The Astros pay a visit to the City of Brotherly Love.
Starting tonight, the Astros will play the first game of a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
GameTimes and Starting Lineups
Monday, 5:40 PM CT: Ronel Blanco (9-6, 3.14) vs. Zach Wheeler (12-6, 2.73)
Tuesday, 5:40 PM CT: Justin Verlander (3-3, 3.92). vs. Aaron Nola (11-6, 3.45)
Wednesday, 3:05 PM CT: Spencer Arrighetti (6-11, 4.94) vs. Cristopher Sánchez (9-9, 3.51)
This three-game set is the only time this season that Houston faces off with the Phillies. Historically, Houston is 282-296 in regular season play against Philadelphia. They’ve also met twice in postseason play, with the Phils winning the NLCS, three-games-to-two in 1980, and Houston taking the 2022 World Series in six.
The last time these two met was a three-game series from April 28 through April 30 of last season. Houston won the final game, 4-3 after losing the first two, 6-1 and 3-1. In Houston’s win, Jose Urquidy (2-2, 5.20) got the win, allowing two runs in 5 1⁄3 innings. Ryan Pressly earned his second save of the year with a perfect ninth. Jake Meyers (2) went deep, while Kyle Tucker and Martín Maldonado collected two hits each. Urquidy was placed on the 15-day injured list after getting taken out with shoulder discomfort in the sixth inning.
The last pitch, I was trying to throw a sinker there and I felt something a little bit weak in my shoulder and I decided to stop.
Houston just completed a four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles, with the Astros taking the opening and closing game of the set. In yesterday’s game, a 6-3 Houston win, Alex Bregman (21) and Yainer Díaz (16) went deep on consecutive seventh-inning pitches to take a 5-3 lead. Bregman, Mauricio Dubón and Zach Dezenzo each had two hits in the game. Despite allowing three runs, Houston’s pitching staff only allowed two hits in the contest. Yusei Kikuchi started but earned no decision despite lowering his ERA to 4.39 on the season (He’s 2-0 with a 2.89 ERA since joining the Astros). Hector Neris (9-4, 3.77) earned the win in relief, while Josh Hader (28) got the save with a scoreless ninth. Dubón may have hurt himself in the seventh inning after running full speed into the wall for a fly-ball out, but eventually left under his own power. (He really ran into the wall superhard if you haven’t seen it).
In the meantime, the Phillies dropped their opener to the Kansas City Royals, 7-4 before storming back to win the final two, 11-2 and 11-3. Garrett Stubbs collected four hits in the game, and was joined by Alex Bohm, Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas with two hits each. Nick Castellanos (17) went deep for the Phillies.
This is the only team where you can go 4-for-4 with a hit-by-pitch and they are giving you crap when you come into the dugout. — Stubbs
Standings
Houston Astros: 70-60, .538, first in the AL West, 4 1⁄2 games ahead of the Seattle Mariners. Sixth in the American League. Tied for 11th in MLB with the Atlanta Braves. Last 10: LWWWLLWLLW. On pace for 87-75. Fangraphs projects 88-74 with an 89.7 percent chance to reach the postseason.
Philadelphia Phillies: 76-54, .585, first in the NL East, six games ahead of the Atlanta Braves. Second in the National League, 1 1⁄2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. Third in MLB, a half game behind the New York Yankees. Last 10: WWWLLWLLWW. On pace for 95-67. Fangraphs projects 94-68 with a 99.4 percent chance to reach the playoffs.