Houston Astros: Home Opener Series Preview

GAME 2 – Kris Medlen (0-0, 0.00) vs Mike Fiers (0-0, 9.00)

Medlen was signed by KC last year after his second Tommy John surgery.  He proved to be a decent acquisition, helping out in the bullpen and making starts as injuries occurred.  When he started last year, his ERA was in the mid-fours, and benefited from run support.  He throws a variation of fastballs averaging 90 mph, and does a decent job of getting ground balls hit.  He has minimal experience versus Astro hitters, and will be making his first appearance of the season.

Fiers gave up five earned runs and nine hits in five innings of work in his season debut.  One bright spot is that he did not walk a single batter, whcih is something other Astro starters are having issues with. It doesn’t bode well for Fiers that current Royals hitters are batting a combined .348 against him.

Fiers gave up two home runs against New York, and will need to focus on throwing his curveball a bit more in his next start.  Last season he relied on the curveball and change-up equally as his secondary pitch and it worked well for him.  He only threw seven curveballs against New York, so we will see if he plans to incorporate that pitch more heavily this outing.

Prediction: Astros 6 – Royals – 3

Next: Astros vs. Royals Game 3