Know Your Enemy: April 14

And the Astros tangle with old foe Carlos Zambrano.

*30-year old RHP Carlos Zambrano - 6'4" 275lb
*First Venezuelan pitcher to lead the NL in wins (2006)
*Got his first career win against the Astros on September 20, 2001, coming out of the bullpen
*On June 5, 2006 Zambrano took a no-hitter into the 8th against Houston when Preston Wilson broke it up with a single. He also hit a 3-run homer that game.
*Of course, Zambrano threw baseball's only neutral-site no-hitter on September 14, 2008, in an "away game" in Milwaukee due to Hurricane Ike. He walked Michael Bourn in the 4th and hit Hunter Pence in the 5th for the only two baserunners allowed.
*Zambrano is making his second start since August 12, 2011, when he gave up five homers to Atlanta, got ejected, cleaned out his locker, and told the team he was retiring.
*He was traded for Chris Volstad in January.

*In 34 games against the Astros, Houston has collectively hit .203/.294/.305 for a .598 OPS (3rd-lowest in MLB vs. Zambrano).
*Zambrano is 16-8 with a 2.72 ERA/1.14 WHIP against Houston for his career.
*He was 2-0 in three games against the Astros in 2011, with a 3.66 ERA/1.37 WHIP.
*In his first start of the 2012 season, against Cincinnati, Z threw 6IP, 4H/4ER, 6K;2BB; he threw 60 of his 95 pitches for strikes (18 looking, 15 swinging).
*Carlos Lee has a career .358/.427/.672 line against Big Z, as the only current Astro to face him 10+ times.

*Bud Norris was 1-1 against Miami in 2011, with a 6.65 ERA/1.52 WHIP, 21K:6BB.
*Current Marlins are hitting .290/.343/.435 against Norris.
*Jose Reyes is 4x10, BB; Hanley Ramirez is 4x9 with a homer (and a 1.333 OPS)
*Chris Coghlan is 0x11, with 6K:2BB.