Game 27 Preview: Astros at Yankees

What more could a boy ask for? The Astros starter pitched into the sixth inning, giving up only one run. The offense scored nine runs on seven extra base hits. What is the cherry on top? The Astros did this all against the "Evil Empire". The young rebel Astros had every reason to fold in the face of uber-veteran Andy Pettitte, but held strong. Philip Humber has been given the task of continuing yesterday's success. Will he stand tall against the Yankee armada, or be locked up in carbonite one more time?

It's been easy to say that Philip Humber has been a tough luck loser over his first three starts - pitching 18.2 innings and giving up six earned runs. That is not the case over the past two starts, giving up 15 runs over 5 innings. The excuse of "locked-in hitters" can only work some many times before it gets old. Humber and Bedard are the next pitchers to join Brad Peacock in the bullpen if their poor performances continue. Humber has had a mixed bag of results against the current roster of Yankees, Brennan Boesch (.500) and Robinson Cano (.400) have each homered off Humber. Brett Gardner, Travis Hafner, Ichiro Suzuki. And Veron Wells are batting .250 or below against Humber. Hiroki Kuroda has been one of the best free agent signings in recent memory for the Yankees. Not a flashing signing but a quality pitcher that made 33 starts last season. Kuroda has had continued success in 2013; he has only given up nine earned runs over five starts. The few Astros have faced Kuroda as a Dodger or Yankees have had little success.

Today is another game and another chance to rain on New York's parade.