Series Preview: Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Angels

Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

Game 3: Scott Feldman (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Jered Weaver (0-1, 4.26 ERA)

Hey Mayor Annise Parker! Have you given Scott Feldman a key to the city yet? No? Well screw you too!

Fine, maybe Scott Feldman needs more than one good start to be given the key to our awesome city, but a couple more of those bad boys and I would be standing by my phone if I was Scott Feldman.

All joking aside, Feldman pitched really well in the season opener against the New York Yankees. In 6.2 innings, he limited the pinstripes to just two hits and two walks, didn’t give up a run, while striking out three.

It remains to be seen how good he will be going forward, but an Angels lineup that only managed eight runs in three games against the Mariners pitching staff isn’t exactly intimidating. I expect a similar performance from the $30 million man on Sunday.

Jered Weaver is coming off a “sickening” opening day loss to the Mariners (6.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K) and will be looking to right all the wrongs from that first game. The four hits he gave up is not concerning, but the three walks are not good.

In the past three seasons combined (2011-2013), Weaver has the fourth-most wins (49), fourth-best ERA (2.77) and second-best WHIP (1.05). Conversely, his FIP (fielding independent pitching) ranks 30th (3.54), strikeout rate ranks 54th (19.9 percent) and K/BB (strikeout per walk) ratio ranks 33rd (3.31) during that same time span.

Weaver’s three-year pattern of declining strikeout rates also hints at a possible step backwards, and he has a wide home/road split — 2.24 ERA at home, 3.29 on the road — from 2011-13.

Not to say he’s going to pitch horribly against the Astros, we’ll leave that title to CC Sabathia, but it wouldn’t surprise a lot of people if Weaver gives up a couple of runs here and there. How bad can he be with that surfer like hair he takes the mound with every game?