Please limit talk in this thread to this series. Other topics should be discussed in the appropriate threads. Play-by-play is not allowed. If you need that, there are other places to find it. Political discussions belong in the D&D forum not in here. All games are broadcast on Space City Network unless otherwise noted. 3-30 Ranger Suarez (L) vs. Lance McCullers Jr. (R) 7:10 3-31 Brayan Bello (R) vs. Hunter Brown (R) 7:10 4-1 Garrett Crochet (R) vs. Mike Burrows (R) 1:10
LWW. My biggest hope is Lance gives at least 5 innings. Another 2-3 inning outing will kill the bullpen
Let’s hope the bats stay alive against the Red Sox. I’m glad Yordan is back being Yordan. Walker coming back to life is also awesome to see. Altuve seems to have more plate discipline but doesn’t seem to be swinging very hard. Maybe Father Time is finally started to catch up to him.
Lance going at least 4.2 ip tonight is imperative. With the other SP outside of Brown unlikely to consistently go 6+ ip, the bullpen can’t afford for McCullers to fail to provide competitive innings, even with their improved depth at AAA. Especially early on in the season. I think later in the year Imai and maybe even burrows will start to consistently pitch deeper. But Javier is not going to be a length pitcher.
Tough pitching matchups for our hitters. Surprise us. Establish being a good offense early this year and remain that way.
I don’t know who is calling pitches, but they seem to be calling pitches for whiffs/strikeouts versus for weak contact. You are more likely to go longer into games when you get grounders or pop-ups.
Don't usually put much stock in first few weeks, but given how LMJ looked last season every start is important for him. He wasn't a functional MLB pitcher when last we saw him in meaningful games. You don't get benefit of the doubt for long like that.
Imai and Burrows looked great in ST and they stunk to start. Not expecting anything good from McCullers here. Best case scenario 4 innings and 2 runs, but can see 2 2/3rds innings and 4 runs
Minimum avg stat per start for McCullers to remain a major league player after his first 5 starts: 4.2ip, 4.70 era, 1.5 WHIP, 20% k. If he can’t produce to that bar it’s over. The early part of this season is too important, the pressure on the bullpen of him not being competitive is too damaging, and there are too many other viable options ready to take his place.
Astros are stuck with 2 players needing DH, Yordan and Altuve -- and that's assuming Jose can muster 105 OPS+. Paredes, Correa, and Pena can man 4-6 awesomely but here comes Altuve. Maybe the improved OBP helps enough, but Jose's overall value might be a negative hereafter. If so, great run.
Is Lance still firm about starting? If he knew only 2-3 IP was necessary would it help his game? There's 100 innings available from the bullpen and it would no doubt increase his chances of W on his record. As a starter, no 5, no W, guaranteed. There are bullpen innings available when Abreu, Pressly, Harris, and Hader get abused annually.
McCullers would probabiy accept a bullpen role if the only alternative was being released. But if he can’t be effective enough to barely stick as a SP I don’t think he’ll be effective as a RP. There’s always a chance the move jostles something loose that makes him take a big step forward but I wouldn’t bet on it. The next month of starts could be the final innings of his career.
Yordan at DH again just put him in left. This is stupid. Our lineup and infield defense is better when he plays LF.
