Tampa Bay @ Houston preview
Minute Maid Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 2, 2024 ) Tampa Bay 2, Houston 3
The Houston Astros took a crucial first step toward the integration of three new members to their 26-man roster on Friday when veteran left-hander Yusei Kikuchi excelled in his first start in the series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Kikuchi, acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays at Tuesday's trade deadline, struck out 11 over 5 2/3 innings and recorded a career-best 26 swings and misses in Houston's 3-2 win.
The Astros were unable to carve out playing time for left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson or rookie outfielder Pedro Leon in the series opener, but Leon is expected to earn his first career start Saturday when the Astros host the Rays in the second contest of the three-game series.
Blending the new with the old on the fly, and in pursuit of a postseason berth, is a welcome challenge.
"I think our players do a really good job of embracing new faces, and they are so welcoming," Astros manager Joe Espada said. "We're trying to win, and they want to make those guys feel as comfortable as possible right away. And that's exactly what they've done.
"Our reputation is how good we treat people here and how good our clubhouse is. It's important for us and we take pride in it."
Right-hander Ronel Blanco (9-5, 2.95 ERA) has the starting assignment for the Astros on Saturday.
Blanco worked only 4 1/3 innings last Saturday in his previous start -- his lowest total this season except for his ejection against the Oakland Athletics on May 14 -- but he did not factor into the decision of a 7-6 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. He allowed four runs on three hits and three walks with nine strikeouts. Blanco is 1-3 with a 4.46 ERA over his last six starts on the heels of a three-start stretch where he went 3-0 with an 0.90 ERA.
Blanco has faced the Rays once in his career. He allowed one run on four hits with three strikeouts over two innings of relief but did not factor into the decision of an 8-3 road loss on April 24, 2023.
Right-hander Zack Littell (4-7, 4.18 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Rays on Saturday.
Littell tossed seven scoreless innings in a 4-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds last Saturday allowing three hits and one walk with five strikeouts. He joined Taj Bradley as the only Rays pitchers to work seven scoreless innings while allowing three hits or less this season. Littell had just one win over his previous 12 starts, going 1-5 with a 5.49 ERA and .877 OPS during that stretch.
Littell will make his second career start against the Astros. He allowed two runs on eight hits with four strikeouts over five innings in an 8-2 road victory on July 30, 2023.
Rays batters struck out 14 times for a second consecutive game, hitting that total in the series finale vs. the Miami Marlins on Wednesday and again against the Astros on Friday.
"It's not the third strike that's getting us," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. "The approach has not been ideal. We're expanding with guys early in the count. We need to be a little bit more mindful of what guys are doing to us."
--Field Level Media