In the unpreviewed Game #1 of this series, Myers managed to keep the Pirates in the park, but still gave up 13 hits and 4 runs.  The Astros managed only 3 runs, despite 3 ‘Root errors, and so Brett lost his 8th game of the year and the Astros their 57th.  The Astros are now 6 games behind the next worst team in all of baseball, and the only team that hasn’t comfortably passed the 30-win mark.

This, fresh off a 3-game cockpunch courtesy of the Red Socks.

This team is historically bad, and has no opportunity to get better.  In fact, it will get worse as some of the more functional major leaguers get traded away for prospects.  I agree with that philosophy, but it’s going to be hard to stay engaged while the prospects boost the minor league ranks and the big club is staffed by journeymen and no-hopers.  You know…how the bullpen is already.

Meanwhile, the Pirates haven’t lost a series since getting swept by the Indians in Cleveland, which was their only series loss since getting swept by the Braves in a 2-game set at home way back in May.  To be fair, they’ve seen an awful lot of the Mets, D-Backs and Astros in that time, but they also picked off the Phillies and Red Sox in that time, and they can only play who they’re scheduled to play.

Lucky for them, they’re scheduled to play the Astros and Cubs running up to the ASB, and then the Astros again coming out of it so, basically, they’ve got the next two weeks off.  They’re only 1.5 games out of 1st place in the Central, and they could really make a statement by rolling over the two worst teams in baseball before clashing with the Reds and Jakes.  The only thing I see standing between them and the division lead is the fact that, towards the end of the month, the Jakes get 10 games against the National League’s dregs – including a 4-game set at home against the Astros.

Fuck Lance Berkman.

PNC Park

Tuesday, 6:05pm CDT
Wednesday, 6:05pm CDT

Probable Match-Ups

Rodriguez (6-4, 2.97) vs. Karstens (6-4, 2.65)

Team wins leader, Wandy, will try to keep his good run going; he’s 2-1, 2.37 in his last 3 starts.  He’s also the only Astros’ starter with a positive record (and one of only 3 pitchers in total with that claim to fame – the others being Melancon, 5-2 and F-Rodriguez, 1-0).  He’s 7-4 lifetime against Pittsburgh but, because they usually turn over their entire roster (to the Cubs) each year at the trading deadline, he’s not got much history with the current crop.  Diaz hits him to the tune of .357, while he waxes Jones and McCutchen like cnadles.

Karstens

RHP Karstens has nearly identical numbers to Wandy, and no chin.  He hasn’t lost in 6 starts, a streak that’s hard to see being broken this night.  His career against Houston is a very middling 2-2, 4.80, but he keeps most of the current Astros hitters quiet – Bourn and Keppinger notably sub-Mendoza – but Pence has him for a nice round .500 average including a big swat.

Norris (4-6, 3.51) vs. Morton (7-4, 3.63)

Hopefully Bud’s mum has gotten around to changing the sheets after he shit the bed against the Red Sox last time out.  Carrying a 1-hitter and 4-run lead into the sixth, he was the bulk of a 6-run explosion that saw all his work thrown down the crapper.  He’s 0-1 over his last 3 starts with 20 ponches, but that high 3-something ERA isn’t going to get you much joy in front of this hapless bunch.  Of the Pirates who’ve seen him, they’ve all hit him in the mid to high .200s.

Charlie Morton

Charlie Morton is making his 2nd start after some recent time off to play a cheeky Cockney small-time crook in a Guy Ritchie movie.  The change of pace did him good because he gave up only 1 run in 5+ innings whereas he’d been getting fairly tonked by everyone in the last few starts prior to this*.  Bourn and Lee feast on him, while Pence has been late to the buffet table.

* Save for one start in that woeful streak, which was against the Astros.

Injury Report

Astros:  Arias has been moved to the 60-day DL; Bourgeois is on the 15-day DL with no projection as to when he will return (which cannot be before 7/14 in any case); Castro is rehabbing, but there’s no point in rushing him back this year; Lyon finally went under the knife last week and is done for the year; Quintero is rehabbing in Triple-A; and Keppinger is day-to-day with nausea.  He ain’t the only one.

Pirates:  Infielders Alvarez (3B), Cedeno (SS), Doumit (C), Snyder (C) and Pearce (1B); pitchers Beimel, Hart, Meek and Ohlendorf; and Outfielder Tabata are all due back soon, but probably not this series.  That’s a lot of players hurt but, to be fair, they’re not used to competing this late in the year.

Giveaways and Promotions

Usually by this time of year, the Pirates have given away all their functional major leaguers.  Game #1 saw them giveaway Chuck Tanner Floppy Hats, but that’s it for the series.  The Pirates are holding onto their treasure this year.

What’s on Limey’s Mind

Rain or lack thereof Travel Heat Cocktails London Keeping his knee bent on the downswing New Trousers Sunburn Landscaping Thermostats Laptop Bags Big Fish Red Lion Car Wash