Pirates at Astros
The Astros were loaded with stars before Yordan Alvarez burst onto the scene and he's already made history as Houston kicks off a six-game homestand with three against the Pittsburgh Pirates beginning Tuesday. Alvarez, a 6-5, 225-pound Cuban, belted 23 home runs in 213 at-bats with Triple-A Round Rock this season before becoming the first major leaguer to record at least seven homers and 16 RBIs in his first 12 games.
"We heard a lot of good things about him," Astros second baseman Jose Altuve told reporters about Alvarez, who has started three games in left field and nine as designated hitter. "That's one thing, but it's another thing actually watching him play and execute every swing. He has a bright future, and he's going to be a big part of this team." While first-place Houston (49-30) turns the page on a 1-6 road trip, Pittsburgh (36-40) hits the road riding a four-game winning streak as it tries to remain relevant in the ultra-tough National League Central. The Astros' Gerrit Cole on Tuesday faces the Pirates for the first time after playing his first five years with the club and opposes Trevor Williams, who is coming off his worst start of the season. “I’m excited to see some of my friends, that’s for sure,” Cole told reporters. “I anticipate there being probably more emotions than usual, but as far as preparation, I’m just treating it like a normal start, with the anticipation that there may be a little extra juice. I’m just going to try and not be surprised by that. I may have a different answer if I was pitching in Pittsburgh because there’s the whole stadium element to it. But I’m excited to see some guys, and I’m always excited to pitch.”
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Trevor Williams (2-1, 4.12 ERA) vs. Astros RH Gerrit Cole (6-5, 3.54)
Williams escaped with a no-decision after allowing seven runs and nine hits in five innings of Pittsburgh's 8-7 victory over Detroit on Wednesday. The 27-year-old Californian hasn't lost in his last five starts (1-0) but has a 5.86 ERA during that span. Williams, who owns a 1.19 WHIP, has never faced Houston.
Cole received a no-decision after yielding one run, six hits and three walks with eight strikeouts in six innings of the Astros' 3-2 loss at Cincinnati on Wednesday. The 28-year-old Californian, who was taken first in the 2011 draft, is 2-0 in his last five starts and lowered his ERA by .57 during that span. Cole leads the majors with 148 strikeouts while walking only 25 and his 1.02 WHIP would be a career best.
WALK-OFFS
1. Astros OF George Springer, out since May 24 with a hamstring injury, is expected to rejoin the team Tuesday after completing a three-game rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi.
2. Pirates LF Bryan Reynolds is 8-for-15 with a home run, five RBIs and five runs scored in his last four games, raising his average to .362.
3. Houston is an American League-best 27-11 at home despite winning only five of its last nine games at Minute Maid Park.