San Francisco, CA
Series 22 (of 52) Preview: Astros Visit San Francisco
Houston has three games in San Francisco against the Giants, starting with tonight’s game at 8:45 PM CT.
This series is the only one this season between the Astros and the Giants. Houston will return home after this series to face the Detroit Tigers three times, then head back out to play three road games versus the Chicago White Sox.
Houston and San Francisco have played each other 737 times in the regular season, with the Astros winning 48 percent of the time (353-382). It’s Houston’s middlest record against an NL West opponent. They’re worse against the Los Angeles Dodgers (329-396) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (67-79) and better against the San Diego Padres (318-291) and the Colorado Rockies (104-85).
The last time these two teams played each other was from May 1 to May 3 last season, with the Astros winning the opener before dropping the final two games of the set. In Houston’s lone win of the series, on May 1, the Astros relied on a five-run seventh-inning outburst for an eventual 7-3 triumph. Mauricio Dubón led the offense with two singles and a double, while Jeremy Peña was the only other Astro with multiple hits. The game was also notable in that it was Luis Garcia’s final MLB appearance to date. Ryne Stanek (2-1, 3.60) earned the win in relief, with a perfect seventh inning.
Hopefully he’ll be back relatively soon. We don’t know when. We just have to call upon whoever’s the best available. — Dusty Baker
History would soon tell us that he was not back “relatively soon,” and JP France was the “best available.”
Houston is coming off a three-game series win over the Los Angeles Angels, winning twice before dropping the finale on Sunday. In Houston’s final win, on Saturday, Hunter Brown (2-5, 5.58) earned the win with six shutout innings of two-hit ball. He walked four and struck out seven. Every Houston player in the lineup collected at least one hit — aside from Jose Abréu. Yordan Alvarez collected three extra base hits to lead the way, including his 13th jack of the season. Jose Altuve also got two hits in the game.
I think to this point, we have a lot of guys that have experience in the playoffs, that have been through these moments. We played some good baseball and I think there’s going to be a spot where we are going to all click and when all is said and done, we’re going to be the ones to have the last laugh. — Alvarez
In the meantime, the Giants fell one win short of the sweep against the Texas Rangers, winning twice before losing 3-1 in yesterday’s finale. In their last win, also a 3-1 ballgame, Heliot Ramos was the only San Francisco player to finish with more than one hit, collecting all three of the Giants’ RBI. Erik Miller (1-2, 3.60) got the win with a scoreless inning of work, striking out two. Camilo Doval earned his 11th save of the year.
I’m just trusting my plan. The confidence happens whenever you make things happen. I’m just trying to trust it every day and trust that the plan that I’m taking to the plate is going to work. — Ramos
Standings
Houston Astros: 30-36, .455, 6.5 games back and in third place in the AL West. 12th in the American League, and 24th in MLB. On pace for 74-88. Fangraphs projects 83-79, and a 40.9 percent chance at reaching the postseason. Last 10: WLWLWWLWWL.
San Francisco Giants: 32-34, .485, 9.0 games back and in third place in the NL West. tied for sixth in the National League and 15th in MLB with the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds. On pace for 79-83. Fangraphs projects 81-81 and a 33.6 percent chance of reaching the playoffs. Last 10: LLLLLLWWWL.
Gametimes and Starting Pitchers
Monday, 8:45 PM CT: Spencer Arrighetti (3-5, 5.79) vs. Kyle Harrison (4-3, 4.18)
Tuesday, 8:45 PM CT: Ronel Blanco (5-2, 2.78) vs. Jordan Hicks (4-2, 2.82)
Wednesday, 2:45 PM CT: Framber Valdez (5-3, 3.53) vs. Logan Webb (5-5, 2.92)
Heroes and Zeroes (five highest and lowest WPA versus the Angels)
Yordan Alvarez 49.5
Jose Altuve 40.8
Hunter Brown 30.1
Framber Valdez 29.0
Chas McCormick 17.5
Yainer Diaz -11.5
Justin Verlander -22.9
Jeremy Peña -24.6
Josh Hader -27.7
Ryan Pressly -39.5
Poll
How many wins will Houston claim from the Giants?
The offseason has started for the San Francisco Giants, as they are going to be trying to improve and snap their playoff drought.
It has been a tough couple of seasons for the Giants, and they are hoping that new leadership at the top will help result in some positive changes. Landing the superstars in free agency has been a struggle for San Francisco, as they have missed out on players like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani in recent years.
With Buster Posey in charge now, the hope is that he will be able to convince some of the elite players to come to the Giants. While San Francisco will be looking to add some talent, preferably in the lineup, they did have one of the free agent signings from last offseason opt out in Blake Snell.
The southpaw signed just before the start of the season, and it really impacted his effectiveness on the mound at the start of the campaign. However, he really turned it around in the second half of the season and decided to opt out and test free agency once again this offseason.
Snell is likely going to receive the big contract that he desired last offseason, as his new deal should be north of $100 million. Even though he had a good second half of the season with the Giants, it doesn’t appear like he is going to be returning to San Francisco.
Recently, Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report named the Boston Red Sox as the ideal landing spot for the southpaw.
“The Red Sox need an ace. The Red Sox also have an aversion to doing long-term deals in free agency. The fit with Snell is good just from these perspectives, and it doesn’t hurt that he also has a track record of success in the AL East.”
The Red Sox are certainly going to be a team in the mix for one of the best pitchers on the market, as they have a clear need for an ace. Snell is familiar with the American League East from his time with the Tampa Bay Rays, as he had some very successful seasons there.
With the division being really competitive, Boston knows what they need to spend in order to compete, and Snell makes a lot of sense for them.
For the Giants, while their left-hander did well for them in the second half, the money that it would cost to keep him would likely be better allocated to their lineup.
Three women are taking their love of actor Dev Patel and turning it into a contest.
The friends are organizing a Dev Patel look-alike contest in San Francisco on Nov. 10 at the Miguel Hidalgo Statue in Dolores Park.
They got the idea after a similar event was held in New York City for Timothee Chalamet. That event drew thousands of people, including the star himself.
The organizers of the San Francisco event say they don’t expect Patel to show up, but they are expecting to meet some of his doppelgangers.
“I feel like everyone has met someone, that even remotely looks like Dev Patel or kind of has the same facial features, structure,” organizer Tasnim Khandakar said. “So, I also felt like there is also a lot of diversity here in San Francisco Bay Area. So, it feels like a kind of a good way to celebrate the actor and the people who live here.”
The women say they created the event, expecting a small gathering. But, now more than 140 people have RSVP’d.
“We’re ready for it, we’re prepared for it, we’re excited,” organizer Sitara Bellam said.
The winner of the contest will get $50, presented on a large check and a “Monkey Man” statue.
“I think we’re looking for someone who is really passionate about this too. I don’t think you have to look exactly like Dev Patel,” Khandakar said.
Bellam added: “It’s got to be like a guy that’s written by women, that vibe. You know, the ‘Pride and Prejudice,’ ‘Mr. Darcy’ vibe. I feel like that’s the Dev Patel energy.”
The contest starts at 1 p.m.
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