LEADING OFF: Nats a win from 1st World Series, Cole vs Yanks

A look at what's happening around the majors today:

CAPITAL GAINS

Patrick Corbin can pitch the Nationals to their first pennant when Washington goes for a four-game sweep of slumping St. Louis in the NL Championship Series. The $140 million lefty starts at home against Cardinals rookie Dakota Hudson.

Washington hasn't put a baseball team in the World Series since 1933, when the Senators lost to the New York Giants in five games. The nation's capital owns one MLB championship; the Senators won all the way back in 1924. There wasn't even a baseball team at all in Washington for more than three decades until the Montreal Expos franchise moved to town before the 2005 season and was renamed the Nationals. Until this season, the Nats hadn't won a playoff series, going 0-4 since 2012.

COLE COUNTRY

With the Astros and Yankees tied 1-all, the best-of-seven AL Championship Series shifts to New York for Game 3. Houston ace Gerrit Cole, who is 18-0 with a 1.66 ERA in 24 starts since his last loss on May 22, pitches against Luis Severino.

In beating Tampa Bay in Games 2 and 5 of the Division Series, Cole allowed one run and six hits over 15 2/3 innings, striking out 25 and walking three. His winning streak is the longest by a pitcher in one year since Rube Marquard began 19-0 for the 1912 New York Giants, winning 18 of 19 starts and adding a victory in relief.

Cole, primed to become a prized free agent this fall, grew up in California rooting for the Yankees and was drafted by them 28th overall out of high school in 2008. He didn't sign and chose to attend UCLA instead, then was selected first overall by Pittsburgh in 2011.

At times he wondered what his career would have been like in pinstripes, especially when the Pirates were considering trades.

"I don't want to be dishonest...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-Nats-a-win-from-1st-World-Series-14528511.php