what can’t possibly be a good omen for the Phillies), we’re finally in the pregame coverage of Game 6 of the 2022 World Series which is, in the US, airing live on FOX
More of an audio person? Me too. So, you can also listen on your local ESPN Radio affiliate or, barring that, ESPNradio.com. In the UK, you can see it on BT Sports starting in roughly 40 minutes or so or online through the BT Sports app.
Preamble
To quote a pair of history’s greatest lyrical poets: this could be the last time. This could be the last time. Maybe the last time. I don’t know!
Yes, the Houston Astros held on to a 3-2 win in Thursday’s Game 5 to take their first World Series lead at the best possible time. Now, at 3-2, the series returns to Houston’s Minute Maid Park where the Astros have two chances to beat the Philadelphia Phillies just once to win their second World Series. (And perhaps their first asterisk-free one.)
So, could this be in the end today? The Astros will hand the ball over to Framber Valdez, who got the win back in Game 2 Meanwhile, the Phillies are hoping that ace Zack Wheeler can return to form when he starts Game 6 and—if worst comes to worst—it’s pretty much an “all hands on deck” situation for their pitching staff. If Philadelphia doesn’t figure out a way to win tonight, after all, then the MLB season will be over.
So, for possibly the last time there will be baseball played in 2022. If you want to join in our discussion, this is the perfect time to do so because we might not get a Game 7. So, you can email us at hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com or, if you have not (understandably) been driven away by Twitter’s new owner, you can send a tweet to @HunterFelt.
It’s the Philadelphia Phillies vs the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park in Game 6 of the 2022 World Series. We’re scheduled to start actual baseball at 8:03 pm EST but you know how that tends to go: expect possible delays. Either way, this blog will return well before then.
Hunter will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s a look back at Houston’s win in Game 5.
