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Astros Countdown: Top Five Wild Card Hitters to Watch

ByColin Gay|
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 01: Jonathan Schoop #6 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a single to right against the Kansas City Royals in the fifth inning during a game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 1, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 01: Jonathan Schoop #6 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a single to right against the Kansas City Royals in the fifth inning during a game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 1, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
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Mike Moustakas

KANSAS CITY, MO – JULY 20: Eric Hosmer #35 of the Kansas City Royals is congratulated by Mike Moustakas #8 after hitting a solo home run during the 3rd inning of the game against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium on July 20, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – JULY 20: Eric Hosmer #35 of the Kansas City Royals is congratulated by Mike Moustakas #8 after hitting a solo home run during the 3rd inning of the game against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium on July 20, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

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.

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