Houston plays the Royals three times starting Monday night at Daikin Park.
This three-game set represents the second (and final) series between the two clubs this season. Kansas City took the first series two-games-to-one from April 25 through April 27. Houston’s only victory was a 7-3 affair in the final game after a pair of 2-0 losses.
Hunter Brown (4-1, 1.22) got the win with six innings of one-run ball. He allowed seven hits and a walk. Bryan King and Tayler Scott each allowed one run in an inning of work, while Steven Okert pitched a perfect eighth. Chas McCormick led the offense with three hits, including a double. Yordan Alvarez (3) and Yainer Diaz (2) each went yard in the win.
It starts with Hunter Brown. We needed a win and had the right guy on the bump. — Joe Espada
The Astros are 4-6 in their last 10 (LLWLLLWWLW), but just finished off the Reds two-games-to-one. In the series finale on Sunday, Houston shut out Cincinnati, 6-0 behind a strong start from Ronel Blanco (3-3, 4.04). Blanco struck out 11 over eight two-hit innings, walking one batter and getting 65-of-101 pitches in the black. Christian Walker and Cam Smith each collected a pair of hits, and Diaz (4) went deep.
That’s the Blanco that we saw all last year. Sometimes it takes a little bit of time to get going, right? — Espada
Kansas City, 7-3 in their last 10 (LWWWWWWWLL) defeated the Boston Red Sox 3-1 in Sunday’s matinee. Seth Lugo (3-4, 3.02) took the loss despite a Quality Start, allowing three runs in six innings on six hits and no walks. He struck out five and put 61-of-96 over the plate. The Royals managed only four hits in the game, all singles, and scored their only run in the third inning on a Kyle Isbel sacrifice bunt and an error.
GameTimes and Starting Pitchers
7:10PM CT: Michael Wacha (2-4, 2.98) vs. Ryan Gusto (3-1, 2.93)
7:10PM CT: Kris Bubic (4-2, 1.69) vs. Framber Valdez (2-4, 3.94)
7:10PM CT: Michael Lorenzon (3-3, 3.57) vs. *Hunter Brown (6-1, 1.48) (unconfirmed)
Poll
Houston takes on the Royals three times this week.
10%
The Astros king the Royals thrice
(5 votes)
10%
Houston lays a deuce and gets swept
(5 votes)
66%
The Astros win twice but come up short of a straight
(32 votes)
12%
Houston only wins once (pair of fives)
(6 votes)
48 votes total
The Crawfish Boxes has started to pod, using Playback.com. I’ve personally simulcast three of their past four games, first with bilbos, then with Theo, then solo. I can guarantee that we’ll be broadcasting the rest of them through this season with a rolling cast of TCB writers (and commenters?) So it’s not just gonna be me — if you were worried about it.