Houston @ Kansas City preview
Kauffman Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jun 25, 2009 ) Kansas City 4, Houston 5
All the momentum the Houston Astros had built in June came crashing to a halt in a New York minute.
The Astros entered the Big Apple for a weekend series with the New York Yankees as one of baseball's hottest teams with an 8-2 record in the month of June.
Houston departed the Bronx having been cooled off considerably, getting swept by the reigning World Series champions and watching the Yankees put up nine runs in each of the final two games.
Now, following a day off to collect their wits, the Astros will have a chance to recapture some of the good vibes when they open a three-game interleague series on Tuesday in Kansas City against the Royals.
On paper, at least, it looks like a much fairer fight between two teams sitting in fourth place in the Central Division of their respective leagues.
Of course, Kansas City may not be buying into that thinking after taking two of three games from the NL Central-leading Cincinnati Reds over the weekend.
The Royals are playing .500 ball (6-6) this month, helped by an offense that has finally shown signs of life, producing 27 runs in the last four games.
Leading the offensive charge for Kansas City is the 1-2 punch of first baseman Billy Butler and center fielder David DeJesus.
Butler homered and had four hits in Sunday’s 7-3 victory over the Reds. He enters Tuesday’s series with seven hits in his last eight at-bats, raising his batting average to a healthy .335.
DeJesus also homered and went 3-for-3 Sunday. He has hit safely in 11 of 12 games this month during which he is batting .419 (18-for-43).
Astros right-hander Felipe Paulino will look to quiet the bats of the Kansas City’s hot-hitting duo. Carrying a 1-7 record into the game, Paulino hardly looks like the best candidate to shut down any offense.
Think again. Despite the dreadful record, which is a result of losing his first six decisions of the year, not many pitchers in either league can rival the performances turned in by the burly Paulino over the past month.
Paulino has churned out five straight quality starts while lowering his ERA from 5.72 to 3.82. He has been sensational in his last three outings, going eight innings in each and allowing three runs and 17 hits in 24 innings.
Royals starter Kyle Davies (4-5) has been going in the opposite direction of Paulino. After pitching decently for most of the first two months of the season, he has been roughed up in his last three starts.
Davies has been tattooed for 16 runs and 23 hits in his last 15 2/3 innings, numbers that are a sure recipe for defeat given the offensive support he typically receives.
While Kansas City has twice put up a 12-spot on the scoreboard with Davies on the hill, they have provided him with a mere 2.9 runs per game in his other 10 starts.