Know Your Enemy: April 13

Oh noes! Friday the 13th!

The Marlins were 6-1 against Houston in 2011 (4-0 at home), and are 13-7 against Houston since 2009.

The Astros get a chance to break in the homerunstrosity in Miami, against 29-year old 6'0" 225lb RHP Ricky Nolasco, from Corona, California.

*Nolasco was traded to the Marlins in December 2005, with Sergio Mitre and Renyel Pinto, to the Cubs for Juan Pierre. Silly Cubs.
*Nolasco gave up an NL-leading 244 hits in 2011, posting a career-high 1.40 WHIP (in seasons where he pitched more than 25IP).
*After posting 9.5 and 8.4 K/9 innings in 2009-10, respectively, Nolasco's K/9 dropped to 6.5 in 2011.
*Nolasco is the Marlins' franchise leader in strikeouts.
*He was 2-0 against Houston in 2011, throwing 17IP, allowing 15H/3ER, 10K:1BB. His 0.94 WHIP against Houston was the best against an NL team in 2011.
*Nolasco has six career complete games; two of them are against Houston.
*He got a career-high 45.1% ground-ball rate in 2011, with a corresponding career-low 31.1% fly-ball rate.
*His velocity was consistent with 2011 in his first start, last Saturday, with his fastball sitting at 89.5mph - a tick lower than his 90.5mph in 2011.
*Nolasco got the win on Saturday, throwing 8IP, 6H/3ER, 5K:0BB, but allowing 2HR in an 8-3 win at Cincinnati.
*It's not pretty when you look at Nolasco's history vs. Houston hitters. Among players with 5+ PAs, Chris Johnson has done the best, with an .857 OPS. Carlos Lee is 3x16 with a homer and a .625 OPS, and Chris Snyder is 3x16 with 5K:1BB for a .548 OPS.

*Lucas Harrell has not faced any current Marlins batter.