Friday Game Thread: Carlos Carrasco faces the power-hitting Astros

Houston Astros @Cleveland Indians

Friday, August 22, 2014, 7:05 ET, Progressive Field

TV: STO (CLE), CSN (HOU)

Radio: WTAM (CLE), KBME/KLAT (HOU)

Series Preview

We've seen glimpses of greatness from Carlos Carrasco, only for those glimpses to turn into a hideous portrait that resembled a still life of an inside-out ferret. But by the time we've scrubbed the image off our retinas, we seem as eager as ever to believe that greatness can come again. After two starts couldn't have been much better, Carrasco is back at it tonight against the Houston Astros.

The Astros are still a very bad team, but now they actually have some dangerous hitters in their lineup. They'll miss George Springer, who is on the DL, but there's still an imposing middle-of-the-order to face of Jose Altuve-Chris Carter-Dexter Fowler. The Astros whiff at a crazy rate, but don't make a mistake, for if you do, they'll take you deep.

Here's to more beautiful glimpses, and not more searing hideousness.

Today's other AL Central games

Chicago (Danks) at New York Js (Greene), 7:05 PM

Kansas City (Ventura) at Texas (Lewis), 8:05 PM

Detroit (Ray) at Minnesota (Millone), 8:10 PM

Today's minor-league action

AAA: Columbus (Toru Murata) at Louisville, 7:05 PM

AA: Akron (Nick Maronde) at Binghampton, 7:05 PM

A+: Carolina (Mike Clevinger) at Winston-Salem, 7:00 PM

A-: Fort Wayne at Lake County (Mitch Brown), 7:00 PM

SSA: Mahoning Valley (Sean Brady) at Batavia, 7:05 PM

R-: AZL Giants at AZL Indians (TBD), 10:00 PM

R-: DSL Astros Blue at DSL Indians - Rained out