Sampson has had a rough time lately and has watched his ERA balloon to 7.15. Unfortunately, he's drawn a tough opponent today in Ben Sheets who has just a 1.65 ERA. For what it's worth, Sheets is coming off his worst outing fo the season in which he went 5 innings and gave up 3 runs. Sheets has already shown a little bit of the injury bug this season after having a sore triceps muscle before his last game. Sampson appears to be the anti-Wandy. Sampson's home numbers this season are pathetic. In 2 games started, Sampson has only lasted 4.2 innings and allowed opposing hitters to hit .480 against him rocketing his ERA at home to 17.36. In Sampson's last game, he went 4 1/3 inning and gave up 5 runs. Sampson really needs to step it up today. He's had 2 good outings this season and 3 miserable outings this season. Sampson is looking for his 1st win at home today and if he does some how accomplish that... the Astros will be able to take home a sweep of the Brewers and also bring their record back up to .500 for the 2nd time this season.
It doesn't look like Wandy will be able to make his scheduled start against the Nationals.
"He was going to throw a simulated game today, but we decided not to do it," Astros manager Cecil Cooper said Saturday. "The doctor said it was probably better if we hold off on it. We're going to wait and see how he is in a couple of days."
Rodriguez, 1-0 with a 2.31 ERA in four starts, is eligible to come off the disabled list on Monday. Cooper was hoping the 29-year-old would be able to make a start against the Nationals during the three-game series at Minute Maid Park from Tuesday-Thursday. Now it appears Rodriguez will miss a third turn through the rotation.
That's a shame... this would have been his last chance to have a home start before the Astros go on a 10 game road trip.
In other unrelated news, Jason Jennings is heading to the DL.
The Texas Rangers placed right-handed starter Jason Jennings on the 15-day disabled list Friday night with soreness in his forearm.What a shame... we have a series against the Rangers starting on the 16 of this month; I was hoping we would get a chance to inflate his 8.56 ERA and 0-5 record.