Astros Face Reds at Home

Tomorrow, the Houston Astros start a 3 game series against the Reds at home. The Reds are 50-55 on the season, and are currently 4^th in the NL Central. Houston is 47-56, and 2.5 games back behind the Reds. On the road, the Reds are 20-31. Lets take a look at the matchups…

Game 1: Monday, July 28, 7:05 CT, Minute Maid Park

The probable starter for the Reds will be Johnny Cueto. Cueto is 0-1 in his last 3 starts, and only 2-4 in his last 8. In his last game, he threw a season high pitch count of 120, through 6 innings, but struck out 10 – tying his career high. The last time Cueto faced the Astros was on April 24. He pitched 7 innings, gave up 5 runs on 8 hits and with 2 walks and 2 strike outs

The probable starter for the Astros will be Roy Oswalt, who is coming off an injury of a strained left hip abductor. His last start was on July 11 against the Washington Nationals, but he only pitched 17 pitches before being taken out with his strain. Oswalt has not faced the Reds this season.

Career numbers vs. Astros for Cueto: 0-1, 6.43 ERA

Career numbers vs. Reds for Oswalt: 19-1, 2.46 ERA

Prediction: Astros win 5-2

Game 2: Tuesday, July 29, 7:05 CT, Minute Maid Park

The probable starter for the Reds is Bronson Arroyo. In Arroyo’s last 5 starts, he is 5-0 with a 3.19 ERA. Arroyo’s last start vs. the Astros was April 24, when Arroyo got rocked. He gave up 8 runs on 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings.

The probable starter for the Astros is Brian Moehler. Moehler has been the most consistent starter for the Astros this year, but is coming off an unusual bad outing where he only lasted 2 1/3 innings, giving up 5 ER on 9 hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Career numbers vs. Astros for Arroyo: 4-4, 6.14 ERA

Career numbers vs. Reds for Moehler: 0-4, 6.82 ERA

Prediction: Reds win 6-4

Game 3: Wednesday, July 30, 7:05 CT, Minute Maid Park

The probable starter for the Reds will be Edinson Volquez. After an amazing start to the year, and amazing numbers before the all-star break, Volquez has struggled after the all-star break. He has allowed 9 runs over his past 2 starts. His strikeout totals have dropped severely after the all-star break, also. He has only struck out more than 3 batters once in his past 6 starts.

The probable starter for the Astros will be Wandy Rodriguez, who is coming off a magnificent start against the Brewers. He allowed only 1 run on 3 hits in 6 innings. Unfortunately, Wandy has struggled against the Reds in the last 3 years, going 2-2 with a 5.59 ERA in 7 starts. Hopefully, starting at home will help Rodriguez.

Career numbers vs. Astros for Volquez: Has not faced Astros

Career numbers vs. Reds for Rodriguez: 2-2, 5.59 ERA

Prediction: Astros win 3-1

Numbers don’t lie:

• The Reds are 2-7 in Cueto’s last 9 road starts
• The Reds are 16-37 in the last 53 meetings in Houston.
• Astros are 48-18 in Oswalts last 66 home starts
• The Astros are 6-0 in Oswalts last 6 home starts vs. Reds
• Astros are 18-4 in Oswalts last 22 starts vs. Reds

Oswalt to Return Monday

Oswalt threw a successful bullpen session Friday; even faced live batters. He is currently on track to return from the DL Monday, and pitch against the Reds at home. Oswalt finished the session pain-free.

"Roy threw about 25, 30 pitches to a couple of hitters," Cooper said. "He did it continuously, didn't take a break in between and he felt fine. No problems anywhere, so he's a go for Monday."

Hopefully, his short time on the DL will help him regroup, and let him have a much better 2nd half than he did in the 1st half. It is estimated that Oswalt will have about 13 starts left, hopefully all quality starts!

Astros agree to terms with Brad Dydalewicz, 8th round pick of the two-day MLB First-Year Player Draft

Left-handed pitcher Brad Dydalewicz, and the Astros have agreed to terms on a contract. Dydalewicz, 18, was the Astros' 8th round pick in the two-day MLB First-Year Player Draft in June. Dydalewicz is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound lefty. Dydalewicz can reach the low-90s with his fastball, with a sharp breaking ball and a developing changeup. He will be reporting to Houston's rookie ball affiliate, the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League, as soon as possible.

Dydalewicz, a member of Lake Travis High School in Austin, led the high school team to the regional finals going 13-1 on the season. He was also selected to be a member of the 2008 AABAC All-Star Team and Texas' Area Code Team.

Houston acquires Wolf

Houston acquired veteran left-hander Randy Wolf from the Padres for minor league pitcher Chad Reineke. Randy Wolf went 6-10 with a 4.74 ERA in 21 starts for San Diego. After this season, Wolf will be a free agent, though. But there is a chance that the Astros will sign him for a longer term. The 31 year old Randy Wolf is expected to make his first start for the Astros Sunday against the Brewers. Wolf has a career record of 84-76, with a 4.30 career ERA.

Chad Reineke, of Miami University, was selected in the 13th round by the Houston Astros in the 2004 draft. The 26 year old Chad Reineke was 5-9 with a 4.94 ERA this year with the Round Rock Express, Houston's AAA team.

With this trade, Ed Wade feels that the 'Stros still have a shot at the playoffs. In my opinion, Wolf will do better with the Astros, rather than the Padres. The Astros give him a solid offense to back him up, while the Padres could not provide that consistently. There have been many games where he gave up only 2 earned runs, but still got the lost because the Padres could not produce runs. Wolf can get the job done with a solid offense to back him up.

Welcome aboard, Randy.

Oswalt placed on DL

Turns out that Oswalt was not even able to throw his bullpen session, which would have decided if Oswalt would start Tuesday against Pittsburgh. Oswalt underwent an MRI Saturday morning, and once the results were released, he was placed on the DL. The MRI also revealed a small disc protrusion in Oswalt's back.

Houston looks to recall Runelvys Hernandez, who should make the start tonight, against Pittsburgh.

Matsui sits atop Astros Lineup

Kazuo Matsui returned from the 15 day disabled list because of a strained right right hamstring July 9. Cecil Cooper put Matsui at the top of the lineup against the Chicago Cubs, and he also said that he plans to keep Matsui there for a while. Matsui claims that he is comfortable at the top of the lineup.

Matsui has had 35 at bats in his career in the leadoff position, and he is only batting .171 there. He struck out 7 times, and had 4 RBI from atop the lineup. In the series vs. the Cubs, he was 1-9 leading off...I'm starting to wonder if Cooper will keep Matsui there for a while, as he claims.

Oswalt's Start on Tuesday Still Questionable

Roy Oswalt, the Astros ace, is still unsure if he will start for the Astros on Tuesday as they face the Pirates for a 3 game series at home. Oswalt suffered a strained left hip abductor on June 30 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The final decision will not be known until after a bullpen session. Manager Cecil Cooper hopes that Oswalt will be close to 100 percent ready, but Oswalt thinks differently; he is not so sure. Oswalt claims that he is still sore, and there is about a 51% chance that it is not so good, rather than a 50-50 chance.