Climbing Tal's Hill
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Astros: Brad Peacock’s struggles with the Angels are not new

By Eric Huysman

Jun 4, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Houston Astros relief pitcher Brad Peacock (41) on the mound in the sixth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 4, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Houston Astros relief pitcher Brad Peacock (41) on the mound in the sixth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Astros’ Brad Peacock may be spreading his wings this year, but the Angels know how to bully him.

With my coverage of the MLB Draft on Monday, I wanted to take a second to talk about Brad Peacock. With his disaster three innings on Friday night, many Astros fans are bailing on Peacock. In fact, I had to convince my wife not to fire him. Pitchers sometimes just don’t have it. While pitching is muscle memory, it’s easy to get out of rhythm.

Was Peacock out of rhythm Friday night? He has 18 walks on the season, four of them happened that night. Peacock has 48 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings this year upping his domination of 2017. His ERA raised to 3.15 indicating that he was having a good season before facing the Angels.

Most people may not remember that Peacock was pitching well before the last home game of the year. It was a day that I will forever remember. I checked my son out of school early, and he missed a test, but we were able to say goodbye to Tal’s Hill.

The reason it was so memorable was because the Angels jumped all over Peacock. That loss eliminated any chances of making the playoffs, and it was a never-ending game. The memory of that game distracted us from how good Peacock pitched last year. With today’s what have you done for me lately attitude, you are only as good as your last start.

Peacock has faced the Angels nine times in his career, which is behind the Mariners and Athletics. Versus the Angels, Peacock is 3-2 with a 5.15 ERA while striking out 31 hitters in 36 2/3 innings. The Angels pounded him last year for seven runs, five were earned runs, in 4 2/3 innings. In Friday’s game, four runs on seven hits in only three innings. He walked four Angels both times.

Next: The Astros can trade prospects away and replenish them via the MLB Draft.

Peacock may not be the answer that the Astros are looking for the long-term. However, he is what the Astros need right now. We will see how he bounces back in his next start. With Musgrove returning Monday after a DL stint, the Astros need their starters going deeper including Peacock.

***Stats from Baseball-Reference***

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