Following what was an aberrant efficiency from ace left-hander Framber Valdez, the Houston Astros nonetheless managed to report a whopping 16 strikeouts in opposition to the Chicago Cubs on Monday
Exactly half of the credit score goes to the five-man bullpen of right-handers Phil Maton, Seth Martinez, Rafael Montero, Ryne Stanek and Hector Neris, who mixed for eight strikeouts over 5 shutout innings within the Astros‘ 6-4 victory within the opener of a three-game interleague collection
The groups will contest the center sport on Tuesday on Houston.
Valdez recorded eight strikeouts however allowed a season-high 4 earned runs whereas working a season-low 4 innings. The bullpen picked him up, with Stanek placing out the facet within the eighth between a bounce-back efficiency from the scuffling Montero and a clear ninth inning from Neris, who notched his second save.
“We needed it,” Astros supervisor Dusty Baker stated of the robust reduction work. “Stanek, it’s just a matter of if he can get ahead of (hitters) because his fastball was excellent and his breaking ball was good. Maldy (catcher Martin Maldonado) kept him in the zone, so that was a big plus.
That the Astros were able to stifle the Cubs late without using their top two relievers, Bryan Abreu and closer Ryan Pressly, was an added benefit at the start of a six-game homestand
“It was good that we might give these different guys a break,” Baker said.
Right-hander Cristian Javier (3-1, 3.47 ERA) has the starting assignment for the Astros on Tuesday. In his previous outing, he fanned a season-high 11 batters while allowing two runs on three hits and issuing just one walk in a 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. It was his fifth appearance this season in which he walked one or none
It marked his second double-digit strikeout performance this season and the fifth of his career, with three of those coming against the Angels.
Javier will make his first career appearance against the Cubs. He is 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA in 16 career interleague appearances (nine starts)
Left-hander Justin Steele (6-0, 1.82 ERA) is the scheduled starter on Tuesday for Chicago, which has lost three games in a row and six of the past eight.
He had his streak of 14 consecutive appearances allowing two runs or fewer snapped in his previous start on Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Steele surrendered three runs on seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts over six innings in a 10-4 victory.
Steele, who has registered seven quality starts in eight outings this season, will be making his first career appearance against Houston.
Among the five roster moves made by Chicago on Monday, one likely signaled the pending return of veteran right-hander Kyle Hendricks.
The Cubs optioned rookie starter Hayden Wesneski to Triple-A Iowa, opening the door for Hendricks to rejoin the rotation in the near future. Hendricks has missed the entire season while recovering from shoulder woes but is on the mend following four recent rehab starts
With off days bracketing their upcoming three-game weekend series against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Cubs wouldn’t need Hendricks to make a start until sometime late next week
“There’s no selections previous (Monday),” Cubs manager David Ross said. “We have some off days developing. He’ll are available and possibly throw a (bullpen session) with us earlier than his subsequent begin.
–Field Level Media
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