Minute Maid Park
Monday, August 20, 7:05 p.m. CDT – FSN
Tuesday, August 21, 7:05 p.m. CDT – FSN
Wednesday, August 22, 7:05 p.m. CDT – FSN
Thursday, August 23, 7:05 p.m. CDT – FSNThe Astros finally had a winning road trip, splitting with the Dodgers and taking two of three from the Friars. But the trip was costly as Roy Oswalt and Carlos Lee both strained something in the same game.
The Astros are still eight games behind the barely-mediocre Cubs, who are sure to collapse into a steaming pile of Suck sometime soon. The Brewers are busy tripping over their own dicks, and the Jakes are lurking back there staring at Bernie Brewer's ass. The Astros have a week full of gNats and Pi-Roots ahead, so if they're going to kick it up to .500 by the end of the season, now would be a good time to start.
Meanwhile, the Nationals just lost five of six at home, including a sweep by the ball-licker Mets. The Nats are in last place in the NL East and have lost seven of their last 10 games. They just picked up Wily Mo Pena from the Red Sox, and as for their rotation, well, Tim Redding is about the best they have.
Projected Matchups from Astros.comMondayTim Redding (2-3, 2.88) v. Jason Jennings (2-8, 6.16)
Timmah has allegedly been the gNats' best pitcher in the second half. At least that's what it says on their website. He went seven innings against the Astros last month, giving up seven hits and three earned runs while taking the loss. Carlos Lee is 2-for-3 with a homer off him, and Hunter Pence has a bomb as well. But overall the current Astros are 11-for-46 against Redding, for a .239 average.
Jennings is 1-7 since late June. He's 2-4 against the Nationals including a loss in July. Current Nationals are a robust 43-for-121 (.355) against him. Dmitri Young is the guy to watch out for today – he's 9-for-13 (.692) against Jennings with a homer and two doubles. Felipe Lopez and D'Angelo Jimenez have also hit him well.
TuesdayJoel Hanrahan (2-1, 2.95) v. Wandy Rodriguez (7-11, 4.31)
Hanrahan is a right-handed rookie who will be making his fifth Major League start. He's thrown a lot of pitches in each outing and hasn't made gone more than six innings. He's never faced the Astros.
Wandy will be looking to continue his run as Director of Home-Park Security, where he's 6-2 with a 1.60 ERA over his last 12 home starts. He's 2-0 against Washington but hasn't faced them this year. He's held current Nationals to a .184 batting average, though Wily Mo Pena is 2-for-5 with a double and a homer off him. Brian Schneider is 3-for-5.
WednesdayMike Baczik (5-6, 4.61) v. Woody Williams (7-12, 4.92)
Baczik served up FrankenBarry's record 756th homer, so at least he's got an asterisk in the record books. He's made 16 starts this year, gotten demoted to the bullpen, and now he's back to starting. He went 5+ innings against the Astros earlier this year and got a no-decision. Berkman is 2-for-4 against him.
Believe it or not, Woody hasn't lost since late July, though he's only gotten two wins since then. He is 2-3 against the Nationals and took a loss against them in July. Keep an eye on D'Angelo Jimenez today, because he's 10-for-20 against Woody, with two doubles and three homers. Ronnie Belliard is 8-for-18 with three bombs off Woody, and Wily Mo is 4-for-15, but all four hits were homers.
ThursdayJohn Lannan (1-2, 3.94) v. maybe Roy Oswalt (13-6, 3.33) but probably TBA
Lannan is a rookie lefty who's made five starts this season and has lost his last two starts. He's never faced the Good Guys.
Oswalt's chances of making this start look rather, uh, bleak. If he does pitch, then once again the guys to avoid are Jimenez and Belliard.
Notable giveaways this series ...
On Wednesday you can get a haircut and your kid can get a free lunchbag to haul around his Back-to-School Angst. And on Thursday they're giving out retro orange caps. Like you don't already have one.
Injury ReportWashington – Starting pitchers John Patterson, Jason Simontacchi, and Jason Bergmann are on the DL. So are relievers Micah Bowie and Ryan Wagner. Nick Johnson, Alex Escobar, and Christian Guzman are also out with injuries.
Houston – This list got a lot longer over the past few days. Roy Oswalt and Luke Scott are listed as questionable, though Luke pinch-hit Sunday. Carlos Lee is doubtful. Hunter Pence will be back as soon as he finishes his storm-chasing career. Brandon Backe is still working on his comeback, but who knows when he'll be back. Chris Sampson and Stephen Randolph are also on the DL, and Hector Gimenez is still out with whatever it is.
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