The Astros are 53-55, and have lost 9 of 12 since getting our hopes up by sweeping the Cardinals. In those 12 games, the Astros have been outscored 43-85.
The Brewers and Astros have met up six times already this season, with a 4-2 advantage going to the visiting team as all six of those games were in Houston. Three of them were one-run affairs (Astros going 1-2), and five of the six have been decided by two runs or fewer (Astros 2-3).
Bud Norris
The Troof! Bud Norris makes his home debut this evening (Deputy Jason will be in attendance, and will provide some commentary this weekend) as Astros fans grasp at anything tangible to get excited about. It'll be interesting to see the attendance for tonight.
Last two appearances:
| Date-Opp | IP | H/ER | K:BB | GB/FB | Pit/Str |
| 7/29 @CHI | 3 | 3/1 | 4:1 | 1/7 | 52/33 |
| 8/2 @StL | 7 | 2/0 | 5:4 | 9/9 | 91/55 |
Second career start for the Troof, so we have a very limited sample to deal with. Nevertheless, let's do the splits:
vs Righties: .143/.240/.190, 4K:3BB
vs Lefties: .154/.267/.154, 5K:2BB
When swinging at the first pitch (5): .000/.000/.000, 0XBH
After First-Pitch Strikes (20): .111/.150/.111, 7K:1BB
After First-Pitch Balls (15): .273/.467/.364, 2K:4BB
RISP: 1x7, .143/.125/.143, 4K:0BB
Runners on: 2x14, .143/.188/.143, 5K:1BB
2OwRISP: 0x3, .000/.000/.000, 3K:0BB
Carlos Villanueva
Villanueva will be making his third start, and 46th appearance, for the Brewers tonight. He's 2-8 with a 5.98 ERA coming in.
Last three appearances:
| Date-Opp | IP | H/ER | K:BB | GB/FB | Pit/Str |
| 7/24 vATL | 1 | 1/1 | 0:0 | 25/15 | 2/2 |
| 7/28 vWAS | 4 | 8/5 | 2:1 | 10/7 | 67/47 |
| 8/2 @SD | 5 | 2/0 | 3:4 | 5/7 | 79/47 |
Villanueva, as you can see from his aforementioned stats, has had a little bit of a rough go of it. He's had five blown saves, and hasn't factored on the pleasant end of a decision since May 25. But bless those Brewers' hearts, they keep running him out there. And last game it paid off, though he didn't get the win. That was the first game Villanueva has pitched in that the Brewers have won since July 4 (seven games)
vs. HOU (2009): 1-1, 3.00 ERA/1.20 WHIP, 15IP, 12H/5ER, 14K:6BB
vs. HOU (career): 1-2 (14 games), 3.56 ERA/1.12 WHIP, 30.1IP, 26H/12ER, 32K:8BB
@ Minute Maid (car): 0-2 (7 games), 6.91 ERA/1.61 WHIP, 17H/11ER, 15K:6BB
Let's do the splits:
vs Righties: .286/.369/.462, 16K:12BB
vs Lefties: .263/.320/.458, 28K:9BB
When swinging at the first pitch (23): .368/.368/.579, 2XBH
After First-Pitch Strikes (110): .240/.282/.346, 29K:6BB
After First-Pitch Balls (102): .291/.402/.570, 15K:15BB
RISP: 15x50, .300/.435/.560, 7K:12BB
Runners on: 28x83, .337/.427/.590, 14K:13BB
2OwRISP: 6x23, .261/.452/.348, 3K:8BB
