Here’s Why the Phillies vs. Christian Javier Is Such An Intriguing Matchup In Game 4

Yes, Christian Javier, the Houston Astros' Game 4 starter, was electric in his last start in the ALCS against the New York Yankees. And during the regular season, he held batters to a phenomenal .170 batting average. His fastball-slider mix misses bats at an elite rate. He just better hope that the Philadelphia Phillies bats don't actually connect.

Because the other pertinent stat from the 2022 season about Javier is that he is the major league leader in allowing fly balls. And by a good margin over the rest of the pack.

Cristian Javier starts for the Astros tonight. Among all MLB pitchers with at least 140 innings in 2022, he had the highest rate of fly balls. https://t.co/zUuqTizemM
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 2, 2022

Buster Olney pointed out that Javier gives up fly balls almost 57% of the time. Only one other pitcher in the majors is over 50%.

And if there's one thing Phillies' batters like to do is to hit fly balls. And hit them far. That is the understatement of the year. After blasting their way into the World Series with a power display throughout the National League playoffs, they're now upping the ante to new heights, hitting a record-tying five bombs in their Game Three 7-0 destruction of the Houston Astros to take a 2-1 lead in the World Series.