The Houston Astros were off to a good start in the series opener against the Giants in San Francisco, but Tuesday night they fell off. Going into the series finale Wednesday, they have a real opportunity to take the series and maintain their lead in the AL West. Texas is just half a game back, so another loss could easily derail that lead.
Wednesday, 2:45 PM ET at Oracle Park, series tied 1-1. Astros 61-60, first in the AL West. Giants 50-70. This should be a winnable series for the Astros.
Here's a look at the pitching matchup:
Bryan King (2-3, 3.83 ERA, 40 SO) takes the mound for Houston, and Adrian Houser (3-7, 4.55 ERA, 65 SO) for San Francisco.
King's been in the bullpen basically all year, this is his first start of the season. Same deal for Houser, San Francisco moved him to the pen back in late June after he struggled as a starter, so both guys are stepping into an unfamiliar role Wednesday.
Notable injuries for Wednesday's game:
Altuve was hit by a pitch in the first Tuesday night. Nick Allen took over at second, and Altuve's left foot injury is officially being called a contusion. Initial imaging was negative, but he'll get more testing Wednesday, and his status for the finale is still up in the air. The Giants are dealing with a long injury list of their own.
For Houston, Isaac Paredes is hitting .256 with 15 home runs and 62 RBI. Cam Smith has been red hot lately, 17-for-41 with 3 home runs over his last 10 games.
Yordan Alvarez is still on his way to the Triple Crown, and a big game from him would go a long way in the series finale. Jeremy Peña was on fire but is now in a bit of a cold streak. If he can turn it back on, the Astros should be in good shape.
The Astros are 5-5 over their last 10 games, hitting .249 with a 3.54 ERA, outscoring opponents by 4 runs. The Giants are 3-7 in that same stretch, hitting just .204 with a 4.17 ERA, and have been outscored by 12, per AP.
A series win keeps Houston's division lead intact with Texas right on their heels. Given the Giants' recent form and depleted roster, this is a real opportunity for Houston to give themselves a little bit of cushion with the lead.
