Edinson Volquez gets his second start of the season tonight. What do you need to know?
*He's 4-0 in his five starts against the Astros, with a 1.34 ERA/0.98 WHIP, 35K:9BB.
*In 78 PAs against current Astros, they are hitting 11x68 (.162/.240/.221) with 24K:6BB against him.
*Volquez, though, did have a rough time of it in his season opener against the Brewers, going 6IP, 7H/5ER, 5K:2BB, 3HR.
*For his career, Volquez is 7-2 with a 3.25 ERA/1.34 WHIP in March/April.
*The Astros should be ready to jump on the 1-0 pitch. Opponents, in 123 PAs, are hitting .414/.424/.750 with that count.
*That said, if Volquez is ahead in the count, opponents hit .168/.185/.234.
*Carlos Lee has never gotten a hit off Volquez - 0x10 with 3K:2BB lifetime. Pence is 3x14, 5K:1BB, but with a double and a homer.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
