submitted by austro
Springtime in Detroit
Houston Astros (10-21) @ Detroit Tigers (17-9)
Ahh, the pleasure of Detroit in the springtime. You never know if you’ll get a 40-degree day or 40-mph winds. Actually, the weather is supposed to be pretty decent this week. There may be some showers Monday afternoon, but they’re supposed to stop and things should be clearing by game time. Tuesday should be sunny with a high in the 60s. There’s another chance of rain on Wednesday, and then Thursday should be sunny with a high in the 70s. Could be worse; could be Seattle.
Monday, May 5, 6:08 CDT
Cosart (1-2, 5.52) vs Scherzer (3-1, 2.08)
The only Tigers to have faced Cosart so far are Rajai Davis and Ian Kinsler, and they’re a combined 2-for-5, so there’s not much history to go with here. Cosart hasn’t been great, but if you ignore his true stinker on 4/18 against the A’s (0.1 IP, 7 ER, 0 K), he’s been averaging 6+ IP and 2.4 ER per start, which ought to keep you in the game. Until the bullpen takes over, of course, at which point you can abandon all hope.
Eight Astros have faced Scherzer, with Fowler having seen him the most (10 ABs). All told, they’re 7-for-39 (.179), so it could be a long night. Scherzer is in the midst of a debate with the Tigers’ front office about his worth. One might hope that would prove to be a distraction, but in his last 3 starts he’s 3-0, 19.0 IP, 1.42 ERA, and 26 Ks. Carter probably can’t wait to start whiffing.
Tuesday, May 6, 6:08 CDT
Oberholtzer (0-5, 5.63) vs Ray (0-0, 0.00)
Again, only two Tigers have faced Oberholtzer: Kinsler (1-for-4) and Andrew Romine (1-for-2). Oberholtzer has been having some issues this spring. The issues stem mainly from the fact that opposing batters, putzes that they are, keep swinging their bats and hitting his pitches. Obie’s last three starts have yielded 14 IP, 27 H, 6 BB, 13 ER, and – not coincidentally – 2 losses. But I’m sure he’ll have no trouble at all with Miguel Cabrera.
Ray came to the Tigers as part of the Doug Fister trade with the Nationals and has been doing well in AAA. He has been pressed into duty because of Anibal Sanchez’s injury (see below), and this will apparently be his first big league action. Ordinarily that would mean doom for the Astros, but this time is different: he’s a lefty. It’s only the unknown right-handers that bury the Astros.
Wednesday, May 7, 6:08 CDT
Peacock (0-2, 5.26) vs Porcello (4-1, 3.66)
Hey, guess how many current Tigers have faced Peacock? If you guess anything other than two, you haven’t been paying attention. Kinsler is 1-for-6, and Davis is 0-for-3. In Peacock’s three starts he’s gone 1-2 with 16.0 IP, 16 H, 12 (!) BB, and 7 ER. As with Cosart, that’s not going to get you on anybody’s All-Star roster, but it ought to keep you in the game. Unless, …
The six Astros who have faced Porcello have put up an ugly combined 2-for-16. Porcello is 3-0 in his last three starts, with a 3.32 ERA and 14Ks. The Astros will have to win this one with pitching and defense, and that hasn’t been a very productive strategy so far this year.
Thursday, May 8, 12:08 CDT
Keuchel (2-2, 3.96) vs Smyly (3-2, 2.45)
Alright, this is more like it: eight Tigers have combined for 40 ABs against Keuchel and produced 12 hits, with Kinsler leading the way at 5-for-15 thanks to all of his appearances with the Rangers. Keuchel’s pattern seems to be that he does ok the first couple of times through a lineup, but then is prone to a blow-up later. That’s certainly what happened in his last start, where he gave up two runs in the first six innings but then walked the bases loaded to start the 7th and wound up getting charged for two more runs when Cisnero came in and couldn’t work out of the jam.
Five Astros have batted against Smyly, but they only have 6 ABs, and only Presley has a hit. Jared apparently smells a rat, however, since he’s picked up Smyly for his fantasy team this week. Thought you could slip that one by us, didn’t you, Jared? What a turncoat.
Injuries
Astros
Matt Albers: Right shoulder tendonitis.
Jesse Crain: Still recovering from biceps surgery. Could be back in mid-May. Hurry up, guys; the bullpen needs you.
Scott Feldman: Bicep tendonitis.
Alex White: Still recovering from Tommy John surgery. Could be back in May, but I wouldn’t count on it.
Asher Wojo: Still suffering from a lat strain. Day-to-day, I guess.
Tigers
Andy Dirks: Back surgery. Maybe back in June.
Joel Hanrahan: Tommy John surgery, maybe back in June.
Jose Iglesias: Stress fractures in both shins (ouch!). You’re supposed to open the umbrella before you jump off the garage, big guy.
Luke Putkonen: Right elbow inflammation. NTTAWWT.
Bruce Rondon: Out for the season with Tommy John surgery.
Anibal Sanchez: Laceration on right middle finger. Seriously. Must have flipped off the wrong guy.
Special Promotions
During Wednesday’s rain delay, Ausmus will do his rendition of the striptease skate from “Slapshot” while he dances around the bases. Paramedics will be standing by at BudGirl’s house.