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HOUSTON ( KEUCHEL )
OAKLAND ( KAZMIR ) |
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| 925 | HOUSTON | +120 | Ov 7,-105 | +110 | Ov 7,-110 | | 926 | OAKLAND | -130 | Un 7,-115 | -120 | Un 7,-110 |
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| All Games | 8-7 | +2 | 4-10 | 3.3 | 0.215 | 0.292 | 0.372 | 0.664 | 3.4 | 0.222 | 0.275 | 0.358 | 0.633 | | Road Games | 4-2 | +3.1 | 3-3 | 4.7 | 0.264 | 0.321 | 0.458 | 0.779 | 3.7 | 0.226 | 0.296 | 0.316 | 0.612 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 3-2 | +1 | 1-4 | 3.6 | 0.233 | 0.303 | 0.459 | 0.762 | 2.6 | 0.220 | 0.256 | 0.354 | 0.609 | | Past 7 Games | 5-2 | +4.1 | 2-4 | 4.6 | 0.237 | 0.312 | 0.434 | 0.746 | 3.0 | 0.215 | 0.260 | 0.338 | 0.598 | | Grass Games | 8-7 | +2 | 4-10 | 3.3 | 0.215 | 0.292 | 0.372 | 0.664 | 3.4 | 0.222 | 0.275 | 0.358 | 0.633 | | Night Games | 5-6 | -0.1 | 3-7 | 3.0 | 0.223 | 0.293 | 0.370 | 0.663 | 3.5 | 0.221 | 0.272 | 0.356 | 0.628 | | Division | 7-5 | +3 | 4-7 | 3.8 | 0.239 | 0.309 | 0.418 | 0.727 | 3.7 | 0.224 | 0.279 | 0.351 | 0.630 |
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| All Games | 3.3 | 0.215 | 0.292 | 15 | 497 | 107 | 17 | 2 | 19 | 0.372 | 47 | 54 | 143 | 16 | 102 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 7 | | Road Games | 4.7 | 0.264 | 0.321 | 6 | 227 | 60 | 12 | 1 | 10 | 0.458 | 27 | 19 | 54 | 7 | 46 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | | Lefty Starters | 3.6 | 0.233 | 0.303 | 5 | 159 | 37 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 0.459 | 18 | 16 | 47 | 4 | 29 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
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| All Games | 1.94 | 0.765 | 51 | 11 | 11 | 28 | 3 | 11 | 56 | 2-1 | 5 | 1 | 83.3% | | Road Games | 1.69 | 0.844 | 21.3 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 23 | 2-0 | 3 | 1 | 75% |
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| All Games | 8-9 | -2.2 | 11-6 | 4.9 | 0.278 | 0.333 | 0.421 | 0.754 | 3.8 | 0.215 | 0.271 | 0.339 | 0.610 | | Home Games | 3-4 | -2.6 | 6-1 | 6.1 | 0.300 | 0.359 | 0.438 | 0.798 | 3.7 | 0.185 | 0.227 | 0.307 | 0.534 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 1-3 | -2.5 | 3-1 | 4.2 | 0.264 | 0.337 | 0.347 | 0.685 | 5.7 | 0.254 | 0.307 | 0.394 | 0.702 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -0.7 | 4-3 | 3.9 | 0.261 | 0.323 | 0.399 | 0.722 | 4.4 | 0.243 | 0.305 | 0.345 | 0.650 | | Grass Games | 8-9 | -2.2 | 11-6 | 4.9 | 0.278 | 0.333 | 0.421 | 0.754 | 3.8 | 0.215 | 0.271 | 0.339 | 0.610 | | Night Games | 8-4 | +3.8 | 8-4 | 5.7 | 0.285 | 0.336 | 0.461 | 0.796 | 2.9 | 0.213 | 0.270 | 0.306 | 0.576 | | Division | 7-7 | -1.2 | 10-4 | 5.1 | 0.286 | 0.339 | 0.425 | 0.764 | 3.9 | 0.196 | 0.258 | 0.329 | 0.587 |
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| All Games | 4.9 | 0.278 | 0.333 | 17 | 601 | 167 | 34 | 5 | 14 | 0.421 | 78 | 50 | 114 | 11 | 121 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 6 | | Home Games | 6.1 | 0.300 | 0.359 | 7 | 260 | 78 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 0.438 | 39 | 24 | 43 | 0 | 55 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 1 | | Lefty Starters | 4.2 | 0.264 | 0.337 | 4 | 144 | 38 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0.347 | 16 | 16 | 28 | 2 | 35 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
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| All Games | 4.08 | 1.204 | 50.7 | 25 | 23 | 45 | 8 | 16 | 50 | 1-4 | 2 | 2 | 50% | | Home Games | 3.32 | 1.061 | 21.7 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 5 | 6 | 20 | 0-2 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
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| 4/10/2015 | MCHUGH(R) | @ TEXAS | HOLLAND(L) | 5-1 | W | 105 | 8 un | U | 10 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 2 | | 4/11/2015 | HERNANDEZ(R) | @ TEXAS | GALLARDO(R) | 2-6 | L | 110 | 8.5 ov | U | 11 | 13 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 0 | | 4/12/2015 | KEUCHEL(L) | @ TEXAS | LEWIS(R) | 6-4 | W | -125 | 8.5 un | O | 11 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 15 | 1 | | 4/13/2015 | FELDMAN(R) | OAKLAND | KAZMIR(L) | 1-8 | L | +105 | 8.5 ev | O | 5 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 4 | 0 | | 4/14/2015 | PEACOCK(R) | OAKLAND | GRAVEMAN(R) | 0-4 | L | -110 | 9 un | U | 8 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0 | | 4/15/2015 | MCHUGH(R) | OAKLAND | POMERANZ(L) | 6-1 | W | -105 | 7.5 ev | U | 8 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 0 | | 4/17/2015 | HERNANDEZ(R) | LA ANGELS | WEAVER(R) | 3-6 | L | +105 | 9 ov | P | 8 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 1 | | 4/18/2015 | KEUCHEL(L) | LA ANGELS | WILSON(L) | 4-0 | W | -115 | 8.5 ov | U | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 1 | | 4/19/2015 | FELDMAN(R) | LA ANGELS | RICHARDS(R) | 4-3 | W | +105 | 8.5 un | U | 6 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 2 | | 4/20/2015 | WOJCIECHOWSKI(R) | @ SEATTLE | IWAKUMA(R) | 7-5 | W | 187 | 7.5 ev | O | 9 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 1 | | 4/21/2015 | MCHUGH(R) | @ SEATTLE | WALKER(R) | 6-3 | W | 115 | 7 un | O | 9 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 1 | | 4/22/2015 | HERNANDEZ(R) | @ SEATTLE | HAPP(L) | 2-3 | L | 150 | 7.5 ev | U | 10 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 0 | | 4/24/2015 | KEUCHEL(L) | @ OAKLAND | KAZMIR(L) | | | 4/25/2015 | FELDMAN(R) | @ OAKLAND | GRAVEMAN(R) | | | 4/26/2015 | WOJCIECHOWSKI(R) | @ OAKLAND | POMERANZ(L) | | | 4/27/2015 | MCHUGH(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | SHIELDS(R) | | | 4/28/2015 | HERNANDEZ(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | ROSS(R) | | | 4/29/2015 | KEUCHEL(L) | @ SAN DIEGO | CASHNER(R) | | | 4/30/2015 | | SEATTLE | | | | 5/1/2015 | | SEATTLE | | |
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| 4/10/2015 | POMERANZ(L) | SEATTLE | WALKER(R) | 12-0 | W | -105 | 7 un | O | 16 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | | 4/11/2015 | GRAY(R) | SEATTLE | HAPP(L) | 4-5 | L | -140 | 7 ov | O | 12 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 0 | | 4/12/2015 | HAHN(R) | SEATTLE | HERNANDEZ(R) | 7-8 | L | +125 | 6.5 ov | O | 14 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 1 | | 4/13/2015 | KAZMIR(L) | @ HOUSTON | FELDMAN(R) | 8-1 | W | -115 | 8.5 ev | O | 12 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 2 | | 4/14/2015 | GRAVEMAN(R) | @ HOUSTON | PEACOCK(R) | 4-0 | W | 100 | 9 un | U | 7 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 0 | | 4/15/2015 | POMERANZ(L) | @ HOUSTON | MCHUGH(R) | 1-6 | L | -105 | 7.5 ev | U | 8 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | | 4/17/2015 | GRAY(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | GUTHRIE(R) | 4-6 | L | -115 | 7.5 un | O | 8 | 5 | 0 | 15 | 8 | 0 | | 4/18/2015 | HAHN(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | VENTURA(R) | 5-0 | W | 115 | 7.5 un | U | 8 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | | 4/19/2015 | KAZMIR(L) | @ KANSAS CITY | DUFFY(L) | 2-4 | L | -110 | 7 un | U | 7 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 0 | | 4/20/2015 | GRAVEMAN(R) | @ LA ANGELS | SHOEMAKER(R) | 6-3 | W | 145 | 7.5 ev | O | 8 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 | | 4/21/2015 | POMERANZ(L) | @ LA ANGELS | SANTIAGO(L) | 1-14 | L | 110 | 7.5 un | O | 5 | 8 | 3 | 15 | 6 | 0 | | 4/22/2015 | GRAY(R) | @ LA ANGELS | WEAVER(R) | 9-2 | W | -105 | 7.5 un | O | 18 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | | 4/23/2015 | CHAVEZ(R) | @ LA ANGELS | TROPEANO(R) | 0-2 | L | 105 | 8 un | U | 8 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | | 4/24/2015 | KAZMIR(L) | HOUSTON | KEUCHEL(L) | | | 4/25/2015 | GRAVEMAN(R) | HOUSTON | FELDMAN(R) | | | 4/26/2015 | POMERANZ(L) | HOUSTON | WOJCIECHOWSKI(R) | | | 4/28/2015 | GRAY(R) | LA ANGELS | WEAVER(R) | | | 4/29/2015 | HAHN(R) | LA ANGELS | SHOEMAKER(R) | | | 4/30/2015 | | LA ANGELS | | | | 5/1/2015 | | @ TEXAS | | |
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| |  | 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. | | OAKLAND: OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - The Oakland Athletics topped even their most trade-happy of days by making nine swaps involving 27 players in a wild offseason for Billy Beane and his front-office mates.
As far as Beane is concerned, the A's wouldn't have even had a chance to close the gap on the reigning AL West champion Los Angeles Angels without a major offseason overhaul.
Even if that meant shipping out a trio of All-Stars in third baseman Josh Donaldson, first baseman Brandon Moss and catcher Derek Norris.
''Our expectations don't change, not with the guys we brought in,'' manager Bob Melvin said. ''You look at it early on and you're thinking, `What are we doing here?' Then we see the last few moves ... and it all came together at the end as far as what this team would look like going into spring. ... We feel real good about this group.''
There were so many changes that Melvin had to search for names on the backs of jerseys during February's FanFest.
Billy Butler is the new designated hitter, and two-time All-Star infielder Ben Zobrist can play just about anywhere for Melvin, who is always one to mix and match his lineups based on matchups and who's playing well. Ike Davis came in a November trade from the Pirates to play first base, while third baseman Brett Lawrie came from the Blue Jays in the swap that sent Donaldson to Toronto.
''It's unique. I don't think many teams have taken turnover like this,'' reliever Dan Otero said. ''Who are we to judge? Everybody's here for a reason, so it's going to be great.''
Still, all the change took some getting used to this spring for an Oakland clubhouse known for its easygoing nature.
You first must know your teammates' names.
''Team chemistry's a little funky. You have to spend time with people and get to know people for team chemistry to fully come,'' center fielder Coco Crisp said. ''You can't expect it just to happen. We'll be fine. We have a good group of core guys, guys that talk and mingle.''
Here are some things to know as the A's chase a fourth straight playoff berth:
BUTLER'S BIG MOVE: Butler makes the first move of his career and is coming off a down season with the Royals, who lost in a seven-game World Series to San Francisco. He batted .271 with nine home runs and 66 RBIs in 151 games last year, 108 of those as a DH. ''Everybody's awesome to be around,'' Butler said. ''I couldn't be happier to get ready for another year with them. There are a lot of talented major league guys in this room.''
FILLING THE VOIDS: Lawrie batted .247 with 12 home runs and 38 RBIs in 70 games for Toronto last season and takes pride in his defense to back up a talented rotation led by Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir. ''We have a lot of ability out there and that's a plus for the pitching staff,'' Lawrie said. ''All they have to do is take care of business.''
GRIFFIN AND PARKER: Both right-handers are recovering from elbow ligament reconstructive surgery that sidelined them all of 2014. Parker hopes to return shortly after the season begins, while June has long been the target goal for these two. ''There's no reason to start ripping the slider,'' Parker said. ''I'm going to focus on command.''
SPEEDY OUTFIELD: Despite the losses around the diamond, Melvin likes the look of his speedy outfield with Crisp, Sam Fuld and Craig Gentry. ''They can cover a lot of ground,'' Melvin said. ''In the case of Gentry and Fuld, they throw very well, too. Especially in our outfield at home, the field can play big and you need to cover a lot of ground out there. It's a comfort to have, and I know our pitchers feel good about it, too, that on a cold night in Oakland, you can stay. It's tough to go opposite field and know that when a ball's hit in the air and stays in the ballpark it's probably going to get caught.''
ZITO'S COMEBACK: Back in his original uniform two years removed from the end of a $126 million, seven-year contract with San Francisco, lefty Barry Zito looks to be a factor for the A's out of the bullpen - or even to start when needed. After a year off, Zito arrived in Arizona motivated to show he could still pitch at the highest level. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (HOUSTON-OAKLAND) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Astros-Athletics Preview* ==========================
By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer
Houston (8-7) at Oakland (8-8), 10:05 p.m. EDT
Once again shining in April, Scott Kazmir will try to help the Oakland Athletics regain their footing after an inconsistent road trip.
Dallas Keuchel will try to get the Houston Astros back in the win column when two of the top left-handers in the majors face off in Friday night's series opener in Oakland.
Kazmir (2-0, 1.33 ERA) is 6-0 with a 1.84 ERA in this month the last two seasons, winning his first four decisions in a season for the first time last April. A scarcity of run support and Eric O'Flaherty's blown save Sunday kept him from winning each of his first three starts this year.
He was charged with two runs in 7 1-3 innings against Kansas City but O'Flaherty gave up a pair of RBI doubles in the eighth of a 4-2 defeat.
"(Kazmir) pitched great," manager Bob Melvin told MLB's official website. "To go in the eighth like that over 100 pitches, he certainly did his job, we just couldn't finish it off."
That defeat was part of a 5-5 trip for Oakland (8-9), and the A's alternated wins and losses in the final six games. They went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position and fell 2-0 to the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday despite giving up one hit - Kole Calhoun's two-run homer.
"I can't remember the last time we got beat by one hit," Melvin said.
The Astros' four-game win streak was halted with a 3-2 defeat in Seattle on Wednesday.
Houston (8-7) went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position after going 6 for 16 in the first two games of the series. The Astros totaled 13 runs in those wins.
Keuchel (2-0, 0.90) will try to build on a third impressive outing in as many starts this season, as he yielded two hits in six innings while striking out seven in a 4-0 win over the Angels on Saturday.
"It's so easy to watch Dallas Keuchel compete and put up zeros and just assume that he's functioning perfectly because you're so used to it," manager A.J. Hinch told MLB's official website. "He really goes through lineups and competes his way through."
Keuchel went 1-0 with a 1.99 ERA in his last three starts against Oakland in 2014.
Kazmir has gone 3-0 with a 1.79 ERA in his past six starts against the Astros. He yielded one run in six innings with eight strikeouts in an 8-1 win at Minute Maid Park on April 13.
Oakland took two of three in that series. The A's have won nine of the last 12 home meetings with the Astros.
Jose Altuve is batting .369 in a 26-game hit streak against Oakland, the longest active one in baseball against any opponent.
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| | Last Updated: 4/23/2024 5:42:49 PM EST. |
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