*RHP: Juan Nicasio
*25 years old, 6'3" 200lbs.
*Made his MLB debut on May 28, 2011 - threw 7IP, 6H/1R (0ER), 2K:2BB against the Cardinals.
*In 2011, RHBs hit .205/.239/.356, while LHBs lit him up at a .313/.369/.490 clip.
*Nicasio hasn't won a game on the road yet. In six career road games, Nicasio is 0-3, with a 7.04 ERA/1.60 WHIP (1.98/1.02 at home), allowing 38H/24ER, 30K:11BB.
*He's vulnerable to the first-pitch. In 25 instances of hitters going after the first pitch, they're hitting .458/.458/.708.
*When Nicasio gets ahead, he limits hitters to a .140/.149/.215 line.
*Jordan Schafer is the only Astro to face Nicasio, and he went 2x5, 2Ks against him.
*This will be Nicasio's first start since August 5, 2011, when Ian Desmond smacked a line drive off the right side of Nicasio's head, breaking his neck
*The Rockies lit up Bud Norris on August 23, 2011. Norris went 5IP, 6H/5R (4ER), 6K:4BB in an 8-6 loss.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
