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Royals Series Preview – Royals at Astros

By Ryan Heffernon

Oct 12, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Kansas City Royals designated hitter Kendrys Morales (25) hits into a fielders choice, scoring two runs against the Houston Astros during the eighth inning in game four of the ALDS at Minute Maid Park. Royals won 9-6. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 12, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Kansas City Royals designated hitter Kendrys Morales (25) hits into a fielders choice, scoring two runs against the Houston Astros during the eighth inning in game four of the ALDS at Minute Maid Park. Royals won 9-6. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Royals begin a four-game set against the Houston Astros tonight at 7:10 PM CT

Royals
Oct 8, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; The last time Chris Young faced the Astros, he struck out seven batters across four huge innings in game one of the 2015 ALDS Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports /

Monday: RHP Chris Young (0-1, 3.60 ERA) vs. RHP Collin McHugh (0-1, 135.00 ERA)

The Astros are really going to need McHugh to give up fewer than 135 runs per nine inning for the club to have sustainable success, in my honest opinion.

In short, McHugh’s first start of 2016 was an utter train wreck, as he gave up six runs, five of those earned, while retiring just one Yankee.  He threw a whopping 43 pitches to get that one out.

Chris Young, on the other hand, looked pretty good in his debut, surrendering just two hits over five innings of work against the National League champion Mets. Unfortunately for him, one of those hits was a two-run home run off the bat of Neil Walker which proved to be the only two runs scored by either team on that windy Sunday afternoon.

It was your typical Young start, with him giving up a bunch of fly balls (only three Mets hit the ball on the ground), only managing to go five innings, but being virtually unhittable during those five innings. Representing his career nicely, one of the two hits he surrendered sailed over the right field fence.

This matchup is actually more intriguing than the lack-luster names would suggest, with Young pitching the Minute Maid launch pad the Astros call home. Young’s extreme-fly ball nature doesn’t exactly play to his favor, against a team who had more fly balls leave the yard in 2015 than every team outside of the Blue Jays.

On the other side, McHugh has only faced the regular season Royals once back in 2014, where he scattered five hits across seven innings of work an struck out seven in the process. He didn’t give up a run that day.

He did, however, give up five runs over ten innings in two ALDS starts last fall, including being tagged for the game five loss, giving up three runs over four innings of work.

Must-See Matchup 

Chris Young v. the Astros.

Yes, I mean the whole team.

The Astros hit a ton of balls in the air, which result in a ton of home runs. Chris Young makes his living on balls hit in the air.

With the Royals outfield defense, Young could cruise in this one. That is, if he keeps the ball in the ballpark.

With this game happening at Minute Maid Park, that may not happen.

Next: Game Two

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