It is still a month from the All-Star break when teams typically start to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. However, others are starting to fall behind at a pace that makes it impossible for them to catch up.<\/p>\n
That could easily happen to the Houston Astros in the next couple of weeks if they don’t start to steal some games and a series or two. That being said, this matchup between the Astros and Kansas City Royals<\/a> has to be a W for Houston, especially with the starting pitching probables.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n This series victory has nothing to do with who the Royals are trotting out there, but who the Astros are, as Tatsuya Imai is set to take the opener Friday, followed by Mike Burrows <\/a>and Spencer Arrighetti<\/a>, who will wrap things up Sunday afternoon in Missouri.<\/p>\n Imai has really turned a corner, while Arrighetti has been phenomenal from his first start. That only leaves Burrows, who is the outlier, as he could easily be optioned when Hunter Brown<\/a> comes back.<\/p>\n So are the Astros looking for a sweep? Not necessarily. Should they 100% win this series? Yes.<\/p>\nFull Matchup Breakdowns This Weekend<\/h2>\n