Houston Astros @ Atlanta Braves Series Preview

Houston will start a 3 game series with Atlanta starting tomorrow afternoon.

Here are the probable pitchers:

Game I
Mike Hampton LHP (1-1) 3.86
vs.
Derek Lowe RHP (2-1) 3.10

This should be a good pitching match up. Hopefully Hampy can have a solid start and our offense will kick it in to gear.

Game II
Roy Oswalt RHP (0-2) 3.94
vs.
Jair Jurrjens RHP (2-2) 1.72

I'm calling it right now. Roy O will get his first win.

Game III
Wandy Rodriguez (2-2) 1.69
vs.
Jo-Jo Reyes (0-1) 4.26

Can Wandy keep up his torrent start?

We win the series if: Lance Berkman finally remembers how to hit. If their pitching keeps doing what they are doing then it is pretty much up to our offense.

We don't win the series if: our offense doesn't support our starting pitching. With Valverde out for possibly three weeks, Houston needs their starting pitchers to go deep into games and try and minimize the bullpens activity. The best way for this to happen aside from their starting pitching throwing well is Houston's offense to put some runs up.


My prediction:
Houston takes two of three. Hampton will toss a good game but I don't think our offense is ready for Lowe right now. However, Roy and Wandy are going to pitch well and our offense is going to hit well enough to get 2 wins out of the series.

Houston 9-13
Atlanta 10-11

Valverde out up to 3 weeks

From astros.mlb.com:

"Closer Jose Valverde was hoping to miss only the 15 days required after he went on the disabled list earlier this week, but it looks like he'll be on the shelf longer than that.

Valverde had approximately 20 cc of fluid drained from his right calf at the Methodist Hospital on Thursday by team physician Dr. David Lintner. There is still approximately 60 cc of fluid remaining that will have to be removed on Friday, at which time doctors will make a small incision in order to drain the remaining fluid.

Valverde is expected to miss up to three weeks after the final procedure on Friday. "

Bad news for Valverde but at least they got him when they did. Hopefully they can get this knocked out and he will be fine for the remainder of the season.

Stros Shut Out in Game III to Reds but Take Series

Houston 0
Reds 4

Instead of putting 0-whatever after everyone I'm just gonna post strike outs, hits, and walks.
Matsui 2K
Bourn 2K
Tejada 1-4, 2B
Lee
Pence
Blum 2K
Erstad
Towles HBP, K
Paulino
Michaels BB
Berkman 0-1

Pitching Lines:
Felipe Paulino
5 2/3 IP, 6 H, 3K, 1 earned run
Chris Sampson
1 IP, H
Tim Byrdak
1/3 IP
Doug Brocail
1 IP, H, 2 BB, 1 earned run

Good News: Felipe Paulino was great tonight. I would really like for him to stick in the rotation. Samp and Byrd also threw well tonight.

Bad News: Our offense was shut out tonight for the 4th time this season. Defense wasn't looking real alive tonight either, especially on a goof up in the outfield when Bourn and Lee collided on an easy fly ball.

Houston is off tomorrow and will head to Atlanta to open a 3 game series with the Braves starting Friday.

Paulino gets the undeserved loss.

Let's all take a moment to praise Wandy Rodriguez

Wandy Rodriguez got his second win of the season last night and put up his fifth consecutive quality start.

Wandy is fourth in the league in ERA with a 1.69 ERA with 27 strikeouts.

The has 2 losses and a no decision which could have been/should have been wins meaning he could possibly be 5-0.

Keep it up Wandy.

Berkmanless line up goes for sweep

Lance and Pudge are both getting a break today, and with the off day tomorrow, both should be ready to go for the start of the Atlanta series.

So, here is tonight's sweep seeking starting 9:
Matsui
Bourn
Tejada
Lee
Pence
Blum
Erstad
Towles
Paulino

Pudge has been the man as of late so hopefully the rest of our offense picks up the slack.

Come on Felipe!!!

Let's Go Stros!

Houston Astros Jose Valverde to 15-day DL

Just heard on the radio that Valverde will hit the dl retroactive as of yesterday.

Jeff Fulchino has been called up from Round Rock.


I think this is a good move even though it is going to put a little pressure on our bullpen. Valverde has got to be healthy and this is the best way to get him healthy.

Houston @ Reds Game II Preview

Wandy Rodriguez looks to continue his quality start streak tonight up against Aaron Harrang.

Tonight's 9:
Matsui
Bourn
Berkman
Lee
Tejada
Pence
Blum
Pudge
Wandy

Houston looks for their first 3 game win streak of the season tonight.

Let's go Wandy!

Let's go Stros!

Houston Takes Game I From Cinci - Oswalt Gets Munson'd

Houston 4
Cinci 1

Man, what does a guy gotta do to get a W around here? Apparently be a relief pitcher.

Houston's offense was slumbering aside from a Berkman bomb in the 6th. The O finally woke up in the 9th with 3 hits and 3 runs, two singles from Lee and Miggy respectively and then a 2 run double from Hunter Pence who ended up on 3rd after a fielding error from Jay Bruce.

Hitting Line:
Matsui 1-4, K
Bourn 1-4, 2B, K
Berkman 1-3, HR, RBI, BB, K
Lee 1-4, GIDP, R
Tejada 3-4, R (Guess I was wrong, sorry Coop.)
Pence 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R, K
Blum 0-3, RBI, Sac Fly
Rodriguez 0-4, K
Oswalt 1-3

Pitching Line:
Roy Oswalt
7 IP, 6 H, 2 K, BB, 1 ER
Tim Byrdak
.2 IP, 1 H
Chris Sampson
1.1 IP, 1 H, K, (w)

Good News: Berkman's bomb opposite field is a good sign, however, you will know when Lance is feeling comfortable again when he starts to hit doubles.
Starting Pitching was also very good tonight and our bullpen was great the past two games.
Defensively the Astros played well turning 3 double plays. Hat tip to Pudge Rodriguez who made two great plays coming out from behind the dish to throw runners out at 1st.


Bad News: Our offense was non-existent until the top of the 9th. It would be nice if the offense could produce with some consistency and get our starting pitching more wins.

Chris Sampson W (2-0)

Houston has Wandy Rodriguez, who has been great so far this season, on the bump to take on Aaron Harrang tomorrow in game two of this three game series.

Houston 8-12
Cinci 10-9

Houston Astros @ Cincinnati Reds Game I Preview

Roy Oswalt is looking for his first win of the season tonight against his favorite team to pitch against, the Cincinnati Reds, who will send Johnny Cueto to the mound.

Todays starting 9:

Matsui
Bourn
Berkman
Lee
Tejada
Pence
Blum
Rodriguez
Oswalt

Dear Cecil Cooper, please move Miguel Tejada back to the 2 hole.

Thanks.

Valverde Out for at Least 2 Days

From JJO at chron.com:

"Astros closer Jose Valverde won't be available for at least the first two games of the Reds series because he had a setback in his recovery from the right calf strain he suffered last Tuesday.

"It'll take a couple more days," said Valverde, who aggravated the injury Sunday fielding a bunt during his save over the Milwaukee Brewers at Minute Maid Park. "I'm getting massages and ice right now for it. That's all."

Valverde doesn't even plan on playing catch in the next two days. In fact, he said he'll do "nothing."

In his absence, LaTroy Hawkins will serve as the closer, as he did while Valverde was out
from last Wednesday through Friday."

Maybe Valverde should have just taken the Brew Crew series off.