With Yusei Kikuchi delivering seven strong innings in the Houston Astros’ 5-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, Houston capped a dominant month of starting pitching fittingly.
The Astros (74-62) will look for more strong pitching in their rotation on Sunday afternoon when they vie for a four-game sweep of the visiting Royals (75-62).
Houston has won four games in a row while Kansas City has lost four straight.
The Astros clinched a series win behind Kikuchi, who recorded 12 strikeouts while allowing one run on five hits. Houston starters completed August with a 2.42 ERA and have remained hot even after switching to a six-man rotation when Justin Verlander returned on Aug. 21 following a 54-game stint on the injured list with neck discomfort.
Kikuchi and fellow left-hander Framber Valdez have matching 2.13 ERAs since Verlander returned while right-handers Hunter Brown and rookie Spencer Arrighetti have an 0.71 and 0.00 ERA, respectively. Verlander, who is 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in two starts since his return, has labored, expected given his long layoff. Otherwise, Astros starters have been exceptional despite the change in schedules.
“I feel like everybody is getting a blow, and for the most part, they have been getting deep into games,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “So it has worked so far, and we’re going to go through another stretch here in September where we’re going to need for us to do the same thing.”
Right-hander Ronel Blanco (9-6, 3.14 ERA) will start for Houston on Sunday.
He is 0-3 with a 4.69 ERA over his last eight starts after allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings in the Astros’ 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday. Blanco, who did not factor into the decision of that defeat, earned his last win on July 9 against the Miami Marlins, the lone time in his previous 11 starts he worked at least seven innings.
Blanco will make his first career appearance against the Royals.
Right-hander Alec Marsh (7-7, 4.67 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Royals on Sunday.
He allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits over 4 2/3 innings but did not factor into the decision of a 9-4 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Monday in his first appearance in the majors since July 29. Marsh is winless over his last four appearances (three starts), going 0-1 with a 5.28 ERA. He has allowed three earned runs or less in his last four road starts and is 3-4 with a 4.89 ERA on the road this season.
In his lone career appearance against the Astros, Marsh allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings and earned a 6-5 road win on Sept. 24, 2023.
On the flip side of the Astros’ pitching dominance is a Royals offense that has mustered one earned run on seven hits and five walks with 23 strikeouts over 20 2/3 innings against Brown, Valdez and Kikuchi. Avoiding a fifth consecutive loss and series sweep on Sunday is paramount.
“When we lose, it’s frustrating,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “These guys have pitched extremely well, the Astros have. I think our starters have thrown the ball extremely well. We’ve got a day game (Sunday), and that’s the best part about it. We’ll be out here earlier and will be able to compete earlier than usual.”
–Field Level Media
