Matchup for G103 - Astros @ Cardinals

Okay, I'm not putting the season squarely on the shoulders of the next three games, but let's be frank: this is a big one. You can bet the Cardinals remember that little sweep last week (even if the Astros can't.) The Astros sit 3.5 back of the Cardinals, and 4GB of Chicago (thanks be to you, Rotation) - it kind of hurts knowing that if one of Hampton and Ortiz could have put together a good start, the Astros would be sitting 2GB instead of 4GB. If the Cardinals take this series, they'll be at least 5.5GB of the Cards, and Chicago is at Florida this weekend.

The Astros/Cardinals have played to a 3-3 split this season, with both sweeps at the home park. Since getting swept by the Astros, the Cards are 5-3, having just taken 2 of 3 from the Dodgers. They're 7-7 since returning from the Break.

Brian Moehler
The Astros are 10-7 in Moehler's starts this season, and he had his first real bad game since June 9 his last time out against the Mets, so here's hoping he keeps it rolling. And I bet it's a little easier to stay focused, what with the last rough outing resulting in that guy getting fired.

Last three starts:

Date-Opp	IP	H/ER	K:BB	GB/FB	Pit/Str
7/12 vWAS	6.1	7/0	2:2	13/10	103/64
7/20 vStL	6.1	6/2	5:2	10/10	100/64
7/26 vNYM	4.2	8/5	2:2	11/10	89/57

vs. StL (career): 5-0, 3.98 ERA/1.42 WHIP, 54.1IP, 61H/24ER, 33K:16BB
Road (career): 37-50, 5.02 ERA/1.52 WHIP, 646IP, 788H/360ER, 361K:193BB

Let's do the splits:
vs Righties: 61x169, .361/.400/.615, 24K:9BB
vs Lefties: 46x198, .232/.305/.399, 34K:20BB

When swinging at the first pitch (45): .442/.455/.767, 8XBH
After First-Pitch Strikes (200): .283/.323/.497, 39K:10BB
After First-Pitch Balls (159): .255/.348/.416, 19K:19BB

RISP: 27x93, .290/.374/.462, 13K:13BB
Runners on: 47x165, .285/.353/.473, 25K:17BB
2OwRISP: 8x41, .195/.283/.317, 8K:5BB

Mitchell Boggs

And the Astros will face Mitchell Boggs, making his first start for the Big Club since May 14.

Last three starts:

Date-Opp	IP	H/ER	K:BB	GB/FB	Pit/Str
4/30 @WAS	6	6/4	9:2	7/7	100/60
5/6 vPIT	4.1	5/2	4:5	7/5	85/42
5/14 @PIT	4.1	9/1	1:2	8/10	83/49

2009 @StL: 1-0, 1.80 ERA/1.70WHIP, 10IP, 3H/2ER, 7K:6BB

Let's do the splits:
vs Righties: 12x42, .286/.375/.429, 8K:4BB
vs Lefties: 16x48, .333/.418/.438, 12K:7BB

When swinging at the first pitch (8): .375/.375/.375, 0XBH
After First-Pitch Strikes (42): .243/.333/.405, 13K:3BB
After First-Pitch Balls (53): .356/.453/.467, 7K:8BB

RISP: 6x24, .250/.357/.333, 6K:4BB
Runners on: 17x45, .378/.451/.533, 9K:6BB
2OwRISP: 4x12, .333/.467/.417, 4K:3BB