What would you be willing to give up for a week in order for the Astros to win this game?
Who We Got
St. Louis: 5-2, 1st place, 0.5 games up
At home: 1-0
Vs. Houston (2009): 9-6
Runs scored/Against: 42/24
Houston: 0-7, 6th place, 4.5GB
Road: 0-1
Runs Scored/Runs Against: 13/42
Starting Pitchers
Brad Penny: 0-0, 1.29 ERA
Last game: @CIN. 7IP, 6H/1ER, 4K:2BB
Brett Myers: 0-0, 6.00 ERA
Last game: vSF.: 6IP, 12H/4ER, 3K:1BB
Why the Astros Will Win
Jeez. Because one of these games, we'll have to win.
Because, hopefully, Brett Myers has something to prove. His last start against the Giants, he allowed 13 baserunners in six innings. As an emotional pitcher, he'll want to get one of these.
Because Brad Penny has a 1-2 record with a 5.58 ERA in his last five games against the Astros. Of course, his last game was in August 2007, but whatever. Or because in two starts at Beck's Stadium, Penny is 0-1 in two starts with a 4.50 ERA/1.58 WHIP.
Because Carlos Lee is 4x8 with a walk against Brad Penny, and Geoff Blum has hit Penny to a .435/.440/.522 line.
Why the Astros Will Lose
Because the Cardinals have four batters hitting over .280, including Pujols (.407/.484/.963) and Matt Holliday (.379/.419/.759).
Because the Cardinals hit Myers to a tune of .326/.360/.636 - and that's including the pitchers. Skip Schumaker is 6x13 (4 XBH), Holliday is 6x10 (4 XBH), and Pujols is 9x29 (3 XBH) off Myers, lifetime.
Because, dating back to last year, the Astros have won two of their last ten games at Beck's.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
