And this afternoon (2:35pm Central) the Astros close out the series in Anaheim looking for their second straight road series win. Taking the mound for the Angels...
Christopher John Wilson, a 32-year old 6'1" 210lb LHP from Newport Beach, California.
*Drafted in the 5th Round of the 2001 draft by the Texas Rangers.
*He is Head & Shoulders' new "Mane Man."
*I totally forgot this, or just didn't care at the time, but Wilson was the Rangers' closer, getting 24 saves (despite a 6.02 ERA/1.64 WHIP) in 2008 and converted to the rotation for the 2010 season. In two seasons in the rotation in Texas, he was 31-15 with a 3.14 ERA/1.22 WHIP.
*He signed a 5yr/$77.5m deal with the Angels a few hours after the Angels signed Albert Pujols, and went 13-10 with a 3.83 ERA/1.34 WHIP in his third straight season of 200+ IP.
*Wilson owns a racing team, and wants to race cars after his career is over. He won the 2010 25 Hours of Thunderhill (easily the best Michael Bay movie).
*He also doesn't have a problem criticizing the Rangers, pretty much every chance he gets. And he got in trouble last Spring Training when he tweeted out former catcher Mike Napoli's phone number.
*This is Wilson's third start of the season. He hasn't gotten a decision, but the Angels are 0-2 in games that he has started, allowing 11H/7ER with 11K:7BB.
*Most of the damage against Wilson have come in single innings. In his first start it was the 4th, where he allowed 3H/4ER and three walks. In his second start, against the A's, it was a 3H/3ER, 3BB 1st inning that tagged him.
*In four starts against the Astros in his career, Wilson is 2-0 with a 3.25 ERA. In 27.2IP, the Astros have 29H/10ER, 14K:9BB.
*Against current Astros, Chris Carter is 3x4 with a double and a walk. Carlos Pena is 1x9 with 4K:3BB. Carlos Corporan is 2x6 with a double.
*Wilson has thrown his fastball 55.7% of the time this season, with it sitting at an average of 90.5mph (down from 91.7mph average in 2012). He's also mixing in a curve (18%), changeup (10.3%), cutter (9.8%) and a slider (6.2%).
*Wilson has yet to strike out a batter when he's behind in the count (16 PAs - .556/.750/.889). With RISP, opponents are hitting .625/.727/1.000 (5x8 with three walks).
*Phil Humber takes the mound for Houston, and has allowed 10H/4ER, 4K:3BB in 11.2IP this season. Against the Angels, Humber is 0-1 with 16H/8ER, 5K:5BB in 10.2IP.
*The current group of Angels are 11x31 with 3K:4BB against Humber. Pujols and Trout are both 2x4 with a homer for their careers.
*Humber has limited RHBs to a 2x21 line (.095/.095/.095) this season, and he has given up just one extra-base hit in his 49 batters faced.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
