Astros Countdown: Top Five Wild Card Hitters to Watch
By Colin Gay
Mike Moustakas
The Royals are the one team that the Astros do not want to face in the Division Series again. After winning two of the first three games, the Astros lost the series in 2015, with the Royals going on to win the World Series against the New York Mets.
One bat that did not do much in the Division Series against the Astros was third baseman Mike Moustakas. In 18 at bats, he recorded only two hits and struck out two times.
However, with the Royals in the middle of the AL Wild Card hunt, Moustakas seems to be making up for lost opportunities against the Astros. In 24 at bats, this season, the 28-year-old free agent to be has a .458 batting average and a 1.310 OPS against Astros pitching. He has hit two of his career high 32 home runs against McCullers and Ken Giles while driving in five RBIs and scoring himself five times.
With many players on the roster becoming free agents, like Moustakas, Eric Hosmer, and Alcides Escobar, this may be the Royals last chance, with this core, to go on a deep playoff run. If the Astros matchup against the Royals again, Moustakas will be ready.