Series Preview: Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Angels

Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Game 4: Jarred Cosart (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. C.J. Wilson (0-1, 9,53 ERA)

You know why the Astros are going to win this game? They went to Jarred. BOOM!

I’m going to use that line a lot this year. You have been warned.

Jarred Cosart had quite the game on Wednesday night (5 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 3 K) against the Yankees, and will get the chance to continue his strong start to the season in the series finale on Monday afternoon.

The biggest thing I took away from Cosart’s first game was the zero walks. I highlighted in the Yankees preview that his 1.35 WHIP from last year was a major concern, but if he keeps those numbers down, people like myself are going to have to start taking him seriously.

C.J. Wilson did not have a good start to the season. He gave up eight hits, two walks, one home run and EIGHT earned runs in just 5.2 innings in his start against the Mariners.

He did strikeout eight guys though, and he has always been dangerous in that department. The Astros will have to be patient and make good decisions on his pitches, instead of hacking away, ball after ball after ball (I’m looking at you, Chris Carter!).

Wilson has not been the starter the Angels were expecting when they signed him to that large contract in 2012. After a career year for the Texas Rangers in 2011 (2.94 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 8.3 K/9), Wilson has averaged a 3.60 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 7.8 K/9 in his two years with the Angels. Could this be the year he puts it all together again and performs up to his contract? We will have to see.

SERIES PREDICTION

The Astros will split the series with the Angels, two games apiece. They get one win from Harrell/Keuchel and then Cosart will out duel Wilson in the series finale to make sure the Astros finish above .500 for at least another series.

Josh Hamilton and company will ride out of town knowing that they have a lot of work to do because if a team is going to make the playoffs, they need to be taking three out of four games from teams like the Astros. That’s not going to happen though, and the Angels will continue their tradition of disappointing Aprils while the Astros continue their surprisingly good start to the 2014 campaign.