Astros vs. Phillies: Which Team Gains an Edge With World Series Game 3 Rainout?

There was no World Series Game 3 on Monday night because of the weather in Philadelphia. While everything remains tied 1-1, there is a chain reaction to the rain.

The Astros, with perhaps the deepest pitching staff in all of baseball, remain on schedule to start Lance McCullers Jr. in Game 3 and Cristian Javier in Game 4.

They have more starters in the bullpen like Luis García, who they used in Game 1, and José Urquidy, who is tied for the most World Series wins in franchise history but has yet to be deployed this postseason. That's because the Astros' relievers are capable, posting the lowest bullpen ERA and entering the World Series with a 0.82 ERA over 33 innings pitched.

It's different for the Phillies.

They have two ace-caliber starters in Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola. Ranger Suárez is a complementary No. 3, but from there the back end of the rotation gets thin with a diminished Noah Syndergaard and Kyle Gibson.

Here is how Monday's postponement impacts both teams and who gets the edge because of it.

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Phillies delay bullpen game, get much-needed extra rest for Wheeler

Originally, Phillies manager Rob Thomson planned to have Syndergaard pitch Game 3 and Suárez for Game 4. But with the rain pushing things back a day, Suárez can pitch Game 3 and Nola, who started Game 1 last Friday, can pitch Game 4.

What happens in those two games presents an interesting hypothetical for Thomson and the Phillies. He said Monday night that Wheeler would get extra rest and the plan for Game 5 is to start either Syndergaard, if they don't use him in the next couple of days, or Gibson.

That would, in effect, be a bullpen game. But what if the Astros win the next two and the Phillies are facing elimination at home in Game 5?

It's hard to imagine they wouldn't give the ball to Wheeler in their final home game, with the season on the line.

Wheeler's dip in velocity was a talking point after his Game 2 performance, when he gave up five runs (four earned) on six hits, including a homer, and struck out three.

Still, Wheeler sitting in the dugout while you lose the World Series would be gross mismanagement.

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Verlander gets more rest as postponement plays to Astros' depth

Arguably the Astros' most important pitchers will benefit from the extra rest. That includes 39-year-old Justin Verlander, who squandered a 5-0 lead through the first three innings of Game 1.

They also rest their best relievers. Closer Ryan Pressly threw a combined 33 pitches in the first two games, while Rafael Montero threw 41 pitches in those games, including 33 in Game 2.

Getting two full days of rest should reset the clock on both of them.

The interesting question for Houston is how best to use Verlander if Philadelphia wins Game 3. It's likely the Astros stick to their plan, but having Verlander pitch Game 4 to avoid an elimination scenario at Citizens Bank Park would make sense.

Also worth asking is whether Framber Valdez, based on recent performance, would be the Astros' best option in an elimination game.

Valdez has a 1.42 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in his three postseason starts this year, compared to Verlander's 7.20 ERA and 1.59 WHIP. Verlander was rough in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Seattle Mariners, giving up six runs on 10 hits before a furious Astros comeback, highlighted by an improbable Yordan Álvarez three-run walk-off homer, bailed him out.

Verlander was better against the Yankees in the ALCS but struggled with command against the Phillies in Game 1 of the World Series.

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Advantage goes to Astros

While it benefits the Phillies to have more flexibility in how they use Wheeler, their best pitcher, that still doesn't say much for the matchup against the Astros.

Just look at what the Astros were able to do to him in Game 2. They scored five runs (four earned) on six hits in five innings pitched by Wheeler.

Thomson called Wheeler's stuff "a little bit light" and noted his location was off but said he expects both Wheeler and Nola to be ready for the next time.

The rain delay makes it interesting for Thomson to decide when that is, exactly. If the Phillies lose both games, or win both games, ideally it's Wheeler pitching in the elimination or closeout situation.

Meanwhile, the Astros have no need to adjust their plans at all.

They have a wealth of pitching depth that can only benefit from the extra rest. And their lineup has shown it can produce against Philly's best hurlers in Wheeler and Nola.

Suárez pitched just three innings the last time he started against Houston on Oct. 4, just before the regular season ended. The Astros scored six runs on seven hits, including homers by Jeremy Peña, Kyle Tucker and Martín Maldonado.

The Astros have good reason to be confident in their rotation as is, and that their lineup matches up well against anyone Philly puts on the mound.