Game of the Week: August 3: TB @ HOU

[Commissioner Erick]

Tampa Bay Rays (58-48) @ Houston Astros (57-48)


TB: Brent Honeywell (9-7, 4.38)
HOU: Joe Musgrove (12-4, 4.00)


The Tampa Bay Rays sit at 58-48, ecstatically just a couple of games behind the New York Yankees for the AL East lead.

The Houston Astros sit at 57-48, disappointingly 3.5 games behind the Texas Rangers for the AL West lead.

What a difference in perspective expectations create.

The Rays and Astros meet in Houston for the Game of the Week in a key battle of teams trying to make the playoffs. Each team is within range of its division crown, and the two teams are the two main competitors right now for the second AL Wild Card.

Houston got off to a strong start this season and was 48-32 on June 2nd. A Ryon Healy home run in extra innings later that day began a downward trend that has the Astros just 9-16 since then. Though Oakland has struggled as well during that frame, the Rangers resurgence has Houston looking up in the division.

Houston had a 6.50 ERA in July that fueled their tailspin, as their pitching hasn't been up to snuff all year. Three starters have nagging injuries, but they'll be able to turn to their healthiest and most successful starter today to try to stop the bleeding.

Joe Musgrove has produced an even 4.00 ERA this year, identical to the 4.00 ERA he produced last year. His 12 wins sit at third in the league, a year after his 20 topped the AL. Musgrove has been just as reliable as ever, which has been welcome to Houston. At home he's been particularly strong. He has a 6-1 record there this year with a 3.20 ERA, and 77 strikeouts in 64.2 innings. Importantly for Musgrove, he features a devastating change up, which should help against the lefty-heavy lineup Tampa Bay fields.

The Rays are seventh in most offensive categories, and sixth in runs. They do lead the league in left-handed batters, as their normal lineup goes eight-deep with southpaw swingers. Former All-Star Casey Gillaspie's exile to the bench continues, a fact he's taken in stride, as Eric Hosmer and Jesus B. Sanchez have taken his place. Sanchez has produced middling numbers, only hitting .272 with four home runs in roughly half a season worth of at bats. Hosmer has produced stronger numbers in the power department with 16 thus far, but the slugger has only a .303 OBP and a .704 OPS, underwhelming for a first baseman for sure.

That lack of power has kept the Rays behind the Yankees so far. The team gets offensive production from unlikely sources like second base and center field, and their rotation is excellent. If one of their sluggers can step up, in generally and particularly today against Musgrove, they'd have a stronger claim to taking part in this year's postseason.


Questions for the GMs:


For Graham Stratford, Andres Gimenez has been ruled day-to-day with some hamstring soreness. Will he play today?

You're not getting terrific production from Hosmer or Sanchez. Do you feel like you'll turn back to Gillaspie at any point this year?

Alex Colome has a terrific FIP but a terrible ERA. What do you make of his season and how much confidence do you have in him?

For Ryan James, the Mike Trout trade appears to have been a spectacular one for you as Trout has been an MVP candidate. Looking back on it, how do you feel about the deal?

Garrett Stubbs is exhausted and you don't have a backup catcher with Evan Gattis on the shelf. Who will catch today's game?

What has been the cause of your team's struggles over the past month?

[tampabay_g]

1. yes we will still plan on playing him and he will sit towards the back of the lineup to help him a little bit.

2. Sanchez has been doing well but hosmer is falling a little behind and we may have to look at rotating the two first baseman and play who is hot coming up.

3. He is having a weird season and I believe his era will start to come down and i think he will finish the season strong.

[Commissioner Erick]

Astros 13 - Rays 3


WP: M. Feliz (13-4)
LP: B. Honeywell (9-8)


The Houston Astros' pitching staff has been put through the ringer the past month and after that start Joe Musgrove got off to, it seemed like the trend would continue.

Musgrove eventually settled down, and he fortified the Astros playoff position in the process.

Musgrove worked 6 innings allowing three runs, but none after the second inning in a 13-3 Astros victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Tampa Bay got off to a great start in the first inning as their first four hitters reached base. However, Musgrove got Thomas Nido to hit into a double play that killed that rally before more than a single run could score. Matt Chapman took Musgrove deep in the second to make it 3-0 and it felt like so many games the Astros had lost since the calendar turned to July.

In the bottom of the second, Houston's bats bailed out Musgrove and really put a hurt on Brent Honeywell.

Mookie Betts slashed a two-run double down the right field line to get the Astros on the board, making the score 3-2. George Springer was plunked before MVP-candidate Alex Bregman struck out. However, Jose Altuve was able to follow and hook a fastball into left field for an RBI single to tie the game.

Honeywell wasn't able to stop Houston's momentum.

Mike Trout followed Altuve with a grounder into right field to plate Springer with Trout's 99th RBI of the year. Carlos Correa, who has struggled compared to a spectacular season last year, came up big with a booming double down the right field line to plate Altuve and Trout, making it 6-3 Astros. Wilmer Flores flew out to end the inning, but Houston's six-spot put them in charge and allowed Musgrove to settle down.

Musgrove came back out and faced the minimum over his final 4 innings, allowing just a single to Andres Gimenez that was erased on a double play. He only struck out four, but really settled in and showed resolve after the first four batters to pitch a strong game. He improved to 13-4 as a result of that resolve.

Meanwhile the Astros poured it on late. Betts continued his strong game with a two-run home run against Honeywell in the fifth that put the game out of reach. He came up again in the seventh and had his third extra base hit, an RBI double off Chris Archer to make it 9-3. Betts had five RBIs in the game.

Josh Reddick homered in the eighth and scored four runs. Reddick also doubled twice, improving his average to .310.

Honeywell's eight earned runs allowed were the most he's given up in a game this year.


Questions for the GMs:


For Graham Stratford, Honeywell was an All-Star last year but has easily been your least reliable starter this year. Chris Archer wasn't much better last night, but do you have any thoughts of going to Archer at all?

Jesus B. Sanchez went 1-4 and Hosmer went 0-4 against a good pitcher. Does this game add any more ammunition to the thought of going to Gillaspie?

Kevin Kiermaier was hurt last year and ineffective when he played, with his injury arguably costing you a postseason spot. He suffered a strained oblique early in the year, but went 2-4 today. How has he looked this season?

For Ryan James, Garrett Stubbs got the start but looked lethargic out there, only going 1-5. How long can you go without resting him?

Josh Reddick had an awful postseason last year, but you've stuck with him and he's continued to reward you. Why have you stuck with Reddick with so many options coming in to the offseason?

Mookie Betts really found his groove with five driven in. Do you feel he can still have a strong enough final kick to make it worth what you traded to get him?