Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2-4, 2GB) @ Houston Astros of Houston (3-3, 1GB).
The Angels won their first two games of the season on Friday and Saturday at Houston, and got rocked yesterday thanks to five Astros homers. The last time the Angels gave up 5HR to an AL team was on July 21, 2012 when the Rangers did it. The all-time series between the Angels and Astros is 14-14, and the Astros have been outscored all-time by the Angels 122-120.
Bad Guy: C.J. Wilson
*Wilson got rocked by the Mariners on April 1, allowing 8H/6ER, but with 8K:2BB.
*The Angels were 2-2 when Wilson faced the Astros in 2013, striking out 34 batters and walking nine. He posted a 2.03 ERA/1.13 WHIP in those four games.
*At Minute Maid Park in 2013, Wilson held the Astros to a .200/.273/.360 line, a 1.35 ERA/1.13 WHIP.
*He threw 55% fastballs (90.8mph) in his season opener, with 16% curves (76.6mph), 15% sliders (81.4mph), and 8% changeups (84.3mph). All are about 1mph off his 2013 averages.
*Current Astros are a combined .209/.243/.403 against Wilson for their careers. Chris Carter is 4x15 with a double, homer, and two walks for an .886 OPS in 17 PAs. Altuve is 3x13 with a homer, for an .824 OPS.
Good Guy: Jarred Cosart
*Cosart allowed 4H/0ER, 3K:0BB in his G2 start against the Yankees - good news for everybody.
*He has never faced the Angels, and has only ever faced Raul Ibanez from the current roster...who went 0x2.
*In his first start, Cosart generated 11 ground balls, compared to two fly balls and three line drives.
*Cosart's fastball was sitting at an average of 95.4mph last week, almost a full mph over his 2013 average.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
