San Francisco @ Houston preview
Minute Maid Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 22, 2010 ) San Francisco 3, Houston 1
While Barry Zito has been one of baseball’s feel-good stories this season, he is starting to encounter some struggles.
The San Francisco Giants left-hander is still pitching effectively but Zito has just one win in his last six starts. That happens over a six-month season, when there are times that a pitcher can’t seem to fall into a win.
That’s where Zito is right now, but that doesn’t mean it won’t change when he starts Wednesday at Minute Maid Park against the Houston Astros.
Even though the wins have dwindled after a 6-1 start, Zito is still having his finest season since crossing the Bay from Oakland. He is 7-3 with a 3.13 ERA, all on pace to being his best season since 2006 - his last with the Athletics.
The Astros have struggled to put together long stretches of good baseball all season long, and that may play into Zito’s hand. When he is at his best, Zito’s big sweeping curveball has hitters out on their front foot and locked out on his hard stuff.
And Houston has to be getting antsy after losing for the fifth straight time and for the ninth time in 10 games.
The Astros will counter with right-hander Brad Penny, who has been pretty tough when pitching at home despite a 1-2 record in Minute Maid.
In his first season in Houston, Penny has a 2.74 ERA in four games at home compared to 3.58 on the road. He has been a nice addition to the Astros rotation, but his teammates haven’t returned the love with run support, leading to a rather pedestrian record of 3-4 overall.
One of the players for the Astros that has had his pitchers’ back all season has been Jeff Keppinger. After playing five positions for Houston last season, Keppinger has been inserted at second base in manager Brad Mills’ first season.
He has responded with a .284 average with one home run and 22 RBIs and his solid play led to the release of Kaz Matsui. He isn’t going to wow the scouts, but he is going to get the most out of his ability with his level of effort.
But as good as Keppinger has been, Houston isn’t going to be a threat until Carlos Lee and Lance Berkman begin producing at their normal level. Both are struggled through the worst seasons of their careers.
The Nos. 3-4 hitters in the lineup, Berkman is batting .239 while Lee is hitting just .223.