Mets at Astros
The Houston Astros are trying to provide a diversion in the wake of the catastrophic events of the past week in their hurricane-ravaged city. During Saturday's doubleheader sweep of the visiting New York Mets, the Astros got a glimpse into what they can offer to the fans, feelings they hope continue when the three-game series wraps up Sunday afternoon.
"The fact that they came out today to support us, it's crazy," Houston right fielder George Springer said Saturday between the two games that drew more than 65,000 fans. "There's thousands of people that don't have homes, they don't have belongings and they're rallying around us. It's our job as the sports team here to do anything we can. The goal is to provide anybody with some sense of relief." The Astros will get a pick-me-up of their own on the field with star shortstop Carlos Correa expected to return to the lineup Sunday after missing 42 games with a torn ligament in his left thumb. New York has lost three straight and is 1-4 on the six-game road trip, and Saturday's dual losses provided another reminder of how the season that has unraveled due to a string of injuries. Third baseman Wilmer Flores clubbed a grand slam in the opener of the doubleheader, but had to exit the nightcap bloodied when he fouled off a ball directly into his face, breaking his nose.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Chris Flexen (3-3, 6.89 ERA) vs. Astros RH Mike Fiers (8-9, 4.55)
Making his seventh major league start, Flexen was tagged for a career-worst seven runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings in a loss at Cincinnati on Tuesday. Although he earned the win with six innings of two-run ball versus Arizona in his previous turn, Flexen has been issuing walks at an alarming rate. The 23-year-old has allowed four walks in four straight outings, 16 total against 15 strikeouts in 21 innings.
Fiers also was hit hard in his last outing, giving up eight runs and eight hits over four innings in a loss to Texas to drop to 1-5 over his last seven starts. He limited Washington to one run over seven innings in his previous turn, but will be happy to turn the calendar after posting a bloated 7.44 ERA in six starts in August. Fiers has surrendered a career-high 31 homers, six of them coming during last month.
WALK-OFFS
1. Astros 2B Jose Altuve, who leads the majors with a .358 batting averge, is riding a six-game hitting streak.
2. The Mets agreed to a contract with OF Nori Aoki, who is 6-for-14 against Fiers.
3. Springer was 5-for-8 with a homer and two RBIs in Saturday's doubleheader.