Newcomers Kazmir, Cueto to start Game 2
The Astros swung a deal for Scott Kazmir in July with October baseball in mind.
The Royals did the same for Johnny Cueto.
It’s only fitting the two talented pitchers, acquired by their teams three days apart, will oppose each other in Game 2 of their AL division series today at Kauffman Stadium.
“It’s a big responsibility for someone like me that gets traded to a contending team, to be able to bring these guys to the postseason,” Kazmir said Thursday. “It’s just a matter of staying confident and pitching my game. There’s a lot of things you can’t control on the mound to where you have to stay confident in your abilities and know what you’re capable of doing.”
The Astros traded righthander Daniel Mengden and catcher Jacob Nottingham to Oakland for Kazmir, a hometown kid whom they had pursued in free agency. In doing so, they got a veteran lefthander to slip into the top of the rotation with Dallas Keuchel and Collin McHugh.
Kazmir, 31, wasn’t nearly as effective for the Astros as he was for the A’s, going 2-6 with a 4.17 ERA in 13 starts. But Kazmir will start Game 2 for a reason.
“He’s had three games against the Royals this year. He’s done very well in all three of those games,” manager A.J. Hinch said of Kazmir’s 1-1 record and 2.11 ERA against K.C. “It factors in a little bit in the decision-making. He’s comfortable in this ballpark.”
The fact that Kazmir will be facing Cueto is surprising on two fronts.
Royals general manager Dayton Moore shipped a trio of left-handed pitchers to Cincinnati for Cueto. Once Cueto was acquired, most thought he would be the Royals’ playoff ace. But like Kazmir, he struggled for a long stretch after the trade, so Yordano Ventura got the Game 1 nod.
That worked out anyway. Cueto will now pitch today on his normal rest.
“The most important thing here is to win games, whether I’m pitching one, two, wherever,” he said through Pedro Grifol, the catching coach.