MLB Team Report – Houston Astros – INSIDE PITCH
Jordan Lyles has five days between starts with no commercial flights, no 4 a.m. wakeup calls and no uncertainty over where it’s going to be. Given his recent history, that feeling of being at ease might be an uneasy one.
Lyles’ last five starts have been in Triple-A, the majors, two more in Triple-A and then another in the majors with both starts for the big Astros coming on the road. The start he’s preparing for Sunday against the Rangers, who took the series opener 4-1 Friday, will finally be his first in Houston and his first where he could prepare with the big league staff.
“It’s good to know I’m getting another start and to be with the team for those five days,” Lyles said.
Forget the travel and other logistics for a minute, it’s been a crazy month just considering that he’s worked with two different pitching coaches with different styles in Doug Brocail and Triple-A pitching coach Burt Hooton. While the two different voices could be cluttering, Lyles doesn’t see it that way.
“The message is pretty much consistent, but every guy has different ideas, and it’s helpful to hear other perspectives,” Lyles said. “But overall, we’re all on the same team trying to make me the best pitcher I can be.”
Sunday against the powerful Rangers, who feast on right-handed pitching, will be the toughest test yet after he’s built a 3.00 ERA against the Reds and the Phillies. Lyles will prepare by watching tape of his starts against the Rangers from last year, two outings in which he gave up eight earned runs in 13 innings (5.54 ERA).
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MLB Team Report – Houston Astros – NOTES, QUOTES
–RHP Henry Sosa is off to South Korea as the Astros sold his rights to the Kia Tigers of the Korean Baseball Organization. Sosa made 10 starts in the major leagues last year but had been passed up for promotion three times when the Astros needed spot starters this year. He had a 5.12 ERA in six starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City this year.
–2B Jose Altuve summed up the Astros’ frustration against Neftali Feliz, who walked five in 4 2/3 innings but was reached for only one run. “We tried to be a little patient today,” said Altuve, who went 0-for-2 with two walks. “But he could throw some strikes to get guys out.”
–LF J.D. Martinez’s slump took another turn for the worse on Friday when he struck out in each of his first three plate appearances as part of an 0-for-4 day. Martinez has three hits in his last 40 at-bats as his batting average fell to .218 for the season.
–LHP Wandy Rodriguez was hardly dominant as he had been in compiling a sub-2 ERA, but he held his own against the American League’s best lineup in a 4-1 loss to the Rangers Friday. “That’s the best lineup I’ve faced this year,” said Rodriguez, who allowed three runs on 10 hits in six innings. His ERA now stands at 2.24.
–SS Jed Lowrie drove in the Astros’ only run with an infield single Friday, though he’s made more of a mark this year with his big bat and team-leading five home runs. Lowrie is currently second among National League shortstops with a .450 slugging percentage.
BY THE NUMBERS: 4-15 — The Astros’ record in interleague play against the Rangers since the start of 2009.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “We knew that coming in with the ballclub how deep the lineup is. There’s no doubt about it.” — Manager Brad Mills on the Astros controlling OF Josh Hamilton yet still giving up 11 hits to the Rangers.
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MLB Team Report – Houston Astros – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–RHP Kyle Weiland (right shoulder bursitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 25. He underwent surgery May 1 to clear an infection in his shoulder. He began rehabbing May 9, doing mostly range-of-motion and strength exercises, and he hopes to begin throwing by mid-June.
–LHP Sergio Escalona (Tommy John surgery in April 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list April 4. He will miss the entire season.
ROTATION:
LHP Wandy Rodriguez
RHP Lucas Harrell
RHP Bud Norris
LHP J.A. Happ
RHP Jordan Lyles
BULLPEN:
RHP Brett Myers (closer)
RHP Brandon Lyon
RHP Wilton Lopez
RHP Rhiner Cruz
RHP Fernando Rodriguez
LHP Wesley Wright
LHP Fernando Abad
CATCHERS:
Jason Castro
Chris Snyder
INFIELDERS:
1B Carlos Lee
2B Jose Altuve
SS Jed Lowrie
3B Chris Johnson
INF Marwin Gonzalez
INF Matt Downs
OUTFIELDERS:
CF Jordan Schafer
LF J.D. Martinez
RF Brian Bogusevic
OF Travis Buck
OF Justin Maxwell
