Preview: Astros at Royals.

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Playoff Series: Divisional Playoff; Series Tied 0-0

The Kansas City Royals begin defense of their American League pennant while the visiting Houston Astros attempt to be this year's surprise postseason force when the AL Division Series opens on Thursday. Kansas City took the wild-card route to the World Series a year ago and now Houston is looking to duplicate the feat after dispatching the New York Yankees in Tuesday's wild-card contest.

The Astros lost an average of 104 games over a four-year span before turning things around this season behind a young group. "I think this team is prepared, I think they’re ready," said closer Luke Gregerson, one of the team's veterans. "I know they’re young, but they showed this ain’t no fluke. This team can play some baseball. We can pitch, we can hit and we’ve got the opportunity to win." The Royals were expected back in the postseason mix and didn't disappoint, and now look to get back to the World Series. "We've been looking forward to this since the end of spring training," manager Ned Yost said. "That's the big change from last year. Last year, we hoped we would be in position to make the playoffs. This year, we knew we were going."

TV: 7:37 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Collin McHugh (19-7, 3.89 ERA) vs. Royals RH Yordano Ventura (13-8, 4.08)

McHugh finished the season strong by winning his last six decisions and has proven to be a quality complement to ace Dallas Keuchel. He won his lone career start against the Royals, firing seven innings of five-hit shutout ball during the 2014 season and was craving the opportunity to start the opener. “To be able to have that chance on Thursday is a real blessing," McHugh told reporters. "It’s going to take some preparation the next couple of days, but I like our chances.”

Ventura has won 27 games over the past two seasons and was tabbed to pitch the opener over struggling Johnny Cueto. "Ventura has been excellent in his last six, seven starts," Yost told reporters. "And we wanted to keep everybody on five days' rest. We thought that would work out best for us." Ventura is 2-1 with a 3.78 ERA in three career starts against Houston and posted a victory on July 26 when he allowed one run and six hits over seven innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Royals 1B Eric Hosmer batted .351 with two homers in the 2014 postseason.

2. Houston OF Colby Ramsus homered in the wild-card win over the New York Yankees and has gone deep seven times in his last 13 games.

3. Kansas City RHP Wade Davis was 17-of-18 in save opportunities and will handle the closing duties with Greg Holland out for the season.


W/L Trends

Houston

  1. Astros are 4-0 in their last 4 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
  2. Astros are 5-0 in their last 5 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
  3. Astros are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
  4. Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 overall.
  5. Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 games on grass.
  6. Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 Divisional Playoff games.
  7. Astros are 9-4 in their last 13 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
  8. Astros are 9-4 in their last 13 games following an off day.
  9. Astros are 19-41 in their last 60 road games.
  10. Astros are 32-69 in their last 101 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
  11. Astros are 43-96 in their last 139 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
  12. Astros are 2-5 in their last 7 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
  13. Astros are 1-4 in their last 5 playoff games.
  14. Astros are 4-0 in McHughs last 4 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
  15. Astros are 7-1 in McHughs last 8 starts with 4 days of rest.
  16. Astros are 6-1 in McHughs last 7 starts.
  17. Astros are 13-3 in McHughs last 16 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
  18. Astros are 8-2 in McHughs last 10 starts during game 1 of a series.
  19. Astros are 4-1 in McHughs last 5 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
  20. Astros are 26-9 in McHughs last 35 starts on grass.
  21. Astros are 8-3 in McHughs last 11 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.

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Kansas City

  1. Royals are 4-0 in their last 4 games following a win.
  2. Royals are 5-0 in their last 5 overall.
  3. Royals are 5-0 in their last 5 games on grass.
  4. Royals are 5-0 in their last 5 Thursday games.
  5. Royals are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
  6. Royals are 6-2 in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
  7. Royals are 6-2 in their last 8 playoff home games.
  8. Royals are 11-4 in their last 15 playoff games.
  9. Royals are 14-6 in their last 20 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
  10. Royals are 36-16 in their last 52 vs. American League West.
  11. Royals are 36-16 in their last 52 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
  12. Royals are 29-13 in their last 42 games following an off day.
  13. Royals are 1-4 in their last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
  14. Royals are 1-5 in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
  15. Royals are 1-10 in their last 11 during game 1 of a series.
  16. Royals are 6-1 in Venturas last 7 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
  17. Royals are 6-1 in Venturas last 7 home starts.
  18. Royals are 6-1 in Venturas last 7 Thursday starts.
  19. Royals are 9-2 in Venturas last 11 starts on grass.
  20. Royals are 6-2 in Venturas last 8 starts with 4 days of rest.
  21. Royals are 19-7 in Venturas last 26 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
  22. Royals are 8-3 in Venturas last 11 starts vs. American League West.
  23. Royals are 35-17 in Venturas last 52 starts.
  24. Royals are 0-4 in Venturas last 4 starts during game 1 of a series.

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OU Trends

Houston

  1. Over is 7-0 in Astros last 7 Divisional Playoff games.
  2. Under is 5-1-2 in Astros last 8 games following an off day.
  3. Over is 4-1 in Astros last 5 Divisional Playoff road games.
  4. Over is 3-1-2 in Astros last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
  5. Under is 3-1-2 in Astros last 6 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
  6. Under is 35-13-3 in Astros last 51 vs. American League Central.
  7. Under is 5-2 in Astros last 7 games following a win.
  8. Under is 20-8 in Astros last 28 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
  9. Under is 12-5 in Astros last 17 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
  10. Over is 21-10-3 in Astros last 34 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
  11. Over is 3-0-1 in McHughs last 4 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
  12. Over is 4-0-1 in McHughs last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
  13. Under is 3-0-2 in McHughs last 5 starts vs. American League Central.
  14. Over is 4-0-1 in McHughs last 5 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
  15. Under is 5-1 in McHughs last 6 starts with 4 days of rest.
  16. Over is 5-2 in McHughs last 7 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
  17. Under is 11-5-1 in McHughs last 17 starts overall.

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Kansas City

  1. Over is 4-0-1 in Royals last 5 Thursday games.
  2. Under is 6-0 in Royals last 6 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
  3. Under is 5-0 in Royals last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
  4. Under is 4-0 in Royals last 4 during game 1 of a series.
  5. Under is 5-1 in Royals last 6 games following a win.
  6. Under is 4-1 in Royals last 5 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
  7. Under is 20-6-3 in Royals last 29 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
  8. Under is 3-1-1 in Royals last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
  9. Under is 6-2 in Royals last 8 on grass.
  10. Under is 6-2 in Royals last 8 overall.
  11. Under is 35-12-5 in Royals last 52 vs. a team with a winning record.
  12. Over is 7-3 in Royals last 10 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
  13. Over is 3-0-1 in Venturas last 4 Thursday starts.
  14. Under is 3-0-1 in Venturas last 4 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
  15. Over is 2-0-2 in Venturas last 4 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
  16. Under is 13-2-1 in Venturas last 16 starts vs. American League West.
  17. Under is 4-1 in Venturas last 5 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
  18. Under is 4-1-2 in Venturas last 7 home starts.
  19. Under is 3-1-3 in Venturas last 7 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
  20. Under is 3-1-1 in Venturas last 5 starts during game 1 of a series.
  21. Under is 9-3-3 in Venturas last 15 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
  22. Under is 5-2-1 in Venturas last 8 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.

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Head to Head


  1. Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Kansas City.
  2. Under is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings.
  3. Astros are 7-2 in the last 9 meetings.

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