The Astros try to prevent their second four-game losing streak of the season tonight as they take on the A's, who are 4-0 against Houston this season and 9-1 all-time.
Taking the mound for the A's is...
25-year old 6'5" 230lb Arthur Joseph Griffin.
*Griffin was selected in the 13th Round of the 2010 draft by Oakland - two selections after the Astros drafted Davis Duren, who never played in a game in the minors. He's the only player from 2010's 13th Round to reach the Majors.
*In parts of three seasons in the minors, Griffin was 19-11 with a 3.15 ERA/1.02 WHIP, and made his ML debut on June 24, 2012 against San Francisco.
*Over 15 starts in 2012, Griffin threw 82.1IP, allowing 74H/28ER, 64K:19BB for a 3.06 ERA/1.13 WHIP, going 7-1.
*The A's are 14-3 in Griffin's starts (12-3 in 2012, 2-0 so far in 2013).
*Griffin is coming off two Quality Starts, and one Elite Start. In his first game of the season, he held the Mariners to 7H/2ER in 6IP, throwing 61 of his 95 pitches for strikes. In his follow-up at LA, he held the Angels to 5H/1ER in 8IP, and threw 73 of his 110 pitches for strikes. Of 134 strikes, 38 of them were looking.
*He doesn't walk hardly anybody (2.06 walks/9 for his entire career), but he doesn't strike many guys out, either (6.45 strikeouts/9 for his career).
*Like Milone, he doesn't have a dominating fastball - it has averaged 89.3mph this season. But he throws a 68.9mph curve (23.9%), 80.9mph change (14.6%), and occasionally mixes in an 85.3mph cutter.
*Griffin has only ever faced Carlos Pena, who is 2x3 with a 2-run double.
Brad Peacock takes the mound for the third time of the season, and the 2nd time against his old club. In his first start, he threw 4.1IP, 3H/2ER, 5K:3BB. When he got into trouble, Xavier Cedeno came in and nutted the game (which is becoming a trend).
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
