Abbreviated version this week due to the holiday and Monday’s early first pitch.
WEEK IN REVIEW – MAY 21-27
ASTROS (4-2, 34-20 overall)
Tuesday, May 22 – Astros 11, Giants 2
Wednesday, May 23 – Astros 4, Giants 1
Thursday, May 24 – Astros 8, Indians 2
Friday, May 25 – Astros 11, Indians 2
Saturday, May 26 – Indians 8, Astros 6
Sunday, May 27 – Indians 10, Astros 9 (14 innings)
The Astros offense acquitted itself well, scoring 49 runs, stealing a game from the reigning AL Cy Young winner, and taking advantage of a weak Indians bullpen. That they scored that many runs and only split the series in Cleveland stings a bit, but what are you gonna do. The team’s ERA ticked up to 2.61, but it’s still 0.72 runs better than the next best team.
Jose Altuve saw his average dip to .306 after Thursday’s 0x5 game against the Indians, then set – and later broke – his own team record with 10 hits in consecutive ABs. He left town on Sunday with a .330 average. Badass. Gattis also raised his average 21 points this week.
THE WEEK AHEAD – MAY 28 – JUNE 3
The American League’s #3 team plays the #2 and #1 teams.
Astros @ Yankees – May 28-30
The Yankees (33-16) are coming off a 3-3 week against the Rangers (against whom they allowed 23 runs in three games) and Angels.
Schedule and Probables
Monday, May 28, 12pm CDT
Justin Verlander (6-2, 1.08) vs. Domingo German (0-2, 5.59)
Tuesday, May 29, 6:05pm CDT
Charlie Morton (7-0, 2.04) vs. CC Sabathia (2-1, 3.55)
Wednesday, May 30, 5:30pm CDT
Dallas Keuchel (3-6, 3.39) vs. Luis Severino (7-1, 2.28)
Severino hasn’t really pitched a bad game since early April and tossed a complete game shutout against the Astros in early May. German has only started three games this season, two of which were back-to-back 6 ER performances against the Rangers and A’s. He no-hit the Indians for six innings and pitched four shutout innings against the Astros last time around. Sabathia entered May with a sub-2 ERA but has given up 13 earned runs in his last three starts, including seven earned runs to the Rangers in his last start.
Keuchel, Verlander, and Morton have all pitched well-to-excellent against the Yankees this season, but the offense got shut out in two of their three starts.
Red Sox @ Astros – May 31 – June 3
The Red Sox (36-17) picked up series victories against the Rays and Braves.
Schedule and Probables
Thursday, May 31, 7:10pm CDT
Drew Pomeranz (1-2, 6.75) vs. Lance McCullers Jr. (6-3, 3.98)
Friday, June 1, 7:10pm CDT
Chris Sale (5-2, 2.76) vs. Gerrit Cole (5-1, 2.05)
Saturday, June 2, 6:15pm CDT
David Price (4-4, 4.08) vs. Justin Verlander (6-2, 1.08)
Sunday, June 3, 6:30pm CDT
Rick Porcello (6-2, 3.74) vs. Charlie Morton (7-0, 2.04)
Pomeranz has pitched enough innings to qualify in less than half of his starts and has never had an ERA below 5.23 this season. Sale has been his typical excellent self, but the Braves tagged him for six earned runs this past weekend. Price has had ups and downs but has been solid lately. Porcello sported a 6.00 ERA in the month of May. All except Porcello have done well against Houston in the past.