Houston Astros: It’s showtime against the Dodgers even amid a pandemic

The Houston Astros will be taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers in a two-game set that will sure to include lots of tension of grit. What’s coming up?

The Houston Astros have gotten through four games this season, earning themselves a 3-1 record, demonstrating that they have the goods to be successful with the talent that they have.  With the globe fighting the pandemic of a lifetime, it truly will come down to the team that is the healthiest that will win the title.

It can happen for the Houston Astros, despite the early challenges that he’s facing losing Justin Verlander for some time and being able to manage a pitching staff that is seeing some degree of injury — Joe Biagini has gone to the injured list with shoulder stiffness — plus a lot of them are a bit more inexperienced over the past teams over the years.

Brandon Bielak and Cy Sneed were the bright spots out of the pen last night as they were able to keep the game from falling apart as Josh James started to unravel right around the third inning.  You can certainly attest this to these guys hungry to get their shot at being able to contribute to this team.

James’ situation may be that there was such a long layoff from play and having to restart quickly may have messed with his conditioning.  I may be well into August by the time the pitching staff looks like the guys we’re familiar with.  They’re literally training on the fly while these games do count for something.

In earlier moves today, the Houston Astros signed veteran, steady-hand reliever Fernando Rodney — how old is he again? — and have exercised the option on Dusty Baker for 2021.  This does give him the security of knowing that he has another season to be able to manage this team, considering the challenges that the league is facing in keeping games going.

There has been a coronavirus outbreak with the Miami Marlins as more players are testing positive for the virus and their games have been postponed for the week until hopefully, things get under control.

But with all that has transpired, this team has a series to play against one the strongest contenders in MLB, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

There’s a lot of tension between both teams because the sign-stealing scandal includes the Houston Astros win over the Dodgers for the 2017 title and they feel that they were cheated out

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of it.

Cody Bellinger hasn’t minced his words about it and I’m sure there will be choice words said between the dugouts — socially-distanced, of course — between both teams.

But one of the more interesting adds is one of Mookie Betts, who recently signed multi-year deal north of $400 million so it will be awesome to see one of the league’s most promising stars in this battle.

Framber Valdez will get the ball on the bump and will duel with Walker Buehler so I’m ready for all that’s going to happen.  If there’s any better time for Valdez to shine, it’s certainly now!

Nonetheless, I’m ready for things to get started when the first pitch is thrown at 8:10 p.m. CDT at Minute Maid Park.

By the way, Todd Kalas, play-by-play man, will get the call on the AT&T SportsNet broadcast for the first time this season, after testing positive for COVID-19 recently.  He was asymptomatic but still isolated out of precaution for his colleagues in Geoff Blum and Julia Morales.

Mr. Versatility, Kevin Eschenfelder, filled-in for him while he was out and I’m sure he’ll be back in the studio tonight where former KHOU sports director Butch Alsandor held the anchor reins for while he was calling the game.

I’m ready for the battle — let’s go Houston Astros!