Sunday's game between the Houston Astros and the San Diego Padres is a battle between two starting pitchers who are finally finding their footing in the rotation. Cristian Javier and Randy Vasquez have both looked sharper after a recent rough stretch.
Both teams come into tonight's game looking to secure a series win. The Astros won the opener 6-3, and the Padres took Saturday's affair 3-2. The Houston bats took the night off as Michael King silenced them for six innings.
Scoring opportunities have been limited, as each game has been tightly contested.
The Astros will send Javier (1-2, 6.59 ERA) to the hill in the series finale. The club has been dealing with starting pitching depth all season. Javier spent time on the injured list with a shoulder strain. But he is healthy and beginning to pitch better after a slow start following his activation off the IL in July.
Javier posted a 3.79 ERA in July while splitting time between the bullpen and the starting rotation. At first, the right-hander was shaky with his control and velocity, which is a bad combination for a pitcher.
However, Javier began throwing in the mid-90s, as opposing teams could make solid contact off him. Astros manager Joe Espada was desperate for a pitcher to step up under pressure following multiple injuries to his starting rotation. His choices were limited, but he chose Javier for a spot start in late July.
He delivered an outstanding performance that earned him another start. Javier limited the damage by showcasing great command with his cutter. He kept the ball low in the strike zone.
Slowly, the Padres have revamped their starting rotation, as Vasquez (7-6, 4.19 ERA) has fortified his place with several quality outings in late July. The hope is he can provide added support in the chase for the final Wild-Card berth.
Friars manager Craig Stammen is hoping for an extended outing from Vasquez, who has trouble pitching deep into games. If not, it will put a tax on the bullpen that may have limited options for tonight's game. Let's hope Vasquez can duplicate his six-shutout-inning performance against the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier this week.
Keep in mind, he is not a power pitcher. Vasquez must avoid contact, with only 65 strikeouts in 101.0 innings pitched. The right-hander relies on ground-ball outs and the field's dimensions to keep a deep drive in play.
Vasquez should be aided by the early evening start. Once the sun sets, the marine layer coming off the bay should temper how far flyballs will travel in Petco Park.
Both starting pitchers have found their game, so do not be surprised if we witness a well-pitched game this evening. Each starter wants to take advantage of the pitcher-friendly environment.
If Javier or Vasquez revert to their former self, you can expect a high-scoring affair. Both lineups are built to draw walks and fill the bases. One mistake to a power hitter could put a crooked number on the scoreboard.
