NewsWorld Series Predictions: Game 6
Experts expect vintage Pedro, Phils to push Yanks to limit
MLB.com
11/04/09 9:00 AM EST
Pedro Martinez will take the mound at Yankee Stadium in an all-important game, against the Yankees' Andy Pettitte.Yes, baseball is a timeless sport.
This drama sounds so, oh, 2003. This time, however, Martinez is trying to keep the Phillies' World Series championship hopes alive and force a seventh game, while the Yankees simply want to finish Wednesday night with a champagne celebration.
Martinez's first appearance in the Series was good, but not vintage, on a night when it would have taken vintage Pedro to beat A.J. Burnett. The Yankees won Game 2, 3-1, in the Bronx. Martinez gave up three runs in six innings. Two of them were on solo shots by Mark Teixeira and Hideki Matsui.
Pettitte was not vintage in his first Fall Classic appearance but was good enough, giving up four runs and five hits but striking out seven in six innings. The Yankees, however, beat up on Cole Hamels in an 8-5 victory in Game 3 at Citizens Bank Park. Pettitte's biggest problem was Jayson Werth, who launched two solo shots.
One of the Phillies' problems before Game 5 was that all of their home runs had come with no one on base. But on Monday night, Chase Utley rapped a three-run homer in the first inning. He added a solo shot later in the Phillies' 8-6 victory.
That brings to light a strategy question for the Yankees. They've been attacking Utley with fastballs. Utley's .333 average with five home runs in the Series suggests there may be a better way to pitch to him.
For more thoughts on what's going to happen, and how it's going to happen, we've turned to the experts with MLB.com and the MLB Network. Here's how they see Game 6 -- set for 7:57 p.m. ET on FOX -- unfolding:
World Series Game 6 Predictions
| Expert | Pick | Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| Greg Amsinger, MLBN | NYY | A-Rod ends Series with walk-off. |
| Hal Bodley, MLB.com | PHI | Pedro of old sends Series to seventh game. |
| Noah Coslov, MLB.com | PHI | Werth leads Phils with 3 RBIs to force Game 7. |
| Vinny Micucci, MLB.com | NYY | Pedro lasts 2 1/3 IP; Rivera gets 3rd SV of Series, wins MVP. |
| Al Leiter, MLBN | NYY | "Old Guard" (Rivera, Jeter, Pettite, Posada) leads way. |
| Jeff Nelson, MLB.com | NYY | Jeter captains Yanks to 27th title. |
| Dan Plesac, MLBN | PHI | Pedro gets job done; Phils bats stay hot. |
| Harold Reynolds, MLBN | NYY | Yanks end it in 6, as predicted. |
| Victor Rojas, MLBN | PHI | Pedro shows vintage form in Bronx |
| Cory Schwartz, MLB.com | NYY | Neither starter dominates, but Pettitte outlasts Pedro; Mo finishes No. 27. |
| Mike Siano, MLB.com | NYY | Phils make it interesting late, but Rivera puts Series to bed. |
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
