In 2019, the Houston Astros had an exceptional season, winning 107 games and finishing with the best record in baseball. They entered the postseason as the No. 1 seed in the American League and faced the Tampa Bay Rays in the Division Series, ultimately winning three games to two. In the ALCS, they defeated the New York Yankees 4-2 after dropping the first game of the series.
Their opponent in the World Series was a formidable one: The Washington Nationals, who emerged as National League champions. However, despite their impressive performance throughout the year and into postseason play, they lost in a heartbreaking Game 7 on their home field, squandering a 3-2 series lead.
As they celebrate their fifth anniversary since that fateful night, Washington is looking forward to hosting their former rivals for a weekend of special events. On Friday night, there will be fireworks set to “2019 World Champion Music,” and Saturday’s game will feature a replica World Series ring for each of the first 20,000 fans who attend.
While only three active Washington players were part of that championship team from five years ago, seven Astros players were present for their loss in Game 7 of that same series. One of those seven players is Justin Verlander – who will make his season debut on Friday against Washington – hoping to lead his team to victory and perhaps get some revenge for that heartbreaking loss back in 2019.
