Keep all series info in this thread. Remember no play by play in this thread there are other places to get that. Keep discussions focused on the series. Non game discussion go in there own threads. All games are on RSSW unless otherwise noted. 8-17 Erasmo Ramirez, RHP (9-4) vs. Scott Kazmir, LHP (6-7) 7:10 8-18 Jake Odorizzi, RHP (6-6) vs. Scott Feldman, RHP (5-5) 7:10 MLBN 8-19 Nathan Karns, RHP (7-5) vs. Dallas Keuchel, LHP (14-6) 7:10 8-20 Chris Archer, RHP (10-9)vs. Collin McHugh, RHP (13-6) 7:10
First Astros looking for payback after their awful series in Florida. Anything less than 3 wins is unacceptable. Maybe Gomez will become competent at the plate this series. Go Stros!!
we're facing some solid pitching in this series. Going to need McHugh to keep dealing like he has been to stay in the game against Archer, though Archer will give up some long balls. Let's go with WWWL
Have to get at least 3 out of this series. With all three in contenders in the West at home this week, really need to win this series... Also...Go White Sox (@ Angels) and go Mariners (@ Rangers)
I can pretty much sum up a Gomez at-bat. In the hole 0-2 swinging at whatever first two pitches are thrown. Then, becomes a little bit selective because at least he can reason the pitcher is not going to throw him something to hit down 0-2. He may take a few balls. In the end, he usually ends up swinging at a breaking ball and pops it up. His swing looks really ugly to me and a bit wild. I would really like to see him break out and do something. But, besides a few nice defensive plays and very little offensive output, I'm afraid what he is best at is...emotional celebrating. Now that I said that, maybe he will explode tonight. It's looking like maybe the pitcher we got was the best part of the deal.
FIFY He needs to take a lot out of his swing right now. He's trying to hit the ball through the train. I think if he would just settle down and try to simply put bat to ball, good things will start to happen for him again.
Hoping for a sweep but I think we go 3-1. Anything less would be pretty bad IMO. Rays are decent on the road and hit lefties well. May be going to the Wed/Thurs games B2B. Really wanna see Archer pitch in person. He's prone to the long ball, but man, his stuff is electrifying.
Well Valbuena is at 1B which is good. Marisnick gets rewarded by getting benched yet again, Tucker in LF.
Gonzalez deserves the starting 1B job, but it's a nice luxury having him as a pinch hitter. I read in the Chronicle this morning that he's top-15 in AVG over the last 40 games or so.
Be interesting to know if the shift has cost us this year, when hitting into the shift if the play would have been made anyway vs hitting away from it would it have been made.
I wonder if the Astros will ever consider shifting mid ab (depending on the count and which pitches the batter seems to be swinging at). The Tigers were doing it. Not sure how successful it's been for them but it certainly adds a dimension.
Nothing like playing Houston to fix your ailing self! Swept by Texas, comes in a drops a 4 spot in first.
