And now, in Game 3 on Monday night, a new character emerges in what has already been a scintillating World Series, in which the Phillies and Astros have traded wins so far.
This character has been waiting in the wings, as far as the Fall Classic is concerned, since 2009. Waiting to deliver its pent-up roar and to — appropriately, on Halloween night — strike fear into the hearts of men donning the road gray.
That character is Citizens Bank Park, which already has spent this month reminding the world what a raucous October environment it can be. Think the energy and cacophony will be kicked up a notch now that the World Series is in town?
Yeah, that seems a safe bet.
“We feel like it’s another element that a visiting team is going to have to go through,” Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber said. “[The Philly fans] have been great through this whole postseason.”
Not only are the Phillies 21-9 all-time in the postseason at CBP (best home record for any ballpark to have hosted at least 20 playoff games), but they are 5-0 at home this October.
“Really looking forward to experiencing the crowd,” McCullers said. “I’ve heard a lot about it. I’m a really big fan of the game, and I think it will be a great moment.”
When is the game and how can I watch it?
Game 3, which will air on FOX at 8 p.m. ET/7 CT, is scheduled for Monday.
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Who are the starting pitchers?
Astros: McCullers (0-0, 2.45 ERA this postseason) will be making his third start of the 2022 playoffs, having pitched in clinching games in the ALDS and the ALCS. He threw six scoreless innings in the Astros’ 18-inning win over Seattle in Game 3 of the ALDS and gave up four runs (three earned) on eight hits and one walk over five innings in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Yankees in New York. This will be his first start in the World Series since 2017, when he started Game 7 against the Dodgers and lasted 2 1/3 innings in Houston’s championship clincher.
Phillies: Syndergaard (0-0, 1.69 ERA this postseason) started Game 4 of the NLDS against the Braves on Oct. 15, when the Phillies clinched a trip to the NLCS. The right-hander pitched only three innings because he is not stretched out. He has thrown only 1 1/3 innings since then, so expect Game 3 to be a bullpen game for the Phillies.
What are the starting lineups?
Astros: The Astros finally got some production in Game 2 from their DH spot, only because manager Dusty Baker moved slugger Yordan Alvarez there. Don’t be surprised to see Baker give rookie David Hensley a shot at DH in Game 3 as Trey Mancini (0-for-16) and Aledmys Díaz (1-for-18) have struggled in the postseason.
Phillies: Rob Thomson has been asked about potential lineup changes throughout the postseason, but so far he has kept everything the same. If it worked in the past, he reasons, it can work again. Expect Thomson to use this lineup in Game 3.
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Astros: Baker pushed Bryan Abreu (Game 1) and Rafael Montero (Game 2) for 1 2/3 innings in each of the first two games, but Sunday’s off-day should allow the Astros to reset their bullpen. If McCullers can give them six innings and get a lead, the Astros will have Abreu, Héctor Neris, Montero and closer Ryan Pressly lined up for the final four innings.
Phillies: If we have learned anything in this postseason, it is that Thomson will be aggressive with his bullpen. So expect everybody to be available in Game 3, especially with a day off Sunday. For the majority of the postseason, Thomson has used right-hander Seranthony Domínguez and left-hander José Alvarado in the eighth and ninth innings. But in Game 1 of the World Series, he used Alvarado in the fifth and Dominguez for 1 1/3 innings. Behind those two are Zach Eflin, David Robertson, Andrew Bellatti and Connor Brogdon.
Astros: Houston has no injuries.
Phillies: Philadelphia is healthy entering Game 3.
Who is hot and who is not?
Astros: Altuve went 3-for-4 in Game 2 of the World Series and needs one hit for 100 in his postseason career. He has the fifth-most hits in Major League history in the playoffs. … Bregman is 2-for-8 in the World Series and clubbed his 15th career postseason home run in Game 2, tying him with Babe Ruth and Jayson Werth for 14th all-time. … Peña’s eight extra-base hits this postseason are the fourth-most by a rookie in a single postseason. … Alvarez’s 18 RBIs since the beginning of the ’21 playoffs are the second-most behind teammate Tucker (20).
Phillies: Harper had his 11-game postseason hitting streak snapped when he went 0-for-4 in Game 2, his first game without a hit since Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series in St. Louis on Oct. 7. Harper hit .455 (20-for-44) with six doubles, five home runs, 11 RBIs and a 1.410 OPS during the hitting streak. … Dominguez has a 0.96 ERA in seven postseason appearances. He has struck out 18 without a walk in 9 1/3 innings. … Stott is batting .267 (4-for-15) with three doubles and three walks in his last five games. They aren’t eye-popping numbers, but he has put together some really long at-bats. He worked a 12-pitch walk as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning in Game 2.
Anything else fans might want to know?
• In postseason series with the current 2-3-2 format, teams splitting the first two games at home have still gone on to win 47 of 86 times (55%). The split obviously means there is a great deal at stake in Game 3. In all best-of-seven series tied 1-1, the winner of the third game has triumphed 68 of 98 times (69%).
• The Astros are 6-6 all-time on the road in the World Series, having won five of their last seven Fall Classic games away from home.
• The Astros are 2-9 in their last 11 games at Citizens Bank Park, having played two series there (2014 and 2017) since moving to the AL in 2013.