Playoffs are a different story and atmosphere. But the Astros won the season series 4-2. 3-0 at home and 1-2 at Kansas City.
Two good young teams, but the Astros have the edge in starting pitching and in a short series like the playoffs that can be the difference. Astros win in 4 games!!
There's nothing about the Royals that makes me too worried. With Holland out and Finnegan traded they no longer have a shutdown bullpen to shorten the game. Sure they can manufacturer a run and play good defense but that doesn't matter if the Astros hit 4 HR off of the Royals mediocre SP. And can't we all agree that KC used up all of their postseason magic last year? Here's to the Astros getting hot at the right time and winning this series in 4 games.
I know Cueto has struggled of late, but I also feel like he's the type of pitcher that would have 12 k's against our lineup. That match up worries me, specially if we lose game 1. I really hope we can jump on him like other teams have been doing.
Be still my heart. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Meanwhile, at Minute Maid Park... <a href="http://t.co/kLNvXhkcYC">pic.twitter.com/kLNvXhkcYC</a></p>— Mike Acosta (@AstrosTalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/AstrosTalk/status/651851790435024896">October 7, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Kaz in Game 2, Keuchel in Game 3, assume McCullers in Game 4 <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kazmir will start Friday on Game 2, Keuchel in Game 3</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/status/651874867965501440">October 7, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Call me crazy but I think we sweep 'em 3-0. McHugh has been really good lately and I think it continues in Game 1. Then it's Press City for KC in Game 2 and Kazmir stuns all with 5 solid innings. Game 2 ends up being a thriller but Astros pull it out late with another solid performance from Sipp/Harris/Greg. Then it's lights out in Game 3. DK complete game shutout.
If his arm is a bit tired then 8 days off as opposed to the normal 4 could do wonders. Its pretty hard to criticize Hinch either way on this one. Tough decision. Kaz had his best start vs KC and they traded for him to pitch in big games, like this one. But Fiers and Mccullers have been much better the last month.
Kazmir will be well rested. I think a lot of his troubles have been due to getting gassed. His last start was September 30, which means he'll be on 8 day's rest. Plus he has pitched 3 games against the Royals this season for a total of 21.1 innings. And he's only given up 5 runs. With a record of 1-1. And if Kazmir isn't hitting his pitches, the Astros have a deep bullpen.
Here's my ideal scenario: McCullers is clearly a very emotional (dare I say Fier-y) pitcher. Let the kid throw game 4, pitching in a packed house at MMP? Let's bring "Backe" some memories. I get the argument for going with a veteran (Fiers) in G4, but I'd rather let Fiers come out of the pen if anything messy happens with Collin or Kaz.
If Kazmir is able to come close to the performance he gave in his first start of the season for the Astros when he played KC, that would be amazing.
Kaz is probably better suited to pitch a road playoff game. Hopefully he can clear out whatever bad ju-ju he's had here in the 2nd half and step up big in game 2. I also like the idea of McCullers having that home crowd behind him in his first playoff game. I think he has the grit to bring home.....dare I say....the ALDS clinching game?!?
Sunday programming alert - That game is exclusively on MLB Network. First home playoff game in 10 years and the game will be on a channel that most people don't have.
