Current Series
3 game series vs Cardinals @ Busch Stadium
Houston Astros Monday, Apr 12, 2010, 3:15 PM CDT Wandy Rodriguez vs Adam Wainwright Sunny. Winds blowing from right to left field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 80. Complete Coverage > | ||
| Wed 04/14 | 7:15 PM CDT | |
| Thu 04/15 | 12:40 PM CDT | |
That sound, that sound you hear is another tough series on its way for the Astros. That and the best hitter in baseball playing at home against a team that has scored less runs all season than the Arizona Diamondbacks did in one inning Sunday. But, other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?
That's right, the Astros are heading to the home of the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals.
The pitching matchups get easier as the series goes on. Wandy Rodriguez takes the hill Monday against 2009 Cy Young runner-up Adam Wainright (thanks for nothing, Will Carroll and Keith Law). On Wednesday, Brett Myers will face off with Brad Penny before Card-Killer Bud Norris takes on Kyle Lohse. Both Penny and Lohse have little track records of success (though Penny has been very good in the past, his injuries in recent seasons have kept him down), but Penny began the season with a six inning gem, while Lohse got hit around in his first start.
The Cardinals bullpen is anchored by Mr. Facial Hair Ryan Franklin. The 37-year old has already blown one save this season, but has two more saves to his credit. Franklin signed a two-year, 6.5 million dollar deal in the offseason to stay in St. Louis. That's right. He's making more money than Brandon Lyon to close games. The rest of the Cards bullpen consists of two old lefties in Trever Miller (37) and Dennys Reyes (33) and a bunch of young-ish guys like Blake Hawksworth, Jason Motte, Kyle McClelland and Mitchell Boggs. Hawskworth appeared in 30 games last season, throwing 40 inning while striking out 20 and walking 15. He managed rates closes to 3-to-1 K/BB while in Triple-A the two previous seasons, so he might have just had a jittery first season. Motte was an older draftee that hurried through the Cards system and had a shot at the closer role last season before Franklin cinched it up. McClelland could be the most consistent of the three, having almost a 2-to-1 K/BB rate in the majors.
The lineup has a familiar ring to it. Pujols, Holliday and Rasmus. Get used to those names. They'll be around for a while...well, maybe not Pujols, but definitely Holliday and Rasmus. All three are off to good starts but the rest of the Cardinals order is looking vulnerable. Ryan Ludwick and Brendan Ryan are both hitting below the Mendoza line while rookie third baseman David Freese is 4 for 18. Another semi-regular in Felipe Lopez is also batting below .200, though the Cardinals have made up for low averages by hitting 12 home runs and nine doubles in six games.
It could be an ugly series, but the Cardinals come into the series not nearly as hot as the Phillies were. Maybe we'll win a game before Friday...
