Astros: 3 players that performed well in the World Series

Well, it didn’t end how any of us planned. The Houston Astros couldn’t secure their second World Series championship in franchise history and have now dropped their second Series in three years.

This offseason might not as much make or break the reigning American League champs, but it definitely can change the course of future dominance. Coaching and managing might change, a different shortstop could be on his way in and the pitching might take a shuffle.

The Atlanta Braves matched up as best they could, and even with both teams not at full strength, the Braves brought a much needed championship to the state of Georgia. Even with the Astros’ bats going ice cold at the end, there were some bright spots in the 2021 World Series for Houston.

Although the Astros didn’t come out victorious, there were three players that stood out in the World Series starting with Phil Maton.

While on the return end of the Myles Straw trade, Phil Maton came into his own during the postseason. The right-hander wasn’t fully adjusted to the Astros’ pitching plan in the regular season, while sustaining a 4.97 ERA over 25.1 innings.

Maton’s K/9 was diminished from his time in Cleveland, as it dropped from 13.3 to 8.5. Then came October, where the right-hander allowed only one run in the postseason.

In the World Series, Maton was lights out and possibly in-line for the MVP, if the Astros were to clinch the title. The right-hander worked 5.2 innings over five of the six games, striking out eight to his two walks. Maton didn’t surrender a singular earned run on his seven hits granted in the Fall Classic.

Jose Urquidy became the first foreign-born pitcher to pick up three World Series wins.

Jose Urquidy now has three World Series wins under his belt, the first coming in 2019. The right-hander only pitched six innings this Fall Classic with his second outing being in short-relief. Urquidy was slated for a second World Series start for Game 7, which didn’t happen.

Urquidy allowed only two runs on seven hits and no walks, while punching out seven. Although not a lot of work to his line in 2021, Urquidy etched his name into World Series history with two wins this October.