Astros at Tigers, Tardy Version: Hope You Like Day Games

Posted on May 22, 2015 by MusicMan in News, Series Previews

Thursday: Tigers 6, Astros 5

Friday: McHugh vs. Simon, 6:08 PM, ROOT

Saturday: McCullers vs. Lobstein, 3:08 PM, ROOT

Sunday: Hernandez vs. Sanchez, 12:08 PM, ROOT

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

I confess to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned. I brought back the Series Preview at a time when NOTHING should have changed. I didn’t respect the streak, and we as fans paid the price via a sweep at the hands of our friends from ~~Dallas~~ Arlington.

But times are better, the team righted the ship with a 7-2 home stand, and game 1 of the Tigers series was a near miss, a good loss in the sense that it underlined something that we have all likely picked up on about this team: They are never out of a game. Good bullpens and power hitters work together well that way.

As for the schedule – your guess is as good as mine; maybe the Tigers inflated payroll is leading them to cut down on their electric bills.

Friday: McHugh (5-1, 4.09) at Simon (4-2, 3.04)

I don’t know about you, but that ERA for McHugh is much higher than I would have thought by just watching him pitch. And Simon’s is much lower than I like to see from my opponents.

McHugh has faced current Tigers for only 5 AB, and 2 of those are against pitcher Tom Gorzellany – it’s basically Cespedes and his 1 for 3 that are any history. I’ll take my chances with McHugh and his ability to change eye levels the first time facing these guys, and go for a very strong outing.

Simon has allowed 9 for 27 against the Astros, mostly from Valbuena (3-13, 1 HR). He mixes two-and four-seam fastballs with occasional (<20%) breaking stuff.

Astros win.

Saturday: McCullers (0-0, 1.93) at Lobstein (3-4, 4.29)

Neither pitcher has ever faced a hitter from the opposing team. Historically, this does not bode well for the Astros; but since when do the forces of history apply to the current team?

McCullers was impressive in his initial outing, flashing an 89-90 MPH “changeup” that the hometown scoreboard kept calling a fastball to go with 97 MPH heat and a wicked curve. We’ll see if he can go a little deeper against this Tigers lineup, as it would be nice to spare the pen a little following Thursday’s extra-inning affair.

Lobstein is a lefty who has pounded the ball low and away to lefties, but shown some wildness against righties – this bodes well for the good guys and their RH dominant lineup.

Astros get McCullers his first W.

Sunday: Hernandez (2-3, 3.99) at Sanchez (3-5, 5.60)

Hernandez has struggled against these Tigers, allowing a .326 average (30-92). Most of the damage has come courtesy of Miguel Cabrera (13-36, 3 HR) and Rajai Davis (9-21). Hernandez has at least fared well against Kinsler (4-20, 5 K) and JD Martinez (0-5).

Sanchez has owned the Astros, allowing only 12-54 with 1 HR and 21 K (to only 2 BB). He is surely viewing this as a chance to right his ship for this season, which according to Tigers fans has actually shown long stretches of good pitching, but interspersed with mistakes to good hitters. Expect potential rest for Carter (0-6, 5 K), Castro (2-11, plus Hernandez is pitching), and Rasmus (4-19, 11 K). Sanchez mixes pitches well, featuring a slider and change as frequently as his four-seam fastball.

Tigers Win.

Oakland Athletics @ Houston Astros Series Preview

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Ebby Calvin in Featured, Series Previews

Oakland Athletics @ Houston Astros Series Preview

May 18-20 2015

Minute Maid Park at Union Station

Houston, Texas, United States of America, North America, Earth, 29.7569° N, 95.3556° W

HOUSTON (AP) –

Jeff Luhnow is used to looking up. Looking up to see his competitors in the standings. Looking up to pray for divine intervention. Looking up home remedies for duodenal ulcers. After three years in the basement, the Astros GM had, literally, nothing beneath him.

But things changed this year, and it’s not just the play on the field that has things looking…better.

When the Mexico City native signed on as the Astros’ General Manager, he left a cushy front office gig high atop one of baseball’s premier organizations. He was the Smartest Guy in the Room amongst a crosseyed and drooling cadre of transplant Missourian…ites (eers? akhans?) But Houston came a’calling and boom – he’s the new General Manager of a decaying MLB team with no prospects and shaky ownership. Life was good, though.

Until it wasn’t. The first missive Astros owner Jim Crane – his new boss – gave him was simple: Everything Must Go.

“I remember that conversation well,” Luhnow says now, scratching his temple. “I knew we had to gut the team to produce a consistent winner – to rebuild the farm system. Get rid of hometown-hero veterans. But I didn’t realize how far [Jim] wanted to go with that.”

“It was fucking mayhem.”

Recent MLB callup Lance McCullers (and Luhnow draftee) remembers it well. “It was crazy, you know. Like last year I was in Lancaster – I had like a 5.47 ERA and I never ever ever faced the Oakland A’s. But now, you know, I feel like I could hold them to one run in close to five innings. Maybe scatter three hits and three walks amongst five strikeouts or so. We’d probably lose 2-1, but that’s the kind of change we’re seeing this year. And it’s all because Jeff’s got a real office this year. I mean – dude shouldn’t be all tripping out or whatever young people say in the basement, you know?”

Jeff Luhnow arrived to his new job, Day 1, ready to conquer the world. What he found was a nation stripped to rubble.

“There were desks, pushed off to the corners,” Luhnow remembers. “Trash cans on fire, sticky notes fucking everywhere. The 5^th floor had some sort of computer monitor bonfire thing going on. The 4^th [floor] seemed to be dividing into astrological factions. I couldn’t remember if I was an Aries or Leo.”

The days and months and years following the Crane coup are well-documented at this point, but Luhnow has seen it all – and seen too much – to forget.

“I spent two months in the fax mines – two fucking months – and I’d had enough. I scored an old dial-up modem from Accounting and holed up in the corner of the women’s shower where nobody would find me. Opened a window and started working. Sig [Mejdal] was there. He brought extra beef jerky.”

“I heard the stories, sure,” Astros starter Roberto Hernandez (nee Carmona) says. “I mean I’ve been everywhere, seen everything. Like Cleveland and Philly and LA. But I’ve got my ERA down to 4.12 and I should be able to at least, you know, not lose too badly against Sonny Gray [4-1, 1.61 ERA]. That shit Jeff went through, though, that shit was nasty.”

“I’d spend hours, maybe days, just staring at the ceiling,” Luhnow ponders. “It was pristine. I mean, is there a single woman on God’s blue earth who’s taken a shower at Minute Maid Park? One? The fucking thing was untouched – exactly as Its Creator designed it. I may be going out on a limb here, probably not, but I swear all of life’s answers are embedded in the code of each those little plaster popcorn bits that hang like stalactites in the Houston Astros’ women’s shower.”

But all of life’s answers weren’t good enough for Jeff Luhnow, General Manager. He ascribed petty titles to his minions to hide their numbers from the Mighty demi-Crab of the 4^th Order and the raving Fifth Floor Pillagers. He assembled scouts and data-crunchers to find devise an escape route Rita Hayworth-style. And then, on December 11, 2014, the day had come.

“No clue. Never heard this story,” Houston ace Dallas Keuchel says. “Back then I was coming off a solid season – a sub-3.00 ERA and 12 wins. This year I’ve just been better. I should easily dominate…who am I pitching against? Jesse Hahn? Is that a person? Ok, sure. I’ll dominate Jerry Hahn. I bet he’s 1-3 with a 4.42 ERA. He’s got no special package.”

The Special Package, as it’s called in the Astros Front Office, came from Baltimore in exchange for RHP Jason Garcia.

“I talked to The Douche [Orioles GM Dan Duquette] via ham radio. He’s a good guy. His wife makes the best strudel. Anyway, The Douche hooked me up on this one. I shipped off some no-name Jordan Garcia for ‘cash’” Luhnow air-quotes. “But written in that contract, which fucking Jim Crane signed, is a clause that grants me a corner office – with fucking windows – and a $400 stipend to re-plaster the ceiling to get that popcorn shit up there.”

And thus a dynasty was borne. Jeff Luhnow, General Manager of the Houston Astros, now sits atop Minute Maid Park, in a brand new office. He watches Jose Altuve grind out hits outside his window. He grumbles at every strikeout. He scans the stands to find a young family of four imploding in the 3^rd inning so they have to leave early and waste all of that money they spent.

But mostly, Jeff Luhnow looks down. He looks down to see his competitors in the standings. Looks down at those who defied and besmirched him. Because right now – this very instance – he has nothing above him

Astros win series 2-1

Welcome home, first place Houston Astros!

Posted on May 13, 2015 by BudGirl in Featured, Series Previews

Giants @ Astros May 12-13, 2015

submitted by Mr. Happy

The Giants, losers of two of their last four games, invade MMPUS for a brief two-game set against the Good Guys. The Giants are coming in from the City-By-the-Bay, where they split a four game set against the Miami Marlins. The Astros are fresh off of a quick west coast swing through Anaheuim, where the Astros split a four game set with the Halos. Coming into play on May 12, the Giants have hit .257 as a team and have pitched to a 3.63 ERA in compiling their 16-16 mark. On the other hand, the Astros have a team batting average of .228 coming into the series and have pitched to a 3.45 team ERA in getting to their 20-12 record.

Game One May 12, 2015

Chris Heston (2-3 3.38) v. Collin McHugh (4-0 3.23)

The Astros have never seen Mr. Heston, who is a 27 year old right hander, which means that he’ll probably look like Cy Young against the Good Guys, although lefties are hitting a robust .375 against him, while he’s been pretty good against righties, holding them to a .212 batting average. Heston has allowed two more runs per game in his road starts as compared to his home starts, and he’s been much better at night than during the day.

The Gints haven’t seen much of McHugh, with only Nori Aoki, who is 2-6 against McHugh, and Casey McGhee, who is 0-2 against McHugh, having any at-bats against him. Heston gives up some hits (42 in 37.1 frames), because his batting average against is .282, and his WHIP is 1.39. On the other hand, McHugh’s batting average against thus far is .245, and his WHIP is 1.10. I won’t be a bit surprised if this one is a close, low scoring game that comes down to the bullpens.

Game Two May 13, 2015

Tim Hudson (1-3 4.50) v. Brett Oberholtzer (0-0 0.00)

At this stage in his career, Mr. Hudson pitches to contact, as he’s given up 44 hits in 40 innings, his batting average against is .289 and his WHIP is 1.33. Hudson has had some problems keeping the ball in the yard; he’s allowed six taters in 40 innings. With only 19 strikeouts and nine walks in 40 frames, Hudson is usually around the plate, but he doesn’t have swing-and-miss stuff. Current Astros are only 7-29 against Hudson, but the Good Guys are led by Colby Rasmus, who’s 6-14 with two jacks and a two-bagger against Hudson. The Piranha is the only other Astro to have a knock against Hudson. Rasmus is my pick-to-click in this game.

On the other hand, we really don’t know what to expect out of the 25 year old Oberholtzer, who’s never faced any of the Giants players, in his first outing of the season, except that he’s probably on a tight pitch count. Based upon last season, Oberholtzer is a soft-tossing portsider who pitches to contact and who needs to have good command because, at least last season, he lacked a finish-off pitch. Oberholtzer has had some problems with base traffic, surrendering 170 hits in 143.1 innings pitched. He had a disturbingly generous WHIP of 1.35 last season. This one could be a high scoring affair.

Promotions

May 12, 2015-Grape Escape win tasting event; Coca Cola value days

May 13, 2015-Dollar Dog Night

Prediction

Come on now. Did you really expect anything other than a Giants sweep?

Note: This should have been posted early Tuesday afternoon but some email glitch prevented it.

Astros @ Angels, 5/7-10 – Choke Back the Bile

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Waldo in Series Previews

It’s time we all did some soul searching because it’s obvious that someone screwed up. Things were going so well before they weren’t. Sure, you would be naive to look at the series against the Mariners and not see a couple of chinks in the armor, most notably on Sunday. But to get blown out of your own stadium by the Rangers at a combined mark of 20-5? We all have our responsibilities and someone clearly dropped the ball.

I must confess that it might have even been me. After the win on Sunday I took my daughter to KFC for some chicken. Can’t go wrong, right? However, as I was mowing the yard on Monday night, listening to the Astros maintaining a 1-0 lead into the late innings, I encountered a spider while moving the kids’ toys around on the back porch. In that brief moment before the spider scurried off, I consciously considered eating the spider in the finest TalkZone tradition. Yet, I did not. I didn’t even make an attempt. It was not 15 minutes later that the Rangers had tied it, and not much after that that the streak was gone.

Mea culpa.

However, as I am sitting in a hotel room in west Los Angeles looking out at the unsuspecting landscape, I can’t get the following thoughts out of my mind:

Anaheim is seriously AN HOUR AWAY from here? Don’t let the Port Arthur Astros of Houston hear about that.
Where can a red-blooded American find a got-damn incandescent bulb in this city/state?
Anaheim/Los Angeles is not Houston, therefore the Astros have more than a fighting chance.

The second place Halos just took two out of three from the hapless Mariners after being swept in San Francisco. Meanwhile, the Astros, despite their failings against the Rangers, still own the best record in the AL and lead the league in causing opposing fans to boo their home team. Should make for an interesting weekend. Hopefully circumstances will allow me to make one of the games.

Thursday, May 7 – 9:05pm CDT
Collin McHugh (4-0, 3.41) vs. Hector Santiago (2-2, 3.14)

Both pitchers are coming off outings they’d probably rather have back. McHugh, despite ending up with a win and a decent stat line (eight baserunners over seven innings), gave up four home runs to the M’s. Santiago took the loss against the Giants while giving up four runs in five innings. Although neither pitcher has faced the other team this year, Santiago is 0-2 with a 7.47 ERA against the Astros, while McHugh is 2-2 with a 1.90 ERA against the Angels. Can we please get this guy some run support against LAA this time?

Friday, May 8 – 9:05pm CDT
Roberto Hernandez (1-2, 4.25) vs. Jered Weaver (0-4, 6.29)

The hell has happened to Jered Weaver this year? The Angels have only won one of his starts, a no-decision against the Astros which was also one of his two good starts so far this year. He’s already given up eight homers this year, which puts him well on a pace to be a career worst this season. Meanwhile, Hernandez has induced his fair share of big outs here and there and has been serviceable towards the back of the rotation. Both pitchers own career sub-3.00 ERAs against the other team, so this one could be either a pitching duel or a slugfest.

Saturday, May 9 – 8:05pm CDT
Dallas Keuchel (3-0, 0.80) vs. Matt Shoemaker (2-2, 5.40)

Two beards enter, one beard leaves. Both pitchers have been fairly consistent this year and that works to the Astros’ advantage. Shoemaker has allowed at least three runs in each of his starts, but he’s coming off a game where he pitched into the 8th and struck out ten Mariners bats. That number could easily be higher on Saturday. Cychel (that’s right, I’m starting it) has been outstanding all year and has gobbled up more innings than anyone in baseball. On the surface, this matchup looks the most promising. Then again, when doesn’t a Keuchel vs. Any Random Stooge matchup look promising?

Sunday, May 10 – 2:35pm CDT
Scott Feldman (2-3, 5.50) vs. Garrett Richards (2-1, 2.52)

Richards has strung together three fairly impressive outings since he lost his season debut to the Astros. He has pitched late into games, struck out a fair amount, and has done a generally solid job of keeping himself out of trouble. He’s also 4-1 against the ‘Stros. Feldman had also strung together some good starts before imploding against the Rangers on Tuesday. The Astros’ fate in this game is going to be largely dependent on which Feldman shows up.

Prediction

Three days ago: Astros SWEEP!!!11!1one
Two days ago: Astros still sweep?
Yesterday: Ok, Astros win 3-1.
Today: Split all the way.

Rangers at Astros, 5/4-5/6: Respect the streak

Posted on May 4, 2015 by MusicMan in News, Series Previews

Rangers (8-16) at Astros (18-7)
May 4: Detwiler (0-3, 8.66) at Keuchel (3-0, 0.73)
May 5: Wandy (0-1, 4.82) at Feldman (2-2, 4.31)
May 6: Lewis (1-2, 3.00) at Deduno (0-0, 2.70)
All games at 7:10 PM, CDT
TV: Yes!

FINALLY, the Series Previews have come BACK to OWA!

Our long local nightmare is over, Constant Reader. At last, your trusty OWA admins, contributors, hangers-on, and groupies have conspired to return to the grand tradition of previewing each series in our own unique ways. And just in time, too!

https://youtu.be/Y-FrR-f4ig4?t=1m36s

A player on a streak has to respect the streak. You know why? Because they don’t come around that often.

Uh-oh.

Somebody go sacrifice a live chicken while I plow through the rest of this, OK?

Texas Rangers: 8-16

They lead the league in bullpen innings pitched… which, y’know, is not a good sign. Neither is that 8-16 record, but we’re all about digging deeper here. Their best hitter is Prince Fielder, whose bloated contract has provided all of a team-leading 2 home runs; their second-best hitter is Kyle Blanks, who wasn’t on the roster until last week; and their third-best hitter is Carlos Corporan (res ipsa loquitur). Their best starting pitcher doesn’t appear in this series. They are being outscored by more than a run per game. Let’s move on before I write anything that actually jinxes us.

Houston Astros: 18-7

What can you say about this team? How about that the 10-game streak could easily be 15, interrupted only by a 3-2 loss where the team blew opportunities in the 8th and 9th? How about that they are 18-7 despite sub-optimal performances from over half their offensive regulars?

Sometimes, things all break right for a team. Your starter gives up 5 runs on the day the offense has scored 6, not on the day they’re scoreless. Your closer gives up 2 runs on the day he has the 3-run lead, not on the day with the 1-run lead. The hardest-hit ball goes to your best fielder, not over the wall. Such things make hot streaks. And guess what? Such things can make hot SEASONS.

To put things in perspective for the series, George Springer has been more valuable offensively than ANY Texas Ranger this season. Let’s kick ass and take names.

Game 1

Ross Detwiler has gone 1-16 against current Astros. Unsurprisingly, Altuve has that hit. Detwiler has thrown his fastball only 28.2% of the time this season, so the Astros won’t exactly be sitting dead-red.

Dallas Keuchel is clearly more democratic; the man generates ground balls in a way that would make Crash Davis genuflect. He has allowed only a .238 average to current Rangers.

Game 2

Our old friend Wandy Rodriguez has found great success against this lineup, allowing only 5-28 with one double and no HR to current Astros. Wandy hasn’t changed much, still mixing his fastball and curveball in equal parts.

Scott Feldman has fared well against these Rangers, allowing only a .220 average with 2 HR in 123 AB.

Game 3

Colby Lewis has held the current Astros to a .269 clip, but it may be Conger time in this one; Castro is 0-11 lifetime against Lewis, but Conger is 5-17 lifetime against him.

Sam Deduno has struggled against the Rangers, allowing 16-48 with 2 HR. Adrian Beltre might get four wide ones, as he has gone 5-10 with both of those HR against Deduno.

SERIES PREDICTION:

You seriously think I’m going to make a prediction?

Respect the streak.

Astros @ Mets Series Preview

Posted on September 26, 2014 by Ebby Calvin in Series Previews

ASTROS (69-90) AT METS (77-82)
FINAL SERIES OF 2014.

And so it ends in Queens. After not playing the Mets at all last year for the first time in franchise history, it’s time to stand on line for the 7 train, grease down our mustaches, grab a slice and a knish and step right up and greet the Mets. Just think, if the Astros drafted Jeter instead of Nevin, Jeets might have actually ended his career playing in NYC.

A sweep would see the Astros return to an auspicious 72-90 record, which would be significantly more encouraging than the last time the team held that record during the disastrous 2000 Enron Field season. At least the 2000 campaign inspired “72-90,” one of the greatest musical creations to have graced this Web site. The staccato “Lima Time” repeating for every one of the 48 homers Jose gave up that season is sheer genius. If someone can dig that up and find a way to post it again the world would be better off for it.

And what a year it was! I didn’t see much of it, but it sure sounded fun. Personally, this season marked a low point in actually seeing the team play. The TV issues have been discussed to death. Usually we’ll get out to 15-25 games a season, but I think this year we made it to only one game, and that was in April. Between the baby, a very busy summer at work, and the inability to watch the games on TV, I can’t remember a time since moving to Houston where there has been less Astros in my life and that depresses me. Hopefully next year I’ll be able to engage with the team better.

Regardless, the Astros have still been a source of entertaining distraction and there’s plenty to be pleased with this season, even from afar. The emergence of Altuve as a legitimate impact player has been a blast, setting the team record in hits, leading the AL in hits and stolen bases, and likely becoming the first Astro to win a batting title. If that pans out, Altuve will be the first player since 1945 to lead the league in those three categories and will no doubt earn many much-deserved down-ballot MVP votes. Chris Carter has been a revelation since June 1, sitting at 37 homeruns on the season heading into the weekend with the second most homeruns in the league, three behind Nelson Cruz. On the mound, Keuchel and McHugh provided a shutdown one-two punch, and McHugh should receive some ROY votes. Feldman, once he recovered from his April injury, brought the veteran leadership and stability expected when he signed on. With Tropeano and Folty possibly moving to the rotation next year that is a promising starting five. The bullpen hasn’t been completely awful, Qualls and FIELDS and Sipp have picked up some of slack left by season long injuries to Crain and Albers (mostly). Fowler has been a good addition, when healthy (which seems to be his m.o.). Corporan is a delightful backup catcher. Marwin is doing yeoman’s work filling the hole at shortstop and Marisnick looks like he can possibly contribute at a Steve Finley-like level one day.

On the other hand, Singleton, Castro and Dominguez have disappointed. Injuries to Springer and Correa have dampened the excitement of next year. The pu pu platter of the likes of Grossman, Hoes, Presley, Krauss and Guzman aren’t much more than lineup fodder. That being said, if Singleton can pull it together, if Castro can get back closer to his 2013 offensive contributions, and Springer and Correa can recover from their injuries, there is a good chance that the next few years could be a lot of fun. Castro, Singleton, Altuve, Dominguez, Correa, Fowler, Marisnick, Springer and Carter is far from an awful lineup offensively and actually pretty decent defensively (especially Carter at DH). The pitching could continue to improve with more prospects in the pipeline. There’s actually a way to see this all come together if you squint and drink enough.

Regardless, we can all take some measure of satisfaction that several players have blossomed, the team has certainly improved this season and there are encouraging signs that the Luhnow-plan is working. It’s much more enjoyable to follow a team that is merely awful rather than abjectly so. Hell, next year we may even be able to watch the fucking games on TV.

Let’s hand out some team awards:

MVP: Altuve

Cy Young: Keuchel

ROY: McHugh

Rolaids Relief-man: Qualls for the most part. Anyone else when facing the A’s.

Most improved: Carter

Biggest disappointment: Singleton

Saddest development: Oh no, not Correa!

Manager of the year: Tom Lawless

Front office ambassador of the year: Mike Fast

Let’s not forget the important RACE FOR THE LID update:
In play we have Reuben sitting on 69 in case the team just can’t bring themselves to finish the season without a soul-sucking losing streak that they are half way into already. Hudson Hawk has 70 if the good guys can only take one in Queens. Believen at 71 wins with a winning series and yours truly will take home the lid if the Astros can pull off the sweep.

Friday, September 26, 2014
Citi Field, 6:10 CT

Brad Peacock (4-9 4.82)
Peacock was knocked around by Seattle in his last start, surrendering 7 runs (2 earned) and 10 baserunners in just three and a third. Only four Mets have faced him before, with Ruben Tejada getting the only hit. In his last nine starts he’s 1-3 with a 5.65 ERA, allowing 43 runs and 25 hits in 43 innings with 37 strikeouts.

Jonathan Neise (9-11 3.50)
Niese has been pitching well his last three starts, averaging 7 innings and less than 2 runs over that time frame. He’s looking to finish the year establishing a career low in ERA and a career high in innings pitched.

Saturday, September 27, 2014
Citi Field, 6:10 CT

Samuel Deduno (0-1 5.79)
Did you know Deduno is making his first start for the Astros? I think we claimed him off waivers from the Twins earlier this season. He’s 2-4 with a 6.52 ERA, including a loss to Houston in games he started this season.

Rafael Montero (1-3 4.38)
Montero is a rookie but has pitched well in his last few appearances with 9 K’s over 6.2 innings to a tune of a 1.35 ERA. Obviously no Astro has faced him in the major leagues.

Sunday, September 28, 2014
Citi Field, 12:10 CT

Nick Tropeano (1-2, 3.78 ERA)
Nick has pitched well since his callup and gets the final call for the good guys’ campaign. Fitting that it should end in the hand of someone who should be a big part of the team’s near future. Also, Tropeano is from nearby West Islip, NY and will get the honor of pitching in front of friends and family in the big leagues.

Bartolo Colon (14-13, 4.08 ERA)
A seventeen year career! And he’s still somehow getting it done for the most part. He’s been scuffling lately dropping two out of his last three starts. Historically he’s gone 6-3 with a 3.50 ERA and 43 K’s in his career against the Astros. Altuve has hit him to the tune of .3357 over 14 at bats. Castro has gone 6-9 against Colon in his career including a homerun, but he’ll probably sit this one out.

It’s always sad to say goodbye to the baseball season, but this season for the first time in many years there is actually quantifiable reasons to be excited for the promise of next year. In the meantime, Astros lose 2-1. Hudson is always right.

The Void beckons. Damn us all.

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