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MLB : ATS Matchup
Wednesday 10/14/2015Line$ LineOU LineScore
HOUSTON  MCHUGH )
 
KANSAS CITY  CUETO )
+1.5  -180

-1.5  +160
+115

-125

7.5ov
 
2
Final
7

HOUSTON (89 - 78) at KANSAS CITY (97 - 69)
No Previous GameView Next Game
Wednesday, 10/14/2015 8:05 PM
COLLIN MCHUGH (R) vs. JOHNNY CUETO (R)
AL Division Series - Best of 5 - Game 5 - Tied 2-2
Board OpeningLatest
 LineTotalLineTotal
933HOUSTON+115Ov 8,+105+125Ov 7.5,-105
934KANSAS CITY-125Un 8,-125-135Un 7.5,-115
ADVANCED TEAM STATS
HOUSTON - Current Season Performance
 Team RecordsTeamOpponent
 W-LUnitsO-URunsAvgOBPSLGOPSRunsAvgOBPSLGOPS
All Games89-78-2.475-834.50.2500.3120.4370.7493.80.2390.2940.3810.676
Road Games35-49-16.938-414.50.2470.3050.4130.7184.10.2460.3060.3900.697
vs Right-handed Starters59-46+7.652-484.80.2540.3160.4460.7613.80.2370.2920.3730.666
Past 7 Games4-3+0.42-54.40.2660.3380.4890.8283.60.2250.2820.4030.685
Grass Games89-72+473-804.60.2520.3140.4420.7563.80.2390.2930.3800.674
Night Games60-53-3.947-594.40.2470.3080.4330.7413.70.2410.2930.3820.675
Playoff games3-2+12-34.40.2480.3330.4670.8003.60.2110.2760.3730.650
HOUSTON - Team Hitting and Fielding Statistics
Team BattingTeam BattingTeam Fielding
 RunsAVGOBPGABH2B3BHRSLGRBIBBSOSBLOBGIDPERRDPOSB
All Games4.50.2500.31216756241404284262400.437714507145012410691248913290
Road Games4.50.2470.305842953729147121070.4133522467356957757496252
Righty Starters4.80.2540.3161053560903183131580.4464783229178067075537557
HOUSTON - Bullpen Pitching Statistics
 ERAWHIPIPRERHHRBBSOW-LSVBSVPct.
All Games3.271.122470.61901713864714248027-32421968.9%
Road Games3.681.246222.310091192208521212-17191065.5%

KANSAS CITY - Current Season Performance
 Team RecordsTeamOpponent
 W-LUnitsO-URunsAvgOBPSLGOPSRunsAvgOBPSLGOPS
All Games97-69+18.775-774.50.2680.3150.4130.7284.00.2500.3120.3980.710
Home Games52-31+11.137-394.60.2780.3280.4270.7543.90.2490.3030.3940.698
vs Right-handed Starters65-41+18.849-484.60.2650.3150.4120.7263.80.2460.3110.3960.707
Past 7 Games5-2+2.92-54.60.2400.3190.4130.7323.10.2370.3190.3660.686
Grass Games94-65+19.572-734.50.2700.3180.4170.7354.00.2500.3110.3980.709
Night Games66-52+4.452-574.20.2640.3100.4000.7113.90.2500.3110.3950.705
Playoff games2-2-0.22-24.50.2350.3020.4340.7364.70.2670.3440.4810.826
KANSAS CITY - Team Hitting and Fielding Statistics
Team BattingTeam BattingTeam Fielding
 RunsAVGOBPGABH2B3BHRSLGRBIBBSOSBLOBGIDPERRDPOSB
All Games4.50.2680.31516657111529304431460.413706396100610411091548614476
Home Games4.60.2780.32883274076315926650.4273692004486554675347641
Righty Starters4.60.2650.315106361896018230960.4124652606456968593479347
KANSAS CITY - Bullpen Pitching Statistics
 ERAWHIPIPRERHHRBBSOW-LSVBSVPct.
All Games2.721.139555.71821684375319652832-14581678.4%
Home Games2.521.099285.78880234238025818-326681.3%
SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
HOUSTON - Schedule
 Team StatsOpp Stats
DateTeam StarterOpponentOpp StarterScoreW/LLineTot.O/UHLOBEHLOBE
9/30/2015KAZMIR(L)@ SEATTLEZYCH(R)7-6W-1508 unO14741281
10/2/2015KEUCHEL(L)@ ARIZONADE LA ROSA(R)21-5W-1658.5 unO19921194
10/3/2015MCHUGH(R)@ ARIZONAHELLICKSON(R)6-2W-1608.5 ovU11100761
10/4/2015MCCULLERS(R)@ ARIZONARAY(L)3-5L-1508.5 unU119111100
10/6/2015KEUCHEL(L)@ NY YANKEESTANAKA(R)3-0W-1057 evU550350
10/8/2015MCHUGH(R)@ KANSAS CITYVENTURA(R)5-2W1207.5 evU1170660
10/9/2015KAZMIR(L)@ KANSAS CITYCUETO(R)4-5L1157.5 unO8601180
10/11/2015KEUCHEL(L)KANSAS CITYVOLQUEZ(R)4-2W-1707.5 unU8617100
10/12/2015MCCULLERS(R)KANSAS CITYVENTURA(R)6-9L-1257.5 evO991860
10/14/2015MCHUGH(R)@ KANSAS CITYCUETO(R) 

KANSAS CITY - Schedule
 Team StatsOpp Stats
DateTeam StarterOpponentOpp StarterScoreW/LLineTot.O/UHLOBEHLOBE
9/30/2015VOLQUEZ(R)@ CHI WHITE SOXQUINTANA(L)5-3W1107.5 unO76113112
10/1/2015MEDLEN(R)@ CHI WHITE SOXDANKS(L)6-4W-1357.5 ovO1391861
10/2/2015YOUNG(R)@ MINNESOTASANTANA(R)3-1W1057.5 unU7100653
10/3/2015VENTURA(R)@ MINNESOTAMILONE(L)5-1W-1207.5 unU980683
10/4/2015CUETO(R)@ MINNESOTANOLASCO(R)6-1W-1658 unU101117120
10/8/2015VENTURA(R)HOUSTONMCHUGH(R)2-5L-1307.5 evU6601170
10/9/2015CUETO(R)HOUSTONKAZMIR(L)5-4W-1257.5 unO1180860
10/11/2015VOLQUEZ(R)@ HOUSTONKEUCHEL(L)2-4L1607.5 unU7100861
10/12/2015VENTURA(R)@ HOUSTONMCCULLERS(R)9-6W1157.5 evO860991
10/14/2015CUETO(R)HOUSTONMCHUGH(R) 
KEY GAME INFORMATION
HOUSTON: HOUSTON (AP) - The Houston Astros moved out of the major league basement last season.
Now the question is whether Jose Altuve and his teammates are ready to contend this year or if they still need a couple of seasons to complete their rebuild and get back to the postseason.
Owner Jim Crane is confident the time is now.
''This is our year,'' he said, adding that their goal is to make the playoffs.
The Astros made a 19-game improvement in 2014 to win 70 games and snap a streak of three straight 100-loss seasons. They beefed up a bullpen that struggled last year and added more pop to a lineup that was fourth in the majors with 163 homers in 2014 in an attempt to take another step in 2015.
''These guys are all professional baseball players and they all want to win,'' general manager Jeff Luhnow said. ''We're not going to set any limitations on them. It's up to them at this point. We've done our work for the offseason.''
The Astros blew 25 saves last season, a statistic that troubled Crane more than any other number associated with his team. His first order of business this offseason was to bring in players to get that number down this year.
To that end, Houston added relievers Luke Gregerson and Pat Neshek. Gregerson appeared in 72 games for the Athletics last season and posted a 2.12 ERA and Neshek saw action in 71 games for St. Louis in 2014 with a 1.87 ERA.
A lineup that already had power aplenty with Chris Carter, whose 37 homers tied for second in the majors last season, and George Springer, who hit 20 in just 78 games, now has more sluggers with the addition of Evan Gattis and Colby Rasmus. Gattis has hit 43 homers combined in his first two major league seasons and Rasmus has hit at least 22 home runs in two of the last three years.
That power is what excites first-year manager A.J. Hinch most about his team.
''We have a chance to be a dangerous lineup,'' Hinch said with a smile.
Some things to know about the 2015 Astros:
EXPECTATIONS FOR ALTUVE: Altuve became the first Astros player to win a batting title by hitting .341 last season. He set a team record with 225 hits, was third in the majors with 47 doubles, had 59 RBIs and tied for second in the league with 56 stolen bases.
So what does Luhnow expect the 24-year-old second baseman to do for an encore?
''He's going to be a .300 career hitter, which are few and far between,'' Luhnow said. ''So there's going to be years like with most of these great hitters where they hit .340 and years that they hit .305. In my mind Altuve is an elite major league hitter and we're going to see it year in and year out.''
SPRINGER'S SECOND YEAR: Springer, the 11th overall pick in the 2011 draft, hit .231 with 20 homers and 51 RBIs in 78 games as a rookie. He injured his left quadriceps on July 20 and he didn't play again. The Astros are eager to see what the right fielder can do in a full season.
''He's got a ton of potential,'' Hinch said. ''He's a dynamic player. He can do a lot of different things in a lot of different ways. Everybody sort of sits up in their seats when he comes up to bat. I think there's a chance for him to have impact in all (areas) of the game, which is hard to come by.''
CAN ROTATION BE CONSISTENT?: Dallas Keuchel (12-9, 2.93 ERA) and Collin McHugh (11-9, 2.73) had breakout seasons in 2014, but can they perform at that level in a second year to lead the rotation? Keuchel posted ERAs of over 5.00 in both of his first two seasons before being chosen this year's opening day starter with his work last year, and McHugh had ERAs of 7.59 and 10.04 in his first two years before his success in 2014.
ANOTHER NEW SKIPPER: Counting interim managers, Hinch is the seventh manager the Astros have had since 2009. He was hired just after last season following the firing of Bo Porter, who was let go near the end of his second season.
This is the second time the 40-year-old Hinch has led a team after he managed Arizona from May 2009 until July 2010, when he was fired after 31-48 start. He was the vice president of professional scouting for San Diego from 2010 until August.
KANSAS CITY: KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Every once in a while, Ned Yost will spin a story about his days on Bobby Cox's bench with the Atlanta Braves, back when the organization was winning NL pennants by the fistful.
Inevitably, Yost would start drawing comparisons to his Kansas City Royals - that they were building through the farm system in the same manner as the Braves, and Kansas City would embrace the franchise in the same way Atlanta did if it ever became a winner.
Last year, that narrative finally made sense.
After squeaking into the playoffs as a wild card, the Royals swept all the way to the World Series. If not for a virtuoso performance by Madison Bumgarner of the San Francisco Giants, the Royals might very well have been celebrating their second championship.
The postseason run led Yost to draw one more comparison when he arrived in Arizona for the start of a new season, and his players filed into the clubhouse for the first time.
''It definitely reminded me of that feeling in Atlanta,'' he said, ''when you came to spring training every year with the feeling that you have an opportunity to go to the World Series - instead of hoping, you know? And it's a different feeling.''
There is good reason for that feeling, too.
The Royals return most of the pieces from the club that ended a 29-year playoff drought, including one of the best bullpens in baseball history. And the pieces they did lose to free agency have been replaced with what could turn out to be upgrades.
Designated hitter Billy Butler is gone, Kendrys Morales signed in his place. Alex Rios is taking over for Nori Aoki in right field. Edinson Volquez was signed to fill the rotation spot of staff ace James Shields, who chased bigger money all the way to San Diego.
Even though a few faces have changed, the tenants that the Royals believe in have not: They will continue to rely on speed, defense and pitching to chase another playoff berth.
''Any time you're fortunate enough to keep those key pieces, you feel good,'' said Greg Holland, the Royals' All-Star closer. ''Yeah, we lost Billy and Shields and Nori, but for the most part, we're right where we need to be.''
Besides, the back end of the bullpen is still intact.
Kelvin Herrera harnessed his electrifying fastball to become a shutdown seventh-inning reliever last season. Former starter Wade Davis had a historically dominant year as the setup man. Holland further cemented his status as the AL's best closer.
''The way you tilt the field in your favor, in my opinion, is having quality pitching and really good defense,'' Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. ''Those are things that hopefully can show up every single day and perform for you.''
As the Royals approach opening day against the Chicago White Sox on April 6 at Kauffman Stadium, here are a few other story lines to watch this season:
THE ROTATION: Shields was the anchor in 2014, but he struggled mightily in the playoffs. So when the Royals signed Volquez to replace him, it was mostly met with a collective shrug.
Besides, the success of the rotation will more likely be determined by the success of young flamethrowers Danny Duffy and Yordano Ventura, both of whom have ace ability.
INJURY BUGS: The Royals stayed remarkably healthy last season. Will karma even out?
Second baseman Omar Infante already missed long stretches of spring training with a bone spur in his elbow that could require surgery next offseason. Left fielder Alex Gordon also got a slow start to the spring after undergoing wrist surgery this past offseason.
SLOW STARTS: The last couple of seasons, the Royals have gotten off to slow starts. They unsuccessfully dug out of a big hole two years ago, but pulled it off last season.
Considering every other team in the AL Central appeared to get better over the winter, the Royals can ill afford to let Detroit, Cleveland and Minnesota and the White Sox bury them.
RESTING SALVY: All-Star catcher Salvador Perez faded in the playoffs in part due to his heavy work load in the regular season, where he appeared in 150 games. Yost intends to give him more days off this year, though it's hard to take his bat out of the lineup.
BASEBALL TOWN: Did the World Series run turn Kansas City into a baseball town again? The club has been overshadowed for decades by the Chiefs, who play just across the parking lot in Arrowhead stadium. How will fans respond to having the reigning AL champions?
PREVIEW
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (HOUSTON-KANSAS CITY) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Clarifies 3rd paragraph that Royals rallied. With AP Photos.)

*Astros-Royals Preview* =======================

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer

Houston (86-76) at Kansas City (95-67), 8:07 p.m. EDT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Royals traded away three top prospects to acquire Johnny Cueto for the playoffs, even though his winning pedigree has been established almost entirely in the regular season.

He'll have an opportunity to change that Wednesday night.

The right-hander with the creative cadre of deliveries will take the mound for Kansas City in Game 5 of the AL Division Series against the Astros. The Royals forced the decider at Kauffman Stadium by rallying from a four-run deficit in the eighth inning Monday at Houston.

The Astros will counter with Collin McHugh, who threw a gem in winning the series opener.

"Obviously this is the deciding game," Cueto said through a translator after the Royals worked out Tuesday afternoon. "We either win and stay or you go home."

Cueto has long been considered one of the game's dynamic pitchers, his herky-jerky style often giving hitters fits. He was an All-Star a year ago with Cincinnati, and finished second in Cy Young voting in the National League, a big reason the Royals were so keen to get him.

But when it comes to the playoffs, things have been a struggle. Cueto is 0-2 with a 5.52 ERA in four postseason starts, including a pedestrian outing in Game 2 against Houston.

While he retired 12 of the final 14 hitters he faced, Cueto also gave up four runs on seven hits and three walks in just six innings. It took the Kansas City hitters and some solid innings from his bullpen to get no decision in a 5-4 victory that evened the series.

Cueto acknowledged his looming free agency has been on his mind, but he also said there are no excuses if he fails to live up to expectations on Wednesday night.

"The fact of the matter is, I have to focus on pitching here and performing for this club and this organization," he said. "Thank God, the most important thing is I feel good. I feel healthy. And that gives me an opportunity to have success."

The Royals have won nine of their past 10 elimination games, and now have momentum on their side. Their rousing comeback to force the series back to Kansas City drew comparisons to their comeback against Oakland in last year's wild-card game, when they dug out of a similar four-run hole in the eighth inning against Jon Lester and the A's.

The young, almost naive bunch of guys in the Kansas City clubhouse kept riding that momentum all the way to Game 7 of the World Series, where they finally lost to San Francisco.

"One thing this team does very well, every game we play, we just go out and play our game," Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer said. "We stick to our game, no matter the situation."

The situation right now? Solving a pitcher who shut them down less than a week ago.

McHugh allowed two runs - both on homers by Kendrys Morales - and six hits over six innings against the Royals in Game 1, shrugging off a 49-minute rain delay in the process. With a vicious slider and unflappable confidence, he calmly took care of a potent Kansas City lineup.

That placid demeanor was still there Tuesday, 24 hours from the biggest start of his career.

"I don't know how I come off to other people," McHugh said. "It's always interesting. I have to ask my wife a lot how I look to other people. She usually gives me honest feedback."

While he may not be as recognizable as Cueto, the right-hander who bounced through the Mets and Rockies systems before landing in Houston has been every bit as tough. He won 19 games during the regular season, and has won his last six decisions overall.

In fact, when Houston manager A.J. Hinch was asked whether he could use star pitcher Dallas Keuchel on three days' rest in relief, he replied: "Not if McHugh pitches the whole game."

Clearly, the Astros aren't lacking any confidence after their Game 4 meltdown.

While they would have preferred not having to board a plane back to Kansas City, they seemed to be taking it in stride, laughing and joking their way through a light workout.

"I know pouting and being negative and dwelling on the past is not going not help us," Hinch said. "We're in Game 5 of the division series with a chance to control our own destiny. It can't get any better than that."


Last Updated: 3/19/2024 1:33:11 AM EST.


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