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The Houston Astros are coming off a four-game sweep courtesy of the Detroit Tigers, and are in desperate need of a series win against the Los Angeles Angels. After the first 32 games, the Astros have a 8-24 record, good for worst in the bigs. Though the Astros were dominated in the last two games of the Tigers’ series, many people forget they gave Detroit a run for their money in the first two games.
Of course, when you get flat-out demolished two games in a row and are the worst team in baseball, many people will look past any good thing you do.
In case it was missed along the way, the Astros designated Rick Ankiel and Fernando Martinez for assignment, as well as sending down Brandon Laird. In corresponding moves, the Astros have called up Jimmy Paredes, Trevor Crowe and have activated J.D. Martinez from the disabled list. The Astros feel like they’re not living up to their potential, and these moves should help them on the offensive end.
When you’re the worst team in the league and you’re playing another bad team, you have to take chances and try to grab of couple of wins and boost your confidence. That is what the Astros are going to have to do in this upcoming series. Hopefully, a couple of their “new” guys can give them a spark.
In today’s game, Jordan Lyles will take the mound, and a performance like his first one would certainly be nice for the Astros. He needs to keep the ball down in this start, and work out of trouble if he gets into it.
When he gets into trouble, he usually tries to overcompensate and leaves pitches up and over the plate. He did that in both his first and his latest start, but got out of trouble in the latter when he needed too, and would have won the game if it weren’t for a defensive miscue in the eighth inning.
The main key for the Astros this series is the starting pitching of both teams. The Astros need some innings to be eaten by their starting pitching, and they also need to chase the Angels’ starters out of the game early to get into that horrendous bullpen. Both teams have terrible bullpens, and whichever team gets into the bullpen faster will have the best chance to win this series.
The Astros desperately need to win this series, and will need to take advantage of every mistake the Angels make.
