The Astros will try to go for at least a series split and their first 2-game win streak of the season tonight against the Royals. The Astros are 28-26 all-time against Kansas City, including last year's ALDS.
The Royals will send righty Kris Medlen to the mound to make his 2016 debut tonight. In 2015 Medlen appeared in 15 games (8 starts), allowing 56H/26ER, 40K:18BB in 58.1IP. He missed all of 2014 thanks to his second Tommy John surgery, but spent 2009-2013 with the Braves where he bounced between the rotation and the bullpen. He did not appear in the ALDS against the Astros.
Medlen hasn't faced an Astros team since August 2012, and has only faced six Astros in his career for a total of 23 plate appearances. Erikkratz has logged the most PAs against Medlen - thanks to his time in Philly when Medlen was in Atlanta - and was 2x6 with a double, 1K:1BB. Luis Valbuena is 1x4 with a double and a walk; Jose Altuve is 0x4 with a strikeout; Marwin is 1x4; Rasmus is 0x1 with a walk, and Carlos Gomez is 1x1.
Fiers faced the Royals in June 2015 - incidentally before getting traded to the Astros. Current Royals batters are hitting a collective .348/.407/.435 because he got rocked by Kansas City to the tune of 8H/6ER, 2K:3BB in 5IP.
Fiers allowed 9H/5ER, 3K:0BB at Yankee Stadium last week, and is looking to turn his season around much like Collin McHugh last night. Of those nine hits allowed to the Yankees, two were doubles and two went for home runs.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
