Royals Series Preview – Royals at Astros

Wednesday: RHP Yordano Ventura (0-0, 3.60 ERA) vs. Scott Feldman (0-1, 9.00 ERA)

Ventura is set to make his second start of the new season on Wednesday, after he struck out and walked six batters in his season debut against the Twins on Friday.

He pitched well against the Astros in his only start against them in 2015, going seven innings and giving up just one run.

However, his two ALDS starts were not nearly as favorable. In game one, he gave up three runs in just two innings of work, although to be fair, a rain delay prevented him from being able to right the ship.

He got that chance in game four, and responded by giving up three runs, including two home runs, in just five innings of work.

Scott Feldman, on the other hand, is somehow attempting to register his fourth straight season with a sub-4.00 ERA, after turning in ERAs of 5.00 or higher in three of his first four full seasons as a major league.

He is also coming off a rough first outing, in which he gave up four runs in just four innings against the Brewers, including two home runs. He did, however, strike out five during that span.

The Royals won’t remember Feldman all too fondly from 2015, after he almost Maddux’d them, going 7.2 innings of one-run ball, while scattering just four hits, and throwing just 90 pitches.

The Royals hit fastballs as well as any teams in baseball in 2015, as well as smashing fastballs at 95+ MPH. Feldman, however, does not fit that mold, hitting 94 MPH just two times over his last two season and averaging 90 MPH on his fastballs over the last two season.

Must-See Matchup

Yordano Ventura v. the Astros.

Yes, again, the whole team.

Who doesn’t love power against power?

Only Noah Syndergaard averaged a higher fastball velocity among starters in 2015 than Ventura and owns the fastest pitch ever recorded by a starting pitcher on PitchF/X.

Should be fun, guys.

Next: Game Four