Game No. 2 Preview: Houston Astros vs. Cleveland Indians

Houston Astros (1-0) vs. Cleveland Indians (0-1), 7:10 p.m. (CST)

TV: Roots Sports SW Alternate channel (Click here for listings), MLB.TV
Radio: KBME 790 AM, KLAT 1010 AM
Indians SBNation Blog: Let's Go Tribe

Pitching matchup

RHP Scott Feldman (8-12, 3.74 ERA, 1.30 WHIP in 2014) vs. RHP Carlos Carrasco (8-7, 2.55 ERA, 0.99 WHIP)

Preview

The Astros look to repeat their 2014 performance in one aspect, win their first two game of the season. These wins may mean a bit more impressive than last season, as the Astros dispatched of Yankees starters CC Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda in 2014. This time around, they are facing the 2014 Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber and one of the hottest pitchers in baseball Carlos Carrasco.

The Indians signed both of their frontline pitcher just before the start of the 2015 season. Kluber signed a five-year $38.5 million extension, and Cleveland had enough faith to sign Carrasco to a four-year extension worth $22 million with two club options. The Kluber deal feels like a no-brainer, but the Carrasco signing shows the Indians believe in him. Carrasco had a 5-6 record with a 2.67 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in his 14 starts last season, and had a 1.72 ERA in appearances after the All-Star break (78.2 IP).

Carrasco sports four pitches - four-seam fastball that tops out 96 mph, a slider, curveball, and changeup. The right-hander has worked exclusively out of the stretch since returning to the rotation at the end of 2014 which resulted in major dividends.

Taking a look at the Astros hitters against Carrasco, second baseman Jose Altuve is 2-for-6 against Carrasco in his career with a walk. Jake Marisnick is the only other Astros with a hit against the right hander, he is 1-for-5 in his career.

The 2014 Opening Day starter for the Astros takes the ball on game two the season. Scott Feldman has been the steady rock for the Astros since signing before the 2014 season. He struggled this spring with 0-3 record, 6.87 ERA, and 1.91 WHIP, as he had in previous years in Spring Training (5.40 ERA in 2013, 11.25 ERA in 2012). That hasn't effected Feldman in the month of April, he has averaged a 2.74 ERA over the last three seasons.

Brandon Moss and Michael Bourne each have double digit at-bats against Feldman. Moss is batting .235 (4-17) with 3 walks against Feldman, and Bourne is .231 (3-13) with a double and home run. Jason Kipinis (1-7) and Michael Brantley (1-6) have just one hit of Feldman in their careers.

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