Kazmir, Cueto acquired at deadline for postseason pushes

The Houston Astros vs Kansas City Royals Game 1 on Thursday is the second ALDS game televised on Fox Sports 1 and live streamed on Fox Sports Go. (All games on FS1 or MLBN).

That became significant moments later when Springer pounced on 3-1 Young 88 miles per hour fastball and drove it over the left field fence, pushing the Astros’ advantage to 4-2. They kept 11 pitchers, including Yordano Ventura, Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez, who will start the first three games. Ventura gave up three runs on four hits and a walk while striking out two, throwing 42 pitches. The total is now sitting at 7.5 runs.

These teams have never met in the postseason…. That was the final game between the teams this season….

Yordano Ventura will pitch in Game 1 for the Royals for the simple reason that he’s most capable to pitch on short rest in Game 4 if the Royals face elimination. McCullers and Kazmir also picked up wins against Kansas City. Kansas City took the wild-card route to the World Series a year ago and now Houston is looking to match that accomplishment after earning the right-to-fight after knocking out the New York Yankees in Tuesday’s wild-card contest. Keuchel was the AL’s only 20-game victor and the first Houston pitcher to reach the mark since Roy Oswalt in 2005. Correa, the top pick in the 2012 draft, set a franchise record for home runs by a rookie despite not being called up until June 8.

Springer came home on Gattis’ grounder to shortstop. 083 in his last three. On the field, they play different styles of baseball. Lowrie leads the group, having played in 18 postseason games before this year. He was a member of Houston’s 2005 World Series team…. Altuve, Castro, Keuchel and INF Marwin Gonzalez were all with the Astros in 2012 and 2013…. 400 over the last four games. Gomez homered in the wild-card game despite dealing with a strained intercostal muscle.

The defending AL champion Royals lost for the fifth time in seven meetings with the Astros this season. The Royals’ bullpen remains among the best in baseball, with Davis a dominant closer in his own right….

Even if that’s the case, they’ll still have to deal with a potent lineup in Kansas City, with Eric Hosmer, Kendrys Morales, Salvador Perez, Lorenzo Cain, Alex Gordon, Ben Zobrist and Mike Moustakas.

“It’s a five-game series”, Royals manager Ned Yost said. The Astros finished sixth in the MLB in runs scored, led the league in home runs and were second in OPS.

Once Cueto was acquired, most thought he would be the Royals’ playoff ace.

The Astros loaded the bases with no outs to begin the game. Jake Marisnick replaced him in center….