FOX Sports Analyst John Smoltz Offers Insight Into Loaded World Series Pitching Matchups

1995 World Series Champion Tabs Rainey, Urquidy as Possible Series Stars

LOS ANGELES – FOX Sports analyst and Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz, a World Series champion with the Atlanta Braves in 1995, offers insight into the pitching matchups for this year’s Washington Nationals vs. Houston Astros World Series. Smoltz, the 1996 NL Cy Young Award winner and eight-time All-Star, joins Joe Buck in the FOX Sports booth, with Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci reporting. The World Series presented by YouTube TV opens tomorrow from Houston at 7:00 PM ET on FOX, FOX Deportes and the FOX Sports app.

Smoltz is known as one of the greatest postseason pitchers in MLB history with a lifetime record of 15-4 and 2.67 ERA.

FOX Sports: With some of the most accomplished pitchers in baseball across both rosters, how do the Astros and Nationals match up?

Smoltz: “We have enormous heavyweight matchups in the first three games, and we’re loaded with great storylines, but I believe the depth of the starting rotations slight favors Washington with their four starters. I believe the team that has the best starting pitching is going to win the World Series … I’ve always believed that. I don’t know how, statistically, it always shakes out, but that’s what I believe. This Series is classic strength against strength, with two offenses that are well-equipped to battle great pitching, but time will tell how they are able to manufacture runs.”

FOX Sports: A better position to be in – Astros riding momentum of ALCS Game 6 or Nationals with the extra rest?

Smoltz: “The extended rest for the Nationals definitely comes into play. We (the 1995 Atlanta Braves) were the last team to ever win with that long of a break in 1995. I think there have been six or seven teams since, and they haven’t been able to break through. It is a hard thing to prepare for, because in baseball, you never have that gap of time. At the same time, however, you want to get to the World Series, and you can’t pick and choose how you get there. It will be interesting to see what the Nationals are able to do to handle that time off. They knew whoever they were going to face was going to be a great challenge, and I am sure (Nationals manager) Dave Martinez has asked people who dealt with similar situations what they did to combat the extended break.”

FOX Sports: Give me a below-the-radar pitcher from each team who has the opportunity to break out as a World Series hero?

Smoltz: “I lot of eyes will be on (Tanner) Rainey from the Washington Nationals. He basically has unhittable stuff. Commanding it will be the issue. He has a chance to be a huge factor for the Nationals. For the Astros, José Urquidy could be the wild card. He did a phenomenal job in ALCS Game 6, and he may have a Game 4 start and be a wild card out of the bullpen.”

About FOX Sports
FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing FOX Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, the business has ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing relationships. FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Network; FS1, FS2, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Deportes. FOX Sports’ digital properties include FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App, which provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content, instant scores, stats and alerts to iOS and Android devices. Additionally, FOX Sports and social broadcasting platform Caffeine jointly own Caffeine Studios, which creates exclusive eSports, sports and live entertainment content. Also included in FOX Sports’ portfolio are FOX’s interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network, as well as a licensing agreement that established the FOX Sports Radio Network.