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.

Zack Greinke was the best *two-way player* this World Series.

Zack Greinke is no Shohei Ohtani, but when the Astros weren’t looking to burn a bench bat, the veteran stepped up big when they needed him the most. While losing his spot in the rotation in September, age was finally catching up to the 38-year-old.

Although not eyed as a starter anymore, Greinke was still used in an opening role. The right-hander pitched four innings, allowing only four hits to his three punch outs. At the plate, Greinke went 2-for-3, one of those at-bats was as a pinch-hitter.

With the National League rule of pitchers hitting possibly coming to an end this offseason, Greinke could possibly be the final pitcher to slash a hit, and it was respectively as a pinch-hitter. Ohtani will of course continue his two-way campaign, but we might not see too many pitchers take at-bats in baseball unless in dire need.