Mets at Astros (Game 1)
The Astros could be forgiven if their undivided attention wasn't on baseball this week, playing a three-game "home" series in St. Petersburg, Fla., while flooding devastated the city of Houston. The American League West leaders hope to provide a "welcome distraction" - in the words of team president Reid Ryan - for their fans as much as anything when they return to Minute Maid Park on Saturday for a split doubleheader against the New York Mets.
After losing its first two games in Florida by a combined score of 20-3 to Texas, Houston avoided a sweep with Thursday's 5-1 victory before the front office gave the team a much-needed jolt by dealing for six-time All-Star right-hander Justin Verlander from Detroit minutes before the waiver trade deadline. "I think he'll add a dimension we don't have. He's pitched well his whole career and has been pitching well lately. I think he'll add a dimension in the playoffs, hopefully, when we get there," team owner Jim Crane told MLB.com. The Astros also landed outfielder Cameron Maybin off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels earlier in the evening, providing the team with some reinforcements as they attempt to maintain their 12-game division lead. The Mets, who will spend Friday helping the recovery efforts in Houston, went 10-20 in August after suffering their third loss in four games Thursday at Cincinnati.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Matt Harvey (4-3, 5.25 ERA) vs. Astros RH Charlie Morton (10-6, 3.88)
Harvey is expected to come off the disabled list Saturday after missing more than two months with a stress reaction in his shoulder, although he was less than impressive during his four-start rehab stint. The 2013 All-Star did not factor into the decision in any of his four minor-league turns and posted a 5.87 ERA in two outings with Double-A Binghamton. Harvey has never faced Houston, but he has been mostly dominant in 11 career interleague starts, going 4-3 with a 1.64 ERA.
After going 4-1 with a 3.23 ERA in July, Morton finished with a 1-2 record and 4.20 ERA in five August starts, including five innings of three-run ball in a no-decision Sunday at the Angels. The 33-year-old New Jersey native has done his best work at home, going 7-3 with a 3.65 ERA (versus 3-3, 4.35 on the road). Morton has not enjoyed much success against the Mets, however, losing each of his three decisions over eight appearances (seven starts).
WALK-OFFS
1. The Astros traded three of their top 11 prospects - RHP Franklin Perez, OF Daz Cameron and C Jake Rogers - to acquire Verlander.
2. New York entered Friday tied for the National League lead with 193 homers but failed to hit one in three games against the Reds, who have surrendered a major-league high 215.
3. Houston placed C/DH Evan Gattis on the 10-day disabled list Thursday with right wrist soreness and designated RHP Dayan Diaz for assignment to clear room for Maybin.