:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47373334/GettyImages-457269886.0.jpg)
The Houston Astros took the first game of their ALDS matchup with the Kansas City Royals yesterday and today they send Scott Kazmir to the mound against Johnny Cueto as they try for a commanding lead in the five-game series.
Kazmir, acquired by the Astros from the Oakland A's, was (2-6) with a 4.17 ERA in 13 starts and 73 ⅓ IP for Houston, but he went (1-1) with a 2.11 ERA, three walks, 14 Ks and a .205/.241/.231 line against in three starts and 21 ⅓ IP against Kansas City this season.
He talked yesterday about facing the AL Central division winners for the fourth time this season.
"Their lineup, it's a great lineup that they battle every at-bat," Kazmir told reporters.
"It's a team that doesn't -- it's hard to get a good approach on those guys, because they don't strike out. They want their pitch and they won't stop until they get it.
"So you just have to attack the strike zone and get them in swing mode."
Royals' skipper Ned Yost talked about the luxury of having Johnny Cueto, acquired from the Cincinnati Reds earlier this season, lined up for this afternoon's game after they dropped the series opener.
"That's exactly why we got Johnny Cueto," Yost said. "If you lose Game 1, then you got Johnny to help you bounce back. And best-case scenario, you win Game 1 and then you've got Johnny to take it to a two-game lead. So that's why we got Johnny, for games like that."
Cueto vs the Astros:
| Royals | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP | missG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colby Rasmus | 30 | 27 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 6 | .333 | .400 | .556 | .956 | |||||||
| Luis Valbuena | 22 | 19 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | .211 | .318 | .316 | .634 | 1 | |||||||
| Carlos Gomez | 12 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | .333 | .333 | .917 | 1.250 | ||||||||
| Jason Castro | 8 | 8 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Mike Fiers | 7 | 7 | 2 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | ||||||||||||
| Jose Altuve | 6 | 6 | 1 | 2 | .167 | .167 | .167 | .333 | |||||||||||
| Jed Lowrie | 3 | 3 | 1 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | ||||||||||||
| Jonathan Villar | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .000 | .333 | .000 | .333 | |||||||||||
| Chris Carter | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | .500 | 1.000 | 1.500 | |||||||||||
| Oliver Perez | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 2.000 | |||||||||||
| Total | 95 | 87 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 17 | .241 | .305 | .425 | .731 | 2 |
Kazmir vs the Royals:
| Royals | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP | missG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Rios | 57 | 55 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 12 | .218 | .246 | .400 | .646 | 1 | |||||
| Alex Gordon | 36 | 34 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10 | .176 | .200 | .324 | .524 | 1 | 4 | |||||
| Omar Infante | 30 | 27 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 2 | .407 | .467 | .778 | 1.244 | |||||||
| Lorenzo Cain | 27 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | .167 | .259 | .250 | .509 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Alcides Escobar | 26 | 24 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .292 | .320 | .333 | .653 | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Eric Hosmer | 24 | 23 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .391 | .417 | .391 | .808 | |||||||||
| Salvador Perez | 22 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | .222 | .318 | .500 | .818 | 1 | 2 | |||||
| Kendrys Morales | 19 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | .278 | .316 | .333 | .649 | ||||||||
| Mike Moustakas | 14 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 2 | .154 | .143 | .154 | .297 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| Christian Colon | 9 | 9 | 4 | 1 | .444 | .444 | .556 | 1.000 | |||||||||||
| Ben Zobrist | 9 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 1 | .143 | .250 | .143 | .393 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| Jonny Gomes | 6 | 6 | 3 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | ||||||||||||
| Paulo Orlando | 6 | 5 | 1 | 2 | .000 | .167 | .000 | .167 | |||||||||||
| Jarrod Dyson | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .200 | .200 | .200 | .400 | ||||||||||
| Drew Butera | 2 | 2 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | ||||||||||||
| Total | 292 | 270 | 66 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 33 | 16 | 48 | .244 | .287 | .374 | .661 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 |