Just a few notes about Game 2 starter Jaime García:
- He's just the second Mexico-born pitcher to start a World Series game, and the first since 1981, when Fernando Valenzuela started Game 3 for the Dodgers against the Yankees. Valenzuela gave up four runs, walked five Yankees ... and still pitched a complete-game victory. Hard to see that happening again tonight.
- The Rangers' Game 2 lineup has exactly zero career plate appearances against García. According to Tim McCarver, that means the advantage goes to the pitcher, though I have no idea if he's got any data behind that. Probably not, but with him you never know.
- This is García's fourth postseason start, and of course he didn't pitch real well in the first three: 0-2 with a 5.74, and he's earned those numbers, especially in giving up three homers in 15⅔ innings. Which doesn't really tell us anything about how he'll fare tonight, and I actually expect a good game from him.
Anyway, so far so good. After an easy 1-2-3 first inning for García, it's Cardinals 0, Rangers 0 in the bottom of the first inning.