Division is all but lost with this loss. 8-0 is only conceivable way you can comeback to win it. WC will be down to 0.5 game lead most likely, but as poor as the Astros have played they have the better pitching matchups down the stretch to take it from the Angels.
angels play 4 in arlington to close the season, which on the surface looks good, then you realize that the rangers may have nothing to play for.
Which is why the Astros have to take the next 2 and sweep Seattle. I believe King Felix goes tomorrow and the Astros miss him, but I could be wrong. Texas has to face Verlander. With McHugh and Keuchel going in the next 2 if you lose those games then you're probably not winning the WC even.
The other thing is now you're letting teams like Cleveland and Baltimore back in. So with 4 teams within striking distance you're all but guaranteed to give up a game in the standings with every loss. Not a good situation to be in.
At this point I almost don't even want them to make the playoffs, there should be no consolation prize for this disgusting chokejob, none, let them wallow in the bitter taste of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, cant believe just a month ago they were leading the division by 4.5 games... complete tailspin
Just get a win tmrw and see if Angels can beat Felix. We miss him in Seattle unless he goes on short rest. Win tmrw and then I'll take my chances with Keuchel at home. 2 straight against Rangers seems like a lot to ask of this team right now, especially considering last 8 loses. But, two wins increases chances that Texas has to play through the Angels series.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">As my friend <a href="https://twitter.com/sphorrigan">@sphorrigan</a> said, <a href="https://twitter.com/astros">@astros</a> have gone from being hot team to a dumpster fire. Lucky to make playoffs at this rate</p>— Martin Hajovsky (@MartinHajovsky) <a href="https://twitter.com/MartinHajovsky/status/647622595844681728">September 26, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Remember when you thought you had the Division? <a href="https://twitter.com/astros">@Astros</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ALWestRace?src=hash">#ALWestRace</a> <a href="http://t.co/0tt3Xe1f0G">pic.twitter.com/0tt3Xe1f0G</a></p>— Rangers Updates (@TXUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/TXUpdate/status/647622841429397504">September 26, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The way McHugh is going tomorrow and the way Keuchel pitches at home I actually feel like these are 2 games the Astros should be favored to win. Baseball is the weirdest sport when it comes to momentum. It can turn on a dime. If the Astros take the next 2 there's no telling how either team finishes the final week. Anything is possible in baseball.
I mean, looking at the pitching matchups it's still conceivable the Astros finish up 8-0. I know that sounds crazy, but just take a look at the pitching matchups. The only game that looks bad is the Kazmir game against Seattle but Seattle isn't throwing anyone special in that game either. Then you finish up against a Dbag team with nothing to play for, while Texas and Anaheim would be battling at that point. I don't know, crazier things have happened.
One more post. Astros should think about moving Keuchel up to tomorrow. It gives you a shot at pitching him on 3 days rest in Seattle if you want. He would still be on normal rest tomorrow. You pitch McHugh on Sunday. Right now you need a dominant pitching performance, and with Holland going tomorrow and Perez on Sunday you would rather matchup Keuchel against their better pitcher, that being Holland. I really don't understand why they have Keuchel slated to go on Sunday.
I was at the game and wanted to check in to see if it was just as bad as it looked at minute Maid Apparently so
8-0??? You have GOT to be kidding me. We are the absolute WORST road team in the American League. And you think we can go on the road to finish the season 6-0? Not to mention, that is assuming we beat a team the next two games who has beaten us 9 straight times and 12 out of 14. Get real. This team will be lucky to finish above .500.
What is the benefit of pitching him on 3 days rest in Seattle? He's going to get 2 starts regardless - why not have him at full rest for both of them?
Astros need to save themselves the embarrassment and forfeit the remaining games. The Houston fans have suffered enough. Time to pull the plug on this operation.
