Pittsburgh @ Houston preview
Minute Maid Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 6, 2011 ) Houston 8, Pittsburgh 2
THE STORY: Coming off their best first half in 19 years, the Pittsburgh Pirates have their sights set on ending the longest stretch of futility in North American professional sports history. That may be possible if Jeff Karstens continues his stunning rise from obscurity to one of the best pitchers in the National League. Karstens will try for a fifth straight winning decision on Friday when the Pirates open the second half against the woeful Houston Astros. Pittsburgh has won seven of the nine meetings this season between the NL Central rivals, including all three in Houston.
TV: 8:05 pm. ET, Fox Sports Houston, ROOT Sports
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RHP Brett Myers (3-9, 4.87 ERA) vs. Pirates LH Jeff Karstens (7-4, 2.55 ERA).
Myers is winless in his last four starts - with his last outing being the worst of the bunch. The righthander allowed six runs – five earned – and four hits in 4 1/3 innings of a 6-1 loss to the Florida Marlins last Saturday. It was the first time in 52 starts that he didn’t pitch at least five innings. Myers is 0-3 with a 5.41 ERA since his last win on June 17. The Pirates roughed him up for five runs – four earned - and a season-high 13 hits in a 5-3 victory on July 4. All-Star Andrew McCutchen (9-for-16, two doubles) has handled Myers with ease.
Karstens has been brilliant since being moved from the bullpen when Ross Ohlendorf went down in April. The lefthander, who finished the first half with the sixth-lowest ERA in the National League, is 4-0 with a 1.48 ERA over his last seven starts. Karstens has been even better against Houston, allowing just one run over 13 2/3 innings in two wins this season. He’s had trouble retiring All-Star Hunter Pence (7-for-16, homer).
ABOUT THE ASTROS (30-62): Houston’s first half was one to forget. Losers of four straight and 17 of their last 20, the Astros are 32 games under .500 for the first time since the final day of the 1991 season. Houston finished the first half 10th in the National League in runs (358) and second-to-last in the majors in team ERA (4.68). A two-time All-Star selection, Pence (.323, 11 homers, 60 RBIs) has thrived despite the lack of supporting cast.
ABOUT THE PIRATES (47-43): The Pirates, who have won 12 of 18, are off to their best start since 1992 – their last winning season. The outstanding first half netted the Pirates three All Stars for the first time since 1990. McCutchen, who was named a replacement for the injured Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers, capped his first half with a homer and five RBIs in a 9-1 win over the Chicago Cubs last Saturday. Pittsburgh could be even better in the second half with the expected return of Jose Tabata (quadriceps) and Pedro Alvarez (quad), the second pick of the 2008 draft. Alex Presley has played well (9-for-19, one home run, six RBIs in 13 games) in Tabata’s absence, so the latter may have to earn his playing time.
FINAL PITCH: The Pirates won 47 games in the first half. It took them until Sept. 7 to win their 47th game last season.