HOUSTON -- On Tuesday night, the best player in this World Series watched from Minute Maid Park's luxury suite. The visiting dugout was the second-best viewing location for the second-best player. The pitcher with the most impressive postseason resume was forced to leave the field after breaking his leg.

The Houston Astros are in Atlanta to try and settle the 117th World Series. Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuna Jr. are out of action. Ohtani is playing for the Los Angeles Angels (he won an award on Tuesday), Acuna due to a torn anteriorcruciate ligament and Morton due to a ferocious comebacker who broke his right fibula during Game 1. He was able to strike out Jose Altuve in Game 3.

Travis d'Arnaud, catcher Travis d'Arnaud, said that he didn't believe the leg was broken. He just thought he had taken a line drive off his leg. It blows my mind to see the guy with broken legs go out and strike him out.

Although it was a minor injury like Acuna's in June, the wounds represent all the proud players who are racing to the finish line. The season is always a grind, baseball people love that term -- but not more than this moment at the end a full schedule that was followed by a 60-game sprint last year as the pandemic raged.