Houston Astros: Five Things We Learned From Last Night

Five Things We Learned From Last Night

Oct 6, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) looks for the sign against the New York Yankees during the first inning in the American League Wild Card playoff baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Astros stuck with the game plan they had all season last night. Hit home runs and out pitch the opposing team. The youngest team in baseball went into the Bronx last night to take on baseball’s most prized franchise: the New York Yankees. Dallas Keuchel quickly got in his groove and then mowed down the Yankees lineup. Colby Rasmus and Carlos Gomez each hit home runs off the first pitch in their at bats versus Masahiro Tanaka. ESPN reported that the Astros starting lineup salaries added up to approximately $27 million. The Yankees have four players over $20 million in CC Sabathia, Tanaka, Alex Rodriguez, and Jacoby Ellsbury. Last night, we were able to learn five crucial things about the Astros moving forward this postseason.

1. Dallas Keuchel is One Bad Dude

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If you have been watching the Astros all season, then you are not necessarily learning this. Despite the votes already being cast, Keuchel affirmed why voters should hand him this season’s A.L. Cy Young Award. Keuchel went six innings strong despite short rest. Keuchel said in a post game interview that he prefers short rest over the extended rest, which could be a major plus for the Astros moving forward. Keuchel allowed only three hits, one walk, and struck out seven.

Keuchel has an opportunity to be this postseason’s Madison Bumgarner. Last postseason, Bumgarner put the San Francisco Giants on his back to lead the organization to their third World Series in five years. Bumgarner dominated in the one game wild card versus the Pirates. He then proceeded to start in two games in the World Series while also pitching for the save in game seven to earn himself the World Series MVP.  Keuchel can have the same effect on Astros this postseason. His dominance on the location of his fastball, gold glove ability, and rise in strikeout rate can sit down some of the postseason’s best bats.

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