By Craig Elliott
The Astros have lost four straight since last week, and there are three games left on the roadtrip before a weekend homestand. They’ve rallied late in the past two games, but just a little too late. Now it’s time for a late-night series with the Dodgers. Thursday’s game is a day-game though, so set the TiVO.
The Dodgers just swept the Brewers, but before that they were swept in two-game series by both the Padres and Snakes. The Dodgers have been slipping in the West standings while the Rockies, D-Backs, and Padres have all been hot.
When:
Tuesday, May 9, 9:10 p.m. CDT – FSN
Wednesday, May 10, 9:10 p.m. CDT – FSN
Thursday, May 11, 2:10 p.m. CDT – FSN
MLB Extra Innings – All three games will be on the L.A. broadcast, so maybe you’ll get to hear Vin Scully. Though last year he was butchering Astros’ names.
Where: Dodger Stadium
Dodger fans have finally started showing up on time, since Jeff Kent called them all pussies for not hustling.
Well, not really. But they are still pussies.
Projected Matchups
Andy Pettitte (2-4, 5.06) v. Jae Seo (1-2, 4.85)
Andy is 2-0 against the Dodgers, with a 1.64 ERA in three appearances. He went seven innings against L.A. in April but didn’t get a decision. The only hit he gave up was a homer to J.D. Drew. Jose Cruz Jr. is 18-for-45, with four doubles and two homers, against Andy. Nomar is 14-for-49 (.286), while Jeff Kent is 0-for-6 and Rafael Furcal is 0-for-9. Cruz, Mueller, Werth, Saenz, Martinez, and Drew all have homers off Pettitte.
Jae So-So has no record against the Astros, though he’s pitched five innings against them before. Only three active Astros have batted against him: Ausmus and Bidge are both 1-for-2, but Preston Wilson is 7-for-12 with 3 RBI.
Taylor Buchholz (2-1, 2.16) v. Brett Tomko (3-1, 3.41)
Buchholz had a good game against Colorado in his last start, but it was wasted in the end. He’s gone 33+ innings this year, and has given up 8 ER, three homers, and nine walks. He also has 16 strikeouts.
Tomko has faced the Astros 13 times for a 4-5 record and a 4.90 ERA. Too bad we don’t have Bagwell today, because he has six homers off Tomko. But Berkman has two, and Bidge, Ausmus, Wilson, and Everett each have one. Wilson and Lamb are each 5-for-13 against Tomko, and Joe McEwing is 5-for-14.
Wandy Rodriguez (4-1, 3.27) v. Derek Lowe (1-1, 3.05)
Wandy picked up a win against the Dodgers in April, going seven innings and giving up 2 ER. The Dodgers are 11-for-36 (.306) collectively against Wandy, but nearly half of those hits have come from Nomar (5-for-11, .455). Cruz and Drew are each 1-for-1 against Wandy, and Mueller, Navarro, and Repko are each 1-for-3. Repko’s hit was a homer, and that’s the only one the Dodgers have off Wandy.
Lowe is 1-1 against Houston in three appearances. He went seven innings against the Astros in April, giving up just 1 ER. Current Astros bat just .228 (.26-for-147) against Lowe, with solo homers from Biggio and Munson. But the only Astro to bat .300 off Lowe is Berkman, at 3-for-10. Biggio and Palmeiro are both 3-for-11.
Key injuries:
Houston – Burke and Miller are still recuperating. Backe looks to be on the shelf a while.
Los Angeles – Bill Mueller is probable for this series. Dioner Navarro and Ricky Ledee are out until sometime later this month. Cesar Izturis, Eric Gagne, and Jason Werth are out until June. Yhency Brazoban is out for the season, and Odalis Perez is returning from bereavement leave, though he isn’t scheduled for this series.
Other shit
* So FrankenBarry won’t sign the #713 ball, but he makes the guy who caught it sign a release form to be on Barry’s reality TV show, Amazing Douchebag. Way to connect with the fans, there, Barry. I bet that guy was surprised to hear about Massengill’s new “fat melon” variety.