In the finale at Minute Maid Park, the A’s will face Astros starter Brad Peacock — who is, get this, 10-1 with 121 strikeouts in 922/3 innings.
Yes, that is the same Brad Peacock who was once an Oakland minor-leaguer and who was traded to Houston along with Chris Carter and Max Stassi in exchange for Jed Lowrie and Fernando Rodriguez before the 2013 season.
“He’s made some significant adjustments,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “His arm angle is lower now, he’s got a different complement of pitches. He’s really reinvented himself. It’s a credit to them over there for basically having a different guy now. When we had him, he was straight over the top, heater and curveball, basically. Now he’s throwing a lot more pitches, getting a lot more movement because of his arm slot. A lot more confidence; he’ll throw any pitch in any count.
“We did have Brad Peacock. We didn’t have the Brad Peacock we’re seeing right now.”
Astros manager A.J. Hinch described Peacock’s season as “exceptional. Watching him evolve as a pitcher the last couple of years, it’s really come together this year, his ability to miss bats. He’s had to change the way he pitches mostly because of health issues. He’s battled his control in the past, but he’s found a niche in his delivery. ... He’s arguably been our most consistent pitcher this year outside of Dallas Keuchel.
“The strikeout numbers are real. It takes a lot to accumulate those kinds of strikeout numbers.”
The A’s acquired Peacock as part of the Gio Gonzalez deal with Washington before the 2012 season.
Briefly: Three of the four umpires Saturday wore white wristbands as part of the umpires’ protest of recent criticisms by players. Home-plate umpire Ryan Additon was the exception. ... Umpire Jerry Layne was back, at third base, after leaving Friday night’s game when struck on the left wrist by a foul ball. ... The A’s Ryon Healy has a 10-game hitting streak at Houston.
No comments:
Post a Comment