Wire Taps: Nationals and Astros meet in World Series starting Tuesday night; Davey Martinez and Nats ready for Series...

Did Washington Nationals’ GM Mike Rizzo’s phone blow up when the Nats won the National League Pennant, guaranteeing a spot in the World Series for a D.C.-based team for the first time since 1933?

“A lot of text messages, hundreds and hundreds of text messages and emails,” Rizzo said.

“I returned every one of them and it was a blessing and a pleasure to do so.”

And Nationals’ manager Davey Martinez’s phone?

“I’ve had about 600 text messages,” Martinez said on Friday.

“Some I don’t even know how they got my numbers. I’m going to say about 599 were very, very positive, so I appreciate it.”

That one out of 600? “I’ll tell you after,” Martinez joked.

Go read your links...

WORLD SERIES:

Astros biggest World Series favorites since 2007 - (ESPN)
"The Houston Astros have been installed as the favorites over the Washington Nationals in the World Series."

Astros vs. Nationals World Series: Washington will try to continue surprising run vs. Houston juggernaut - (CBSSports.com)
"Whereas the Astros are seeking their second title in three years, the Nationals had previously never won so much as a division title, let alone a pennant."

Nationals will face juggernaut Houston Astros in the World Series - (NBC Sports Washington)
"The Washington Nationals will travel to Houston on Monday morning to open the 115th World Series on Tuesday against the American League champion Astros in Minute Maid Park."

Capital hill: Astros, Nats put World Series eyes on pitching - (FOX Sports)
"Gerrit Cole, Max Scherzer and a slew of aces get the World Series started in Houston, then the scene shifts to Capitol Hill."

NATS BEAT:

Montreal Expos fans are dealing with the Washington Nationals in the World Series -(WaPost)
"The Montreal Expos may have left Canada for Washington in 2005, but a small cohort of their fans never abandoned the ballclub."

Martinez commemorates each win so Nats can remember this historic run - (MASN)
"Martinez decided to do this on his own to commemorate each win. Early on, there were not many baseballs going up on the wall. As has been well documented, the Nats started 19-31."

The Riveting Story of How the Washington Nationals Arrived in D.C. - (Washington City Paper)
"Here on the eve of the Washington Nationals' first-ever World Series, exactly how the Nats got to town in the first place 15 years ago is a story fading into the background. But it’s as riveting as a seven-game series."

Juan Soto’s confidence renewed by late-night batting cage session - (WaPost)
"The 20-year-old phenom and hitting coach Kevin Long made one minor tweak, and the results showed on the team's biggest stage the next night."

Nats have several decisions to make before start of Series - (MASN)
"The Nationals do have to be careful not to overthink it. They can prepare for every possible game scenario they can think up, but what happens when something unexpected actually happens?"

For the 33 years before the Nats’ arrival, D.C. didn’t have a team, much less a winner - (WaPost)
"The 33-year effort to return major league baseball to Washington actually began the night of Sept. 22, 1971..."

Nats on long rest: We 'really needed a break' - (MLB.com)
"The baseball schedule so rarely offers opportunities like this, but the Nationals earned it after sweeping the Cardinals in the National League Championship Series..."

For owner Ted Lerner, Nationals’ World Series berth is a family celebration - (WaPost)
"Ted Lerner isn’t loquacious. He isn’t boisterous. He presents as stoic. People who watch games with him describe him as inquisitive but even-keeled..."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Opinion: For Washington's Nats, A Long And Winding Road To The World Series - (NPR)
"When was the last World Series with a team from Washington, D.C.? Like most everything in the town these days, it's a matter of debate."

Nationals made the World Series the old-school way - (New York Daily News)
"Whether they know it or not, the Washington Nationals are the World Series darlings of what’s left of the baseball purists throughout the game."

Nationals Success Cruel Reminder of Orioles’ World Series Drought - (Forbes)
"This is not exactly sitting well with Orioles fans, who’ve seen their share of losing over the past couple of decades. Ownership is determined to get the franchise back on track."

Before Nats reached Series, Senators reached new depths - (Tampa Bay Times)
"The city’s lost-and-found baseball team, the Nationals, are in the Fall Classic for the first time in 86 years."