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3 Cy Young Contenders Await Astros This Week

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  • Updated: September 5, 2016

With Texas in their rear-view mirror, the Houston Astros face a week of opposing starting pitchers with an average ERA close to 3.

If that weren’t enough, Houston’s next ten games are against first place teams. The Astros are all but mathematically eliminated from claiming the American League Western Division crown, and are now facing a Kilimanjaro-like climb just to contend for a playoff berth.

The Astros were outscored in Arlington over the Labor Day weekend, 28-19, and managed to salvage the third and final game, Sunday, with a 7-6 squeaker to move back to a 2-game deficit in the American League Wild Card standings (9.5 games back of Texas for the division lead).

Houston continues their road trip with four games in Cleveland, Labor Day through Thursday, before heading back home for a weekend set with the Chicago Cubs.

Big bats will be needed by the nine from H-Town, as the AL Central-leading Indians will set up what may be two Cy Young Award contenders, and the Cubs will trot out a solid two, as well.

Monday’s Proposed Bullpen Labor

Announced as the starters on Monday are Mike Fiers (9-6, 4.31) for Houston, and rookie righty Mike Clevinger (2-1, 5.30), as the Tribe are planning a “tag team” approach for the game. Clevinger hasn’t started since August 13, working mostly out of the bullpen for the Indians.

“It’s going to be more likely than not almost like a bullpen game,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said, looking ahead. “I think we can do that because it’s September,” referencing MLB’s roster expansion. The Indians have also chosen to skip a struggling Josh Tomlin‘s turn in the rotation, setting up Monday’s bullpen merry-go-round.

Fiers had possibly his best start of the year against Cleveland on May 9, working a season-high seven innings and allowing one earned run on three hits in his only career appearance against the Indians. He has a 2.45 ERA in 18.1 innings over his last three starts, all Houston victories.

On paper, Monday’s game may be the only “breather” for the Astros during the week, at least from the standpoint of a dominating starter; there’ll be no lack of those the rest of the week.

However, Cleveland’s bullpen ranks second in the league, with a 3.44 ERA, coming into Monday’s (September 5) game.

Tuesday’s Probables

The last two years’ Cy Young Award winners were to duke it out for game 2 at Progressive Field. but Houston’s Dallas Keuchel (reigning CYA winner) was sent home to Houston to see doctors, it was announced by the team Monday afternoon.

He’s been diagnosed with left shoulder inflammation, and has been shut down, and will miss at least two starts. His replacement for Tuesday’s game will be righthander Brad Peacock.

As a starter for the Astros’ Triple-A affiliate Fresno Grizzlies this season, Peacock has pitched to a 5-6 record, with a 4.23 ERA in 117 innings, earning 119 strikeouts against 40 walks.

2014 CYA winner, Corey Kluber (15-8, 3.09) goes for Cleveland, and is threatening to win his second top pitcher award in three years.

Mound Match-Up For Wednesday

Doug Fister (12-10, 3.91) gets the nod for Houston, while 7-year veteran Carlos Carrasco (10-7, 3.06) starts for Cleveland. Carrasco is quietly positioning himself for postseason pitching hardware himself, and should prove to be yet another challenging hurler for the Astros to solve this week.

Thursday Throwers

Houston’s rookie righthander, Joe Musgrove (2-3, 5.06) will face the Indians’ 25-year-old righty, Trevor Bauer (10-6, 3.70), who might just be the week’s toughest customer for Astro bats. Bauer won Saturday against the Marlins after allowing just three runs on four hits over 8.1 innings.

Related: Astros Grooming Guided Missile: Joe Musgrove

Homestand Opener, Friday

The Chicago Cubs, first place in the National League Central division, march into Minute Maid Park, Friday, September 9.

They’ll send serious NL Cy Young contender, 4-time All-Star Jon Lester (15-4, 2.61) against Houston’s Collin McHugh (9-10, 4.96).

Related: Collin McHugh: The Evolution of a Renaissance Man

Saturday in the Park

On FOX’s Game of the Week (Noon CT), the Cubs send reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta (16-6, 2.84) to the mound, while the Astros will try to abort his 2016 postseason hardware march. The Astros’ pitcher has yet to be announced.

Sunday’s Finale

ESPN will televise this game (7 pm CT), as Chicago has named right-hander John Lackey (9-7, 3.36) as their starter, while again, Houston’s has yet to be determined.

Not counting the first Cleveland game, Monday (promised to be less of a Clevinger start than the “bullpen game” mentioned by Francona), the average ERA of the opposing starters the Astros will face this week is 3.12 (throw in Clevinger’s, and it’s still a daunting 3.43).

It Doesn’t Get Any Easier

The Rangers will need to experience a total collapse in the coming week, while the Astros successfully mow their way through a barrage of world-class pitchers for the three-game home set against the Rangers (Sept. 12-14) to mean anything other than a Minute Maid attendance count.

Brad Kyle

Seen here, meeting Nolan Ryan at Dell Diamond in Round Rock (TX), around the turn of the century.

Brad was born and raised in the shadow of what eventually became Colt Stadium, and then, in '65, the Astrodome.

Brad's a semi-retired entertainer, having been lead singer (and flautist) of high school rock cover band Brimstone (Houston, early '70s).

He currently sings karaoke nightly, and also performs at nursing homes and private parties.

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