The Houston Astros look to stamp their class all over the visiting Kansas City beginning this Friday at home. Will the Astros live up to their heavy favorite status in this series? Or will the Royals get a rare series win against a legitimate World Series contender?
Starters: Danny Duffy (3-7, 5.55 ERA) vs. Dallas Keuchel (4-8, 4.15 ERA)
Pitching:
Duffy was rocked by Houston in his last outing with the Astros tagging him with six earned runs on seven hits in 6.0 innings of a 10-2 loss at home on Jun. 16. Duffy will look to show up with a better effort at Minute Maid Park, where he is 2-1 with a 4.00 ERA in two career starts there. Houston will counter with Keuchel notched a win opposite Duffy in the aforementioned game, tossing six innings of two-run ball. He is 1-1 with a 6.35 ERA in three starts this month.
Hitting:
Jose Altuve is 8-for-16 with three doubles s. Duffy.
Cheslor Cuthbert is 5-for-9 with two homers vs. Keuchel.
Writer’s Prediction:
Houston wins, 6-2.
Game 2 Saturday, June 23, 7:15PM ET
Starters: Ian Kennedy (1-7, 5.31 ERA) vs. Lance McCullers Jr. (8-3, 3.77 ERA)
Pitching:
Kennedy has not won a game in a long time. In fact, he has not notched a win since April 7. In his last start, he gave up five earned runs on four hits in 6.0 innings of a 6-3 loss at home to Texas on Jun. 18. However, he is 4-1 with a 1.99 ERA in his career against Houston. As for McCullers, his last outing was against Kansas City, which got four runs (two earned) off of him on six hits during six innings of a 7-4 road win on Jun. 17. He also struck out nine Royals, though, he did not get a decision. McCullers is 3-1 with a 2.37 ERA in six home starts this year.
Hitting:
Jose Altuve is 4-for-11 against Kennedy.
Mike Moustakas is 4-for-10 with a home run vs. McCullers.
Writer’s Prediction:
Houston wins, 5-2.
Game 3 Sunday, June 24, 1:05PM ET
Starters: Jason Hammel (2-8, 4.98 ERA) vs. Gerrit Cole (8-1, 2.59 ERA)
Pitching:
Hammel will look to help the Royals punctuate the series on a positive note as he steps on the mound this Sunday. In his last start, Hammel gave up four earned runs on nine hits in 5.2 innings of a 4-1 loss to Texas at home on Jun. 19. The under is 3-0 in his last three road starts. It’s a different story for Cole, who has been crushing it on the mound this season. Just this month, he’s gone 3-0, albeit with a 4.15 ERA in four starts. He is also 2-1 with a 3.02 ERA at home so far this season.
Hitting:
Evan Gattis is 3-for-7 with a homer vs. Hammel.
Lucas Duda is 5-for-12 with three home runs vs. Cole.
Writer’s Prediction:
Houston wins, 6-2.
Writer’s Overall Series Prediction
Houston sweeps the very first official summer season series against Kansas City.
