Post by Commissioner Erick on Dec 31, 2021 17:20:31 GMT -5
Houston Astros (18-23) @ Detroit Tigers (20-20)
HOU: Jeff Morrison (3-4, 4.69)
DET: Kumar Rocker (3-3, 4.23)
Astros 5 Key Stats
7: Mitchell Stone’s Save total this year. Houston lost top notch closer Antonio Santillan for the early part of the year, but Houston hasn’t missed a beat. Stone was Houston’s closer in 2025 and saved 30 games. He has seven saves in eight attempts thus far and a 2.19 ERA.
.246: Houston’s batting average. Houston is 13th in average with five players with an average of .214 or worse. Nick Chelsey, Blake Paugh, Jonathan Lawhorn, Casey Gillapie and Wyatt Cross all have at least 70 at bats and an average at or below .214. Chesley and Paugh are still in the everyday lineup, and Cross plays against lefties. Gillaspie and Lawhorn have been replaced in the lineup though.
7-14: Houston’s road record. Houston has been solid at home, with an 11-9 record, but has been rough on the road. They’ll need to turn that around to beat Detroit today.
3-24: Dansby Swanson’s batting the past week. Swanson has struggled all year and doesn’t have a home run. He at least hit .282 in April, but is hitting .127 in May.
.285: Ajani Dimanche’s average. Dimanche has been one of the rare Houston hitters overachieving in average. He spent most of last year in Triple-A, but is off to a really good start to this year.
Tigers 5 Key Stats
7: Earned Runs allowed by David Heide. Heide allowed seven runs in 65.1 innings last year. He had a 0.96 ERA last year, and is running a 4.30 mark this year. Detroit will need Heide to be dominant to compete in a strong AL Central.
3.0: Roderick Dalton’s WAR. Dalton is hitting a stupendous .429, with 15 doubles, nine home runs, and 36 RBIs. Dalton also has 28 walks to 13 strikeouts. He had a good year last year, and the potential to be better, but he’s turning into a monster.
.237: Nick Gordon’s average. Gordon hasn’t hit lower than .264 since his rookie year. He hit .320 in 2024. He’s not much of a power hitter so he needs to hit for a high average to be a productive player.
.845: Detroit’s average against lefties, tops in the league. Houston has four lefties, including closer Mitchell Stone and setup man Konnor Pilkington. Detroit may be able to come back if they’re down late.
.190: Brice Turang’s average. Turang hit .291 last year and .302 the year prior. With a .190 average, he’s been replaced by Phil Knightner in the lineup.
Questions for the GMs:
For Neil Ehm, Lazaro Armenteros is eligible to come off the IL. Will you activate him today?
Casey Gillaspie has been a notorious slow starter. Will we see him back in the lineup this year or is he pretty firmly on the bench now?
Blake Paugh has a .530 OPS thus far. Will you look to upgrade your DH spot with he and Gillaspie struggling?
For Steve Cox 2, how has tonight’s starter Kumar Rocker looked to you thus far?
You’ve had Brice Turang on the trade block in the past, and he’s been benched after a slow start. How are you feeling about the contract extension you gave him in the offseason?
Daniel Brito continues to hit well, and has been over .300 both seasons with Detroit. Will you keep him hitting eighth if he keeps hitting this way?
TRIVIA: Who are the only two Detroit Tigers left-handed hitters to have over 100 RBIs in a season?
HOU: Jeff Morrison (3-4, 4.69)
DET: Kumar Rocker (3-3, 4.23)
Astros 5 Key Stats
7: Mitchell Stone’s Save total this year. Houston lost top notch closer Antonio Santillan for the early part of the year, but Houston hasn’t missed a beat. Stone was Houston’s closer in 2025 and saved 30 games. He has seven saves in eight attempts thus far and a 2.19 ERA.
.246: Houston’s batting average. Houston is 13th in average with five players with an average of .214 or worse. Nick Chelsey, Blake Paugh, Jonathan Lawhorn, Casey Gillapie and Wyatt Cross all have at least 70 at bats and an average at or below .214. Chesley and Paugh are still in the everyday lineup, and Cross plays against lefties. Gillaspie and Lawhorn have been replaced in the lineup though.
7-14: Houston’s road record. Houston has been solid at home, with an 11-9 record, but has been rough on the road. They’ll need to turn that around to beat Detroit today.
3-24: Dansby Swanson’s batting the past week. Swanson has struggled all year and doesn’t have a home run. He at least hit .282 in April, but is hitting .127 in May.
.285: Ajani Dimanche’s average. Dimanche has been one of the rare Houston hitters overachieving in average. He spent most of last year in Triple-A, but is off to a really good start to this year.
Tigers 5 Key Stats
7: Earned Runs allowed by David Heide. Heide allowed seven runs in 65.1 innings last year. He had a 0.96 ERA last year, and is running a 4.30 mark this year. Detroit will need Heide to be dominant to compete in a strong AL Central.
3.0: Roderick Dalton’s WAR. Dalton is hitting a stupendous .429, with 15 doubles, nine home runs, and 36 RBIs. Dalton also has 28 walks to 13 strikeouts. He had a good year last year, and the potential to be better, but he’s turning into a monster.
.237: Nick Gordon’s average. Gordon hasn’t hit lower than .264 since his rookie year. He hit .320 in 2024. He’s not much of a power hitter so he needs to hit for a high average to be a productive player.
.845: Detroit’s average against lefties, tops in the league. Houston has four lefties, including closer Mitchell Stone and setup man Konnor Pilkington. Detroit may be able to come back if they’re down late.
.190: Brice Turang’s average. Turang hit .291 last year and .302 the year prior. With a .190 average, he’s been replaced by Phil Knightner in the lineup.
Questions for the GMs:
For Neil Ehm, Lazaro Armenteros is eligible to come off the IL. Will you activate him today?
Casey Gillaspie has been a notorious slow starter. Will we see him back in the lineup this year or is he pretty firmly on the bench now?
Blake Paugh has a .530 OPS thus far. Will you look to upgrade your DH spot with he and Gillaspie struggling?
For Steve Cox 2, how has tonight’s starter Kumar Rocker looked to you thus far?
You’ve had Brice Turang on the trade block in the past, and he’s been benched after a slow start. How are you feeling about the contract extension you gave him in the offseason?
Daniel Brito continues to hit well, and has been over .300 both seasons with Detroit. Will you keep him hitting eighth if he keeps hitting this way?
TRIVIA: Who are the only two Detroit Tigers left-handed hitters to have over 100 RBIs in a season?
