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HOUSTON ( KEUCHEL )
TEXAS ( DARVISH ) |
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| 925 | HOUSTON | +1.5,+115 | +1.5,+130 | | 926 | TEXAS | -1.5,-135 | -1.5,-150 |
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| All Games | 31-56 | -6.2 | 44-39 | 3.7 | 0.234 | 0.289 | 5.3 | 0.281 | 0.347 | | Road Games | 14-24 | +3 | 19-18 | 3.8 | 0.245 | 0.299 | 4.7 | 0.274 | 0.340 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 22-42 | -5.8 | 31-30 | 3.7 | 0.235 | 0.290 | 5.3 | 0.286 | 0.346 | | Past 7 Games | 1-6 | -4.6 | 3-2 | 2.4 | 0.171 | 0.237 | 6.9 | 0.289 | 0.375 | | Grass Games | 31-56 | -6.2 | 44-39 | 3.7 | 0.234 | 0.289 | 5.3 | 0.281 | 0.347 | | Night Games | 24-38 | +0.8 | 33-27 | 3.9 | 0.241 | 0.296 | 5.3 | 0.281 | 0.348 | | Division | 13-25 | -4.2 | 20-17 | 4.0 | 0.243 | 0.294 | 5.1 | 0.267 | 0.336 |
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| All Games | 3.7 | 0.234 | 0.289 | 87 | 2885 | 676 | 233 | 84 | 0.03 | 306 | 224 | 808 | 50 | 525 | 69 | 68 | 96 | 52 | | Road Games | 3.8 | 0.245 | 0.299 | 38 | 1275 | 312 | 106 | 29 | 0.02 | 137 | 98 | 325 | 17 | 235 | 35 | 36 | 43 | 22 | | Righty Starters | 3.7 | 0.235 | 0.290 | 64 | 2138 | 502 | 177 | 67 | 0.03 | 229 | 166 | 580 | 30 | 388 | 51 | 53 | 74 | 45 |
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| All Games | 4.96 | 1.490 | 297.3 | 186 | 164 | 325 | 51 | 118 | 244 | 8-19 | 20 | 9 | 69% | | Road Games | 3.75 | 1.419 | 117.7 | 56 | 49 | 118 | 13 | 49 | 84 | 6-6 | 8 | 2 | 80% |
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| All Games | 50-36 | +4.6 | 32-50 | 4.3 | 0.260 | 0.316 | 4.0 | 0.248 | 0.308 | | Home Games | 26-18 | -0.4 | 14-28 | 4.5 | 0.267 | 0.328 | 3.8 | 0.245 | 0.309 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 16-10 | +3.6 | 11-15 | 4.7 | 0.277 | 0.342 | 4.0 | 0.244 | 0.303 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | 0 | 4-3 | 4.3 | 0.236 | 0.304 | 4.3 | 0.278 | 0.337 | | Grass Games | 49-34 | +5.7 | 31-48 | 4.4 | 0.263 | 0.319 | 4.0 | 0.249 | 0.309 | | Night Games | 37-24 | +6.7 | 26-32 | 4.6 | 0.267 | 0.321 | 4.1 | 0.250 | 0.311 | | Division | 24-12 | +7.9 | 18-15 | 5.1 | 0.263 | 0.316 | 3.9 | 0.243 | 0.308 |
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| All Games | 4.3 | 0.260 | 0.316 | 86 | 2955 | 768 | 252 | 102 | 0.03 | 353 | 244 | 571 | 56 | 585 | 92 | 45 | 72 | 36 | | Home Games | 4.5 | 0.267 | 0.328 | 44 | 1461 | 390 | 118 | 54 | 0.04 | 188 | 132 | 264 | 36 | 300 | 48 | 23 | 37 | 21 | | Lefty Starters | 4.7 | 0.277 | 0.342 | 26 | 932 | 258 | 88 | 29 | 0.03 | 115 | 92 | 183 | 12 | 209 | 32 | 13 | 23 | 12 |
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| All Games | 3.24 | 1.255 | 269.3 | 107 | 97 | 239 | 23 | 99 | 226 | 18-10 | 29 | 4 | 87.9% | | Home Games | 2.80 | 1.144 | 141.7 | 50 | 44 | 105 | 9 | 57 | 120 | 9-4 | 11 | 2 | 84.6% |
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| 6/22/2013 | NORRIS(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | WOOD(L) | 4-3 | W | 130 | 9.5 un | U | 6 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 2 | | 6/23/2013 | LYLES(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | SAMARDZIJA(R) | 6-14 | L | 155 | 9 ev | O | 13 | 8 | 2 | 16 | 6 | 2 | | 6/25/2013 | HARRELL(R) | ST LOUIS | WESTBROOK(R) | 5-13 | L | +135 | 9 un | O | 6 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 6 | 0 | | 6/26/2013 | BEDARD(L) | ST LOUIS | LYNN(R) | 4-3 | W | +160 | 8.5 un | U | 5 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 0 | | 6/28/2013 | NORRIS(R) | LA ANGELS | WILLIAMS(R) | 2-4 | L | +130 | 9 un | U | 7 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | | 6/29/2013 | LYLES(R) | LA ANGELS | BLANTON(R) | 2-7 | L | +135 | 9 un | P | 4 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 0 | | 6/30/2013 | HARRELL(R) | LA ANGELS | WILSON(L) | 1-3 | L | +140 | 9 un | U | 5 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 1 | | 7/1/2013 | KEUCHEL(L) | TAMPA BAY | MOORE(L) | 0-12 | L | +145 | 8 ov | O | 2 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 12 | 0 | | 7/2/2013 | BEDARD(L) | TAMPA BAY | PRICE(L) | 0-8 | L | +170 | 8 un | P | 4 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 9 | 0 | | 7/3/2013 | NORRIS(R) | TAMPA BAY | HERNANDEZ(R) | 4-1 | W | +145 | 8.5 ov | U | 7 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 0 | | 7/4/2013 | LYLES(R) | TAMPA BAY | ARCHER(R) | 5-7 | L | +145 | 8.5 ov | O | 5 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 0 | | 7/5/2013 | HARRELL(R) | @ TEXAS | TEPESCH(R) | 5-10 | L | 205 | 9.5 un | O | 10 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 1 | | 7/6/2013 | KEUCHEL(L) | @ TEXAS | DARVISH(R) | | | 7/7/2013 | BEDARD(L) | @ TEXAS | GRIMM(R) | | | 7/9/2013 | NORRIS(R) | @ ST LOUIS | MILLER(R) | | | 7/10/2013 | LYLES(R) | @ ST LOUIS | WAINWRIGHT(R) | | | 7/12/2013 | HARRELL(R) | @ TAMPA BAY | PRICE(L) | | | 7/13/2013 | | @ TAMPA BAY | | |
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| 6/22/2013 | PEREZ(L) | @ ST LOUIS | MILLER(R) | 4-2 | W | 165 | 8 un | U | 9 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 1 | | 6/23/2013 | TEPESCH(R) | @ ST LOUIS | WAINWRIGHT(R) | 2-1 | W | 175 | 7.5 ev | U | 7 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 1 | | 6/25/2013 | DARVISH(R) | @ NY YANKEES | KURODA(R) | 3-4 | L | -120 | 7.5 ev | U | 7 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 1 | | 6/26/2013 | GRIMM(R) | @ NY YANKEES | PETTITTE(L) | 8-5 | W | 120 | 9 un | O | 13 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 2 | | 6/27/2013 | HOLLAND(L) | @ NY YANKEES | HUGHES(R) | 2-0 | W | -125 | 8.5 ev | U | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | | 6/28/2013 | PEREZ(L) | CINCINNATI | CUETO(R) | 4-0 | W | -115 | 9.5 un | U | 7 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 0 | | 6/29/2013 | TEPESCH(R) | CINCINNATI | LEAKE(R) | 4-6 | L | -105 | 9.5 ov | O | 5 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 3 | | 6/30/2013 | DARVISH(R) | CINCINNATI | LATOS(R) | 3-2 | W | -145 | 8 ev | U | 8 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 1 | | 7/2/2013 | GRIMM(R) | SEATTLE | SAUNDERS(L) | 2-9 | L | -160 | 9.5 un | O | 11 | 9 | 1 | 13 | 8 | 1 | | 7/3/2013 | HOLLAND(L) | SEATTLE | HERNANDEZ(R) | 2-4 | L | -140 | 8 un | U | 8 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 0 | | 7/4/2013 | PEREZ(L) | SEATTLE | IWAKUMA(R) | 5-4 | W | -140 | 8.5 un | O | 8 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 13 | 1 | | 7/5/2013 | TEPESCH(R) | HOUSTON | HARRELL(R) | 10-5 | W | -225 | 9.5 un | O | 9 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 1 | | 7/6/2013 | DARVISH(R) | HOUSTON | KEUCHEL(L) | | | 7/7/2013 | GRIMM(R) | HOUSTON | BEDARD(L) | | | 7/8/2013 | HOLLAND(L) | @ BALTIMORE | FELDMAN(R) | | | 7/9/2013 | PEREZ(L) | @ BALTIMORE | BRITTON(L) | | | 7/10/2013 | TEPESCH(R) | @ BALTIMORE | GONZALEZ(R) | | | 7/11/2013 | DARVISH(R) | @ BALTIMORE | TILLMAN(R) | | | 7/12/2013 | GRIMM(R) | @ DETROIT | FISTER(R) | | | 7/13/2013 | | @ DETROIT | | |
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| |  | HOUSTON: HITTING: This season will mark Houston's final year in the National League. Look away, children, as the Astros launch into what is sure to be the crappiest victory lap in baseball history. Tiny 2B JOSE ALTUVE's jump from High-A to MLB starter says more about Houston's pitiful state than anything. He belongs in Triple-A. CHRIS JOHNSON won the starting 3B job as JIMMY PAREDES was optioned to Triple-A. Johnson was thought to have 25-homer power, but last year he slugged just .378. 1B CARLOS LEE is in the twilight of a very productive career. Backup 1B BRETT WALLACE seems to be in the twilight of an unproductive one. OF BRIAN BOGUSEVIC has a low ceiling. But he's one of only a few recent draft picks who will even contribute. OF J.D. MARTINEZ doesn't blame you if you haven't heard of him, but he's the team's best player who hits third in the lineup. SS JED LOWRIE was a nice little pickup for a mid-tier closer. But his platoon split is intense. C JASON CASTRO will probably play ahead of CHRIS SNYDER. OF JORDAN SCHAFER has yet to put things together; but he'll be starting in center on Opening Day. Fourth OF J.B. SHUCK is only 24, but doesn't have a whole lot of upside.
STARTING PITCHING: WANDY RODRIGUEZ has been a durable, above-average starter for five years, yet every season his real-world team limits his wins. He'll be traded at some point this year. Don't shortchange BUD NORRIS. He's an underrated source of strikeouts, and has improved his command. J.A. HAPP really needs to cut down on his walk total. JORDAN LYLES couldn't legally drink until the second-to-last week of the season. He's in the big leagues way too soon. He's yet another young Astro who isn't terrible, but won't ever set the world on fire. KYLE WEILAND came from Boston with Jed Lowrie and should earn the final spot in the rotation. Texas-bred fireballer JARRED COSART, 21, is a legitimately exciting (but risky) prospect who Houston will probably rush up to the majors at some point this year.
RELIEF PITCHING: BRETT MYERS flummoxed the Astros' front office with a stinker of a season. He's probably closer to that pitcher than to the one who posted a career-best 3.14 ERA in 2010 at age 29, but he'll move the bullpen this year to get the rare opportunities to close out a game when this awful team is actually leading. WILTON LOPEZ was good in 2011, but was much better the previous season, when he may have been the most underrated reliever in the National League. Houston will go with him in the ninth if they want Myers to return to the rotation. BRANDON LYON has seen better days. He bombed early, then was shut down for good with a bicep injury. He intimidates nobody now. | | TEXAS: HITTING: 2B IAN KINSLER will lead off again. A few less at-'em balls and he's an MVP candidate. SS ELVIS ANDRUS is coming along offensively, but his poor SB% could lead to fewer attempts. Injuries are the only thing that will keep OF JOSH HAMILTON out of the MVP discussion. He'll likely start declining at age 35, but DH MICHAEL YOUNG can't help but put up numbers batting cleanup in this lineup. 3B ADRIAN BELTRE was unstoppable in Arlington. Like Hamilton, he's an MVP candidate if healthy. Injuries are piling up for OF NELSON CRUZ, who still has monster power but doesn't run as much anymore. C MIKE NAPOLI is MLB's best offensive catcher and will play some 1B on 'off' days. Because their lineup is stacked, Texas can play defensive-minded/offensively limited 1B MITCH MORELAND. And because Ron Washington would prefer to play Hamilton in left, speedy CF CRAIG GENTRY looks to have the edge over DAVID MURPHY for the starting job in center. Cuban import LEONYS MARTIN will start the season in Triple-A, but JULIO BORBON could earn a significant OF role.
STARTING PITCHING: COLBY LEWIS can overpower when he's on, but as a flyball pitcher in cozy Arlington he's going to have a handful of ugly days. The much-ballyhooed YU DARVISH brings a deep arsenal of pitches and a durable frame from Japan. He's probably the best Japanese arm to ever cross the Pacific. Lefty MATT HARRISON solidified his rotation spot. He has topped out as a respectable No. 3-type starter. DEREK HOLLAND has top-of-the-rotation upside. Consistency has been an issue, but hopefully another year and some big postseason moments helped to cure that. The big story is NEFTALI FELIZ moving to the rotation. He was considered a future ace in the minors, but the transition might not be easy. His K/BB ratio plummeted last year and his flyball tendencies could spell disaster in Arlington. Keep in mind the Rangers made a successful closer-to-ace switch with C.J. Wilson. Top prospect MARTIN PEREZ could be an option in the second half.
RELIEF PITCHING: Veteran JOE NATHAN was brought in and handed the closer's job. He struggled in his first year back from Tommy John surgery, but most pitchers who've had the procedure don't come all the way back until their second full season. If Nathan falters, MIKE ADAMS could be next in line. He had no trouble transitioning from pitcher-friendly San Diego in the National League to hitter-friendly Arlington and the A.L.'s superior bats. KOJI UEHARA would also be in the closer discussion if Nathan falters, but he was unhappy about being traded from Baltimore and faltered for the Rangers late last year. ALEXI OGANDO got a huge boost from his defense and his bullpen before a late-season collapse. He threw by far a career-high in innings; better stamina would allow him to take the next step and possibly rejoin the rotation. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (HOUSTON-TEXAS) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Astros-Rangers Preview* ========================
Houston (31-55) at Texas (49-36), 7:15 p.m. EDT
The Texas Rangers have won six straight over the Houston Astros, and Yu Darvish has been difficult to hit in beating them twice in that span.
Darvish ended his lengthy winless streak his last time out and will look to continue dominating the Astros on Saturday night.
Texas (50-36) won Friday's opener of this three-game set 10-5 and has not lost to Houston (31-56) since an 8-2 defeat March 31 in the Astros' first game as an AL club.
Darvish (8-3, 2.78 ERA) fell one out short of a perfect game in the next meeting, a 14-strikeout performance in a 7-0 victory April 2 that started the Rangers' run over the Astros. He followed that up by yielding three runs and three hits over seven innings to earn an 8-7 win over Houston on May 11.
The right-hander is limiting opponents to an AL-best .190 average, and Houston is hitting .078 against him this year. Darvish gave up two runs over eight innings of a 6-2 home win over Houston last June 15, and he's struck out 33 Astros in 23 2-3 career innings.
Houston regulars Jose Altuve, Jason Castro and Carlos Pena have combined to go 1 for 26 against Darvish. Castro, though, feels the Astros won't be intimidated.
"We're comfortable now, I think, with the way he likes to pitch and the way he goes about attacking hitters," Castro told the team's official website. "We kind of learned and made some adjustments based on that first time we saw him."
Astros third baseman Matt Dominguez became the only player to homer twice against Darvish in one game in May.
Houston has struck out a major league-high 808 times, while Darvish leads baseball with 151.
Darvish had been 0-2 with a 2.93 ERA in seven starts before pitching 6 2-3 scoreless innings to earn a 3-2 victory over Cincinnati on Sunday. The Rangers had dropped his previous four outings.
"As a starter, if the team doesn't win the day that you pitch, that can be really frustrated, so that was my thing," Darvish said through his translator.
Nelson Cruz hit a grand slam and Adrian Beltre and David Murphy also homered as Texas cruised Friday after building a 10-0 advantage through five innings.
Cruz has a 12-game hitting streak against the Astros, going 17 for 50 (.340) with 16 RBIs. He's homered in the last three meetings.
The Astros outhit the Rangers 10-9 in the series opener but went 5 for 17 with runners in scoring position in their seventh loss in eight games.
"The effort and focus is definitely there," Astros manager Bo Porter said. "That goes without question with these guys. It's one of those things we've played good teams that have played well and we have not played our best baseball."
Texas is 16-10 against left-handed starters as it faces Dallas Keuchel (4-5, 4.65), who is 0-0 with a 2.45 ERA in two career starts versus the Rangers.
Cruz is the only Rangers player to homer against Keuchel, who owns a 3.03 road ERA compared to 5.62 at home.
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| | Last Updated: 10/6/2024 7:44:08 PM EST. |
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