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
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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 has to be a W for Houston, especially with the starting pitching probables. <\/p>\n
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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, who will wrap things up Sunday afternoon in Missouri. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Astros pitching probables vs Royals: <\/p>\n Today: Tatsuya Imai \u2014 SleeperAstros (@SleeperAstros) June 12, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n <\/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 <\/p>\n So are the Astros looking for a sweep? Not necessarily. Should they 100% win this series? Yes. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Offensively, this team has been a menace, led by the unfathomable production that is coming from Yordan Alvarez<\/a>. That means if Burrow can give them somewhat of a chance to win Saturday, then this could lead to a sweep. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fri, Jun 12 \u2022 7:10 PM CDT: Tatsuya Imai vs. Luinder Avila <\/p>\n Now, Imai’s 5.24 ERA on the season is definitely not great, but not a clear representative of how good he has been recently. He has four earned runs in his last 17 innings. Walks are continuing to be a problem, but he is limiting the damage, and that is what they need him to do. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Unfortunately, Burrows is trending in the opposite direction, as a trip to Sugarland is surely in his future. However, Cameron is the lesser of the evils that the Royals will put on the hill, so Saturday could ultimately just be a good game. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sunday’s finale is going to be the best pitching battle to watch of this series, meaning the offense has to come up with some big plays. Well, with Alvarez on the team, amongst others, this should be a game added to the win column. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
Saturday: Mike Burrows
Sunday: Spencer Arrighetti pic.twitter.com\/DdUi8hmfER<\/a><\/p>\nFull Matchup Breakdowns This Weekend<\/h2>\n
Sat, Jun 13 \u2022 6:10 PM CDT: Mike Burrows vs. Noah Cameron
Sun, Jun 14 \u2022 1:10 PM CDT: Spencer Arrighetti vs. Stephen Kolek<\/p>\n![\"Mike](\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_173,w_7950,h_4471\/c_fill,w_16,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/ImagnImages\/mmsport\/inside_the_astros\/01ktyfv5t9kxk4ek7zhw.jpg\" "\\"Mike")
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