Chickens on the Run: Game 65: Rangers vs. Astros

The Rangers are back to being to being ten games over 500. In fact, the Rangers are on pace to win 94 games this season (a 94-68 record). Houston has lost five games this season to the Rangers. They are also five games under 500. How much has this series affected the Astros? Well, had they gone 3-3 over the six games, they would be at 500 at the end of today's game. The Rangers have won the Silver Boot on Tuesday (a game that I was in attendance with my son).

As I was walking into the stadium on Tuesday, I was talking with another fan and I mentioned that the Rangers would sweep this series. I still stand by that statement.

Padilla comes into this game, humbled. He took the message that the Rangers sent that he needs to shape up or ship out. He has 11 starts this season and is 5-3 with a 4.82 ERA. Opponents are hitting .262 against him this season and has four wins in his last five starts. Over the five games, he has an ERA of 4.11... and imagine what his ERA would look like if there wasn't the Yankee game where he pitched 3.2 innings and gave up seven runs.

Padilla doesn't have as much success against the Astros. He has gone 2-4 against them, but has a 4.44 ERA. The team has hit him for a .290 batting average, but the current roster is a little better with a .296 average.

Astros to Watch:

Lance Berkman is 10-18 (.556) with five doubles, two HRs, and seven RBIs. (BEAN CHECK?)
Geoff Blum is 4-12 (.333) with a double, two HRs, and six RBIs. (BEAN CHECK?)
Miguel Tejada is 4-12 (.333) with a HR and three RBIs.

Pudge also has a HR against Padilla, along with two RBIs, but only bats .217 in 23 at-bats. Still, congradulations on the most games caught. And it was fitting for him to hit that achievement while catching at the Ballpark.

Backe hasn't started a game this season, but has four appearances and nine innings. His 12.00 ERA shows he hasn't been effective in relief and hitters are slapping him with a .395 batting average. He has given up three HRs this season, a one in three inning occurance. In the last three seasons, he has one start against the Rangers that led to a win in 6.1 innings.

In his career against the Rangers, he is 1-2 with a 7.77 ERA over 24.1 innings. The Rangers have hit him for a .274 batting average during that stretch.

Rangers to Watch:

Michael Young is 10-13 (.769) with a double, two HRs, and five RBIs.
Omar Vizquel is 2-7 (.286) with a double and a RBI.
David Murphy is 1-3 with a HR and RBI.

The current Ranger roster is 15-42 (.357) with two doubles, three HRs, and seven RBIs. Blalock and Kinsler also have hits off Backe.

Forecast: Gray skies ahead? Oh no. Things are looking up. I just thought I would see what this would look like without color. Not sure I like it. Anyway, I like the Rangers in this one, as Backe doesn't have much going on for him and the Rangers look like they pretty much own this guy, and Young does own Backe. Look for a score of 12-3, Rangers.