During last night's TV broadcast, you saw a graphic predicting Clemens' last 6 starts.
Looking at how the schedule plays out, if you assume, like FSN did, that Clemens will pitch every 5th day when possible, you get the following:
Clemens, Oswalt, and Pettitte: 6 starts a piece.
That leaves 11 games for other starters, like Hirsh, Wandy, and Backe.
It also sets up Pettitte to pitch in a 1-game playoff on normal rest on the Monday following the Braves series.
The Astros are going to have to earn it, playing many current .500 or better teams (19 of 22 after today), unlike the Phillies (0 remaining).
Code:
Thu. 31 Milwaukee
Minute Maid Park Pettitte
Sep. '06 OPPONENT LOCATION HOU PITCHER
Fri. 1 NY Mets
Minute Maid Park Rodriguez
Sat. 2 NY Mets
Minute Maid Park Hirsh
Sun. 3 NY Mets
Minute Maid Park Oswalt
Mon. 4 at Philadelphia
Citizens Bank Park Clemens
Tue. 5 at Philadelphia
Citizens Bank Park Pettitte
Wed. 6 at Philadelphia
Citizens Bank Park Rodriguez
Fri. 8 at Milwaukee
Miller Park Oswalt
Sat. 9 at Milwaukee
Miller Park Clemens
Sun. 10 at Milwaukee
Miller Park Pettitte
Mon. 11 at St. Louis
Busch Stadium Rodriguez
Tue. 12 at St. Louis
Busch Stadium Hirsh
Wed. 13 at St. Louis
Busch Stadium Oswalt
Fri. 15 Philadelphia
Minute Maid Park Clemens
Sat. 16 Philadelphia
Minute Maid Park Pettitte
Sun. 17 Philadelphia
Minute Maid Park Hirsh/Rodriguez
Mon. 18 Cincinnati
Minute Maid Park Oswalt
Tue. 19 Cincinnati
Minute Maid Park Rodriguez/Hirsh
Wed. 20 Cincinnati
Minute Maid Park Clemens
Thu. 21 St. Louis
Minute Maid Park Pettitte
Fri. 22 St. Louis
Minute Maid Park Hirsh/Rodriguez
Sat. 23 St. Louis
Minute Maid Park Oswalt
Sun. 24 St. Louis
Minute Maid Park Rodriguez/Hirsh
Tue. 26 at Pittsburgh
PNC Park Clemens
Wed. 27 at Pittsburgh
PNC Park Pettitte
Thu. 28 at Pittsburgh
PNC Park Oswalt
Fri. 29 at Atlanta
Turner Field Hirsh/Rodriguez
Sat. 30 at Atlanta
Turner Field Rodriguez/Hirsh
Oct. '06 OPPONENT LOCATION HOU PITCHER
Sun. 1 at Atlanta
Turner Field Clemens