Atlanta vs Houston: Astros will try to extend the series

The series score is 3-1 in favor of the Atlanta Braves.

After the two games in Houston, there were a lot of questions that we largely had to get answers to in games 3 and 4 in Atlanta. What new did we learn? What questions weren't answered? Did new questions emerge? And, most importantly, what should we expect from all of this now in game 5?

In the first games of the series, it was all too apparent how Atlanta's pitchers were leaving opposing hitters fooled. Atlanta pitchers often threw sliders or fastballs out of the strike zone, followed by the Astros players’ swing. This kind of situation occurred 39.1% of the time in the first few games — and that's significantly more than the statistics of Houston's disciplined hitters on the season. What's more, it's even higher than the Miami Marlins' numbers, the worst team of the league in this regard.

It is Alex Bregman who stood out in Houston's games. He had 50 percent of those chases to his credit, which isn't like him at all. Gurriel, Altuve, and McCormick did not fare much better. All in all, the Astros' batting discipline was clearly lacking.

In the first game of the series, Atlanta lost a truly important player — pitcher Charlie Morton. Charlie is the team's most reliable and experienced starting pitcher. The problem is that without Morton, it's not at all clear what Atlanta's start would look like in game four or five, where Morton was supposed to play. And if they were able to solve that problem in game four with a long relief, it's not entirely clear what to do in game five. On the one hand, Max Fried was rested for five days; on the other hand, the relief, which is the cornerstone of the Braves’ success, was too much involved.

The series matches in Atlanta were won by the home team both times. So far, the Braves have never lost at home in this postseason, which is 7 wins in a row. Serious stats.

It was the performance of the Atlanta pitchers that was crucial in game 3. Anderson's great start was magnificently complemented by Minter, Jackson, Matzek, and Smith from the bullpen.

The climax of game 4 was the 7th inning that turned the game over or even was fundamental to the entire series. Two consecutive home runs by Swanson and Soler put the Braves ahead, and they maintained the lead for the rest of the game.

Atlanta is now one win away from the champion title, the first one since 1995.

The Braves lead the World Series 3-1. The next game will take place in Atlanta again, where local baseball players have yet to lose in this playoff.

Only 14 times in MLB history have a series been won by a team that was down 1-3. The last time the Dodgers did that was last year in the National League championship series against the Atlanta Braves.

In fact, despite leading the series by two games, it doesn't feel like Atlanta is dominating the opponent. Sooner or later they’ll have to concede on their home field, right? If not against Houston in Game 5, then never again. It’s hard to imagine the Astros lose 3 matches in a row. Well, Atlanta's exchausted relief should also affect the game.

We'll risk to say that Atlanta will have to put off celebrating their championship until game 6 at least.

• Houston To Win The Match for 1.83;
• Handicap Houston (-1.5) for 2.49;
• Innings 1 to 5 Handicap Houston (-0.5) for 2.10.