Larry Ness
Colorado Rockies @ Houston Astros
PICK: Houston Astros
The Astros are in a funk (have lost eight of 10) but they did take two of three this past weekend at Pittsburgh. The Astros return to Houston and open a four-game series tonight with the Rockies. Colorado is opening an 11-game trip after missing out on a chance for its first sweep of the season. The Rockies lost 5-2 to the Padres yesterday, after winning the first two games of that series under new manager, Jim Tracy (Clint Hurdle was fired Friday). The Rockies are 11-15 on the road in 2009 and are once again struggling with right-handed starters. The Rockies were 48-67 vs righties in 2008, including an abysmal 22-41 against them on the road. They come into this game at 14-18 vs righties overall, including 8-10 on the road (not as bad as last year). However, while it's hasn't been a good year for Oswalt in 2009 (Houston's starter tonight) he is 6-1 with a 1.84 ERA in nine career starts against Colorado (Astros are 7-2). Oswalt has made 11 starts this season and after losing his first two, has gotten just one decision (a win), since. The other eight games are seven no decisions and a suspended game. Here's a guy who will take a career 130-66 (.663) mark into this game, with a 3.18 ERA. He's 1-2 with a 4.62 ERA in 2009, allowing 68 hits in 62.1 innings, so it's not been a typical Oswalt season (team is 4-6 in his starts). However, his mound opponent tonight, is struggling much more. Cook was an All Star last year (16-9 with a 4.82 ERA / team was 19-13 in his starts) but he's 3-2 with a 4.82 ERA in 10 starts in 2009 (team is 3-7). He's made five road starts with a 5.40 ERA, with the Rockies going 1-4. Cook is 4-0 with a 3.05 ERA in seven career starts vs the Astros (teams are 5-2) but I'm betting that Oswalt finally starts to get things back on track. He's been too good for too not long, not to. Take the Astros.
Colorado Rockies @ Houston Astros
PICK: Houston Astros
The Astros are in a funk (have lost eight of 10) but they did take two of three this past weekend at Pittsburgh. The Astros return to Houston and open a four-game series tonight with the Rockies. Colorado is opening an 11-game trip after missing out on a chance for its first sweep of the season. The Rockies lost 5-2 to the Padres yesterday, after winning the first two games of that series under new manager, Jim Tracy (Clint Hurdle was fired Friday). The Rockies are 11-15 on the road in 2009 and are once again struggling with right-handed starters. The Rockies were 48-67 vs righties in 2008, including an abysmal 22-41 against them on the road. They come into this game at 14-18 vs righties overall, including 8-10 on the road (not as bad as last year). However, while it's hasn't been a good year for Oswalt in 2009 (Houston's starter tonight) he is 6-1 with a 1.84 ERA in nine career starts against Colorado (Astros are 7-2). Oswalt has made 11 starts this season and after losing his first two, has gotten just one decision (a win), since. The other eight games are seven no decisions and a suspended game. Here's a guy who will take a career 130-66 (.663) mark into this game, with a 3.18 ERA. He's 1-2 with a 4.62 ERA in 2009, allowing 68 hits in 62.1 innings, so it's not been a typical Oswalt season (team is 4-6 in his starts). However, his mound opponent tonight, is struggling much more. Cook was an All Star last year (16-9 with a 4.82 ERA / team was 19-13 in his starts) but he's 3-2 with a 4.82 ERA in 10 starts in 2009 (team is 3-7). He's made five road starts with a 5.40 ERA, with the Rockies going 1-4. Cook is 4-0 with a 3.05 ERA in seven career starts vs the Astros (teams are 5-2) but I'm betting that Oswalt finally starts to get things back on track. He's been too good for too not long, not to. Take the Astros.
