Man, talk about your two trains running, or ships in the night. This is two clubs more or less headed in the same direction, but one of them is farther along in the trip and is going a lot faster than the other.
I’ve got two daughters. In my house, the doorway to the kitchen has pencil marks on each side from about three feet off the ground all the way to a few inches under six feet, all with dates scrawled next to them. Maybe you have something similar, if you’ve got kids.
Sometimes I’ll take a few minutes and look at those marks, compare them, try to draw some kind of math while the emotional side of me remembers what they were like when those individual marks were made. It’s a tangible path to an intangible journey, one with an infinite number of side trips along the way that expose the dimensions of life spent together and, inevitably, less together.
The Astros draw Washington’s #1-4 pitchers for their four game funfest. This week is the beginning of the real measure of this team. It may well resemble one of those high school Driver’s Ed movies by midweek, but the point, just like in those flicks, is that you gotta keep moving.
Monday, April 16
6:05 CT, Nationals Park
Kyle Weiland (0-1, 7.20) v. Stephen Strasburg (1-0, 0.69)
Weiland had a rough start against Atlanta his first time out, on 50th Anniversary Night. Good fastball, no command, iffy control and The Return of Larry Wayne did him in.
Strasburg, well, he’s The Second Coming and He’s Invincible and We Have The Technology and all that. I’m surprised they’re even playing this one, but I guess those people buying tickets want to actually see this one play out. Downs and Lee are 1 for 1 against Strasburg, and Lee has 1 RBI.
Tuesday, April 17
6:05 CT, Nationals Park
Wandy Rodriguez (0-1, 2.38 ) v. Gio Gonzalez (0-0, 3.38)
Wandy hasn’t been all that great early on, but neither has his team since they’ve choked up four errors in each of his two starts. Mark DeRosa has 2 HRs, 7 RBI and hits .360 vs. him. LaRoche hits .350 and Zimmerman hits .400 as well.
Gio is the real deal, a solid #2 in the making. Lowrie is 3 for 8 with one dinger against him.
Wednesday, April 18
6:05 CT, Nationals Park
Lucas Harrell (1-0, 3.27) v. Jordan Zimmermann (0-1, 1.29)
Harrell was inconsistent in his second start and got slapped around by the Marlins. If he can find some consistency he’s got the stuff but isn’t that the case with the Astros staff? Welcome to the meat grinder, boys.
Damn, the Nats have a strong staff. Lee is 3 for 6 against Zimmy.
Thursday, April 19
6:05 CT, Nationals Park
Bud Norris (0-0, 4.15) v. Edwin Jackson (1-0, 2.57)
Bud’s 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA in two career starts against Washington. Werth is 2 for 11, but Zimmerman hits .429 with 1 HR against Norris.
Jackson is a quality starter, and he’s the #4 guy for Washington. Lee is 3 for 8, Lowrie 2 for 4 against him.
Promotions
Nothing. Nothing at all. You’ll get nothing and you’ll like it.
Injuries
Astros:
Sergio Escalona is out for the season. Schreefer had some dizziness and is day to day, man.
Nats:
Wang strained his hamstring, he’ll be back later this month.
Storen’s out after surgery to remove bone chips. He’s due back around July.
Morse is out until June or July with an aggravated lat strain.
Marrero is on the 60-day list with a torn hammy and might be back in July.
Kimball had right shoulder surgery and might be back in July.
What To Watch For
Can the Astros scratch out a hit? Will any of these games be competitive? How deflating would it be to go 0-4? More importantly, what will this team learn that they can use going forward?
