Houston Astros (36-70) at Baltimore Orioles (59-49), 6:05 p.m. (CT)

Houston at Baltimore, 6:05 pm (CT)

TV: CSN Houston, MLB.TV
Radio: KBME 790 AM, KLAT 1010 AM
Orioles SBNation Blog: Camden Chat

Pitching Match

RHP Jordan Lyles (4 - 4 / 4.92 ERA / 1.47 WHIP) vs. RHP Bud Norris ( 6-9 / 3.92 ERA / 1.41 WHIP)

Preview

Another trading deadline has come and gone. Once again, the Astros have become younger and cheaper. They sent off a staple of the rotation and cashed in their lottery tickets. Part of the madness was Bud Norris taking the short walk across the hall to the O's locker room. Now Norris takes the mound tonight for the O's against his former team.

While I've always been partial to the O's hat with the cartoon bird and white panel (I may even own one) Bud didn't look right with it on last night. I don't think that feeling would change if I were able to watch the game in Houston without Comcast. Lets take a look at Norris' season thus far - he has 13 quality starts this season. He had a 2-5 record and 5.91 ERA in starts away from Minute Maid Park.

Norris (what is it worth) is leaving the Juice Box the seventh highest ranked ballpark for hitters for the fifteenth ranked Camden Yards. - When compared by ESPN "Park Factor". Norris has struggled against left-handed bats (5.45 ERA) and the shorter right field porch (foul pole is at 318) won't help matters.

As you might expect, no current Astro has any at-bats against Norris in their career. Bud will have to face a few hot Astros hitter; Jason Castro was 3-for-4 with runs batted in yesterday. Robbie Grossman is 5-for-7 in Baltimore thus far with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Matt Dominguez is 5-for-9 with four runs scored and two runs batted in.

As for the Astros starter, the old man of the rotation now, Jordan Lyles is 0-3 with an 8.13 ERA in his last six starts. He does have a lower ERA on the road, 3.95 ERA over seven starts. Taylor Teagarden is the only Orioles player with previous success against Lyles - 2-3 with one strike out.

UPDATE:

Jose Altuve and Brandon Barnes are out of the lineup today. Both are resting from injures. Recently called up Jimmy Paredes will play second. The irony.

Altuve (sore left quad) and Barnes (back) out of the lineup today. Porter said both are available tonight but wants to rest them if poss.

— Houston Astros (@astros) August 1, 2013