Desert Rat
Veteran
The D-backs will experience a major altitude change going from mile-high Denver to 120-foot ASL Houston. Minute Maid Park is unique with its roof that retracts along with the entire windowed left-field side of the stadium (I've seen it in action), the left field train above the longball-inviting Crawford Boxes and of course, the centerfield berm. An old friend, Jose Valverde may be looking forward to getting back at his former team. Despite losing Ferdinand the Bull (Carlos Lee), the Astros have won their last eight games, giving them the same record as the D-backs. Can the Astros Express be derailed? The gratuitous complimentary pitching matchup previews, earlier than the D-backs can get outta Denver...
Friday - Webb vs. Rodriguez
Webb is on a wining streak of his own, being the victor in his last four starts while his ERA shrank back under 3.00. This will be the first time Webb has faced Houston this season. Webb has a lifetime record of 2-0 with a complete game and 1.21 ERA at Minute Maid Park. W-Rod's career, he usually had much better stats at home than on the road. That has evened out a bit in 2008. He has won four of his last six starts, but allowed six runs in each of the games that he did not win.
Saturday - Petit vs. Backe
Petit pitched well in his last start, allowing just two runs in five innings against Atlanta. He struck out a season-high six batters in that game, but earned his third loss thanks to a lack of run support and Tony Pena. Petit is 1-2 with an ERA of 3.00 as a starter. Backe (two syllables) is bouncing back after elbow surgery in 2007. The comeback has not been what everyone had hoped for, as he is 7-11 with a 5.14 ERA, inflated by a game two weeks ago where he allowed 11 runs to the Cubs in 3 innings. Backe has only faced the D-backs once, in 2006, getting battered for five runs and 12 hits in five innings.
Friday - Johnson vs. Oswalt
Former Astro Johnson will seek career win #295. He has pitched marvelously over his last seven starts, winning six of them with an ERA of 1.80. Earlier this season, Johnson was shelled for six runs in four innings, yet Arizona won the game. Oswalt has won his last four decisions. He has not gone longer then seven innings in any game in 2008, however, he has a history of success against Arizona, with a lifetime 6-1 with an ERA of 2.57.
This is all assuming the rotations don't get shuffled like they did this week!
Friday - Webb vs. Rodriguez
Webb is on a wining streak of his own, being the victor in his last four starts while his ERA shrank back under 3.00. This will be the first time Webb has faced Houston this season. Webb has a lifetime record of 2-0 with a complete game and 1.21 ERA at Minute Maid Park. W-Rod's career, he usually had much better stats at home than on the road. That has evened out a bit in 2008. He has won four of his last six starts, but allowed six runs in each of the games that he did not win.
Saturday - Petit vs. Backe
Petit pitched well in his last start, allowing just two runs in five innings against Atlanta. He struck out a season-high six batters in that game, but earned his third loss thanks to a lack of run support and Tony Pena. Petit is 1-2 with an ERA of 3.00 as a starter. Backe (two syllables) is bouncing back after elbow surgery in 2007. The comeback has not been what everyone had hoped for, as he is 7-11 with a 5.14 ERA, inflated by a game two weeks ago where he allowed 11 runs to the Cubs in 3 innings. Backe has only faced the D-backs once, in 2006, getting battered for five runs and 12 hits in five innings.
Friday - Johnson vs. Oswalt
Former Astro Johnson will seek career win #295. He has pitched marvelously over his last seven starts, winning six of them with an ERA of 1.80. Earlier this season, Johnson was shelled for six runs in four innings, yet Arizona won the game. Oswalt has won his last four decisions. He has not gone longer then seven innings in any game in 2008, however, he has a history of success against Arizona, with a lifetime 6-1 with an ERA of 2.57.
This is all assuming the rotations don't get shuffled like they did this week!
