World Series 2021: Braves vs. Astros Game 6 Pitching Preview, Prediction

Atlanta will turn to Max Fried to avoid playing Game 7 of the 2021 World Series on the road.

The National League champion holds a 3-2 lead over the Houston Astros going into Tuesday's Game 6 at Minute Maid Park.

Atlanta survived the two bullpen games in Games 4 and 5. It emerged with one win and a loss from those contests.

Since Atlanta was down multiple runs in Game 5, Brian Snitker decided to rest his three high-leverage relivers to have them fresh for Tuesday and possibly Wednesday.

Dusty Baker altered his pitching schedule when he called on Game 2 starter Jose Urquidy to pitch an inning of relief on Sunday.

Urquidy's relief appearance took him out of contention to start Game 6. Houston will turn to Luis Garcia to level the series inside its home ballpark.

Garcia started Game 3 opposite Atlanta's Ian Anderson and he did not make it out of the fourth inning. Houston needs a much better outing from him to keep the World Series dream alive for one more day.

Game 6 Pitching Preview

Atlanta navigated its difficult situations in Games 4 and 5 as well as it could.

Kyle Wright produced a masterful 4.2-inning outing in Game 4 to help push the series lead to two games. Game 5 provided a different set of circumstances, as Atlanta's middle relievers were rocked by Houston's bats.

Houston hit Fried well in Game 2 and it will try to bank off the momentum it gained through a nine-run Game 5.

Fried was one of the hottest pitchers in baseball during the second half of the regular season. That form translated to his first two starts of the postseason.

However, the left-handed pitcher struggled in his last two starts in NLCS Game 5 and World Series Game 2. He allowed 11 earned runs on 15 hits in 9.2 innings of work.

Even though Fried has not been great, he still gave Atlanta some length from the starter role. He also struck out nine batters during his battles in both appearances.

If Fried can fine-tune his stuff to avoid a third straight large concession, Atlanta will be in great shape to finish off the World Series on Tuesday night.

Fried just needs to throw five or six solid innings to get to Atlanta's top relievers. He gave up two earned runs in his first two postseason starts, both of which went six innings.

Atlanta's pitching game plan is set once it reaches the seventh inning since Tyler Matzek, Luke Jackson and Will Smith did not pitch in Game 5.

Snitker may even ask Matzek and Jackson to get four or five outs, depending on the situation, because both pitchers are fresh.

As for Houston, it would like to get five or six solid innings out its starter, but Garcia has had an up-and-down postseason.

The right-handed hurler lasted 3.2 innings combined in his first two postseason starts. He went 3.2 innings in World Series Game 3.

In between those short starts, Garcia turned in a 5.2-inning gem in ALCS Game 6 against the Boston Red Sox. He gave up one hit and struck out seven in that outing.

If Houston gets the Garcia from ALCS Game 6, it can match whatever Fried produces on the mound for Atlanta.

The Astros can follow a similar strategy as Atlanta if Garcia gives it five solid innings. Phil Maton, Kendall Graveman, Ryne Stanek and Ryan Pressly could all pitch one inning to get to the win.

Maton and Graveman both pitched two innings in Game 5, while Stanek appeared for one frame. They should be okay to pitch a full frame on Tuesday after the day off.

Prediction

Atlanta 3, Houston 2

Even though Houston's bats woke up in Game 5, that may not signal a change in how the series plays out.

Fried had two uncharacteristic appearances in a row and a third seems unlikely given how well he pitched in the regular season.

Expect Fried to go at least five innings to set up Atlanta's three tremendous back-end relievers to finish off the game.

Garcia has been less than stellar in three of his four postseason starts. Atlanta could benefit from his shaky form and the short porches in left and right field at Minute Maid Park.

Atlanta has eight home runs compared to two from the Astros. Atlanta's instant power could be the difference-maker in what should be another tight game.