Houston Astros vs Dodgers: A batter that could give Dallas Keuchel trouble

The Houston Astros will open up the World Series against Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday night here’s how Dallas Keuchel stacks up against as he takes his spot on the bump.

The Houston Astros are in the World Series! Can you believe it? I’m still pinching myself at this dream that has finally turned into a reality. It won’t be an easy — which is expected — but they have an incredible shot like none other to make more history than they already have.

Just think of the feat they’ve already completed. They were able to beat the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, the holy grail of baseball livelihood as they were able to go against the grain to be successful. There was sweat, there was strain and there certainly a few tears shed as this team fought as hard as it could to get to the mountaintop which is the World Series. Our Houston Astros are going for the ship!

Isn’t that sweet? I think it is and you’ll be seeing us pull out the stops like we have never before because for all intents and purposes, this is for all of the marbles. Dallas Keuchel didn’t have the greatest of outings in his last start against the Yankees in ALCS Game 5 — he struck out eight, allowed seven hits, four earned runs and one walk through 4.2 innings pitched.

It was just one of the nights for Keuchel and I’m sure things will shore themselves up in his opening start for the World Series. He likely has waited for this moment his entire life and he’s probably giddy at the fact that he’s able to experience this moment at the still-tender age of 29.

So how does he stack up against the Los Angeles Dodgers?

Well, I’m glad you asked! Let me tell you! As you probably know, he hasn’t faced the Dodgers before in his career and this will be his first time working through the lineup.

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But what we can talk about is batters he has faced from other former teams that are now playing for Los Angeles.

Who am I talking about?

The guy I’m speaking of is a utility-type but mostly second baseman in Logan Forsythe. Keuchel has faced him plenty over the past two seasons and there’s enough history between the two to indicate that Forsythe has had marked success against the lefty.

In 20 at-bats — all with the Tampa Bay Rays — Forsythe’s slash line is .350/.350/.450 with an .800 OPS. He has seven hits, one triple, one ribbie and two strikeouts against that bearded fellow. I’m saying that this is the end-all in terms of saying that it’s going be over for Keuchel when they face each other but it’s something to think about as the bright lights shine on Hollywood tomorrow night.

Because after all, Forsythe hit .143/.143/.429 with a .571 OPS in 2016 with seven at-bats against him so you never know how scenarios like these will take their course out on the diamond.

Keuchel has been mostly terrific in his outings throughout at the playoffs and it goes to show he could damn reliable when counted upon. Bad things happen in games and Keuchel was just the unfortunate recipient of bad things happening back that ALCS Game 5.

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But here’s where he rights that wrong and proves to the world why he was a Cy Young Award winner and still deserves to be in the talk once he has a season where he’s fully healthy.

I’ll be anxious to see how things work out with hopefully Keuchel making a bit of history on his own by crushing and working through the Dodgers’ batting order quickly.

Go Astros!

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