The racing season kicks off Sunday with the Daytona 500. Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Well folks, it’s finally here. After three long months of anticipation and changes a plenty, the stars of the Monster Energy Cup Series take to the high banks of Daytona for the great American race, the Daytona 500. Aside from the final race of the season at Homestead, this is arguably the most important race of the season. If you ask any NASCAR driver out there he or she will tell you that this is the hardest track to win at on the schedule. The track is an unforgiving 2.5 mile oval with the possibility of trouble lurking in all four corners and the possibility of “the big one” is always prevalent. Last year, there were four incidents that involved at least five cars. In some cases avoiding the big wrecks is the key to getting a good finish or possibly winning the race itself. For example, last year part time driver Brendan Gaugahn started in thirty-ninth of forty cars but he was able to lurk in the shadows for most of the race and in return he went on to a solid 11th place finish. While missing the wrecks is a big part of success in races like this, it is also important to note that if a driver is involved in a wreck, by no means are they out of contention. Last year’s winner Kurt Busch was involved in one of the many multi-car accidents last year but the team was somehow able to repair the car and get him to victory lane. Another factor that could come into play is team strategy during the three stages. More than likely we will see teammates pit at the same time to avoid one car losing the draft. Look for the Joe Gibbs and Furniture Row teams to be the first to pit. My predictions for the race go as follows: my winner of the race is Brad Keselowski. With a win in the clash last Sunday, automatically he becomes the favorite to win this Sunday. Not only has he been fast this weekend but when it comes to restrictor plate tracks he has been the “Pied Piper” so to speak. Over his career, Keselowski has accumulated a combined seven victories at Talladega and Daytona (Including last weekend’s non points race). If there is anyone that knows how to work the draft effectively, it has been him. While he had his fair share of bad luck in the past, the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford has always been close to the front. I think that this will be the race that he finally breaks through and gets his first Daytona 500 victory with his teammates Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano in tow. Another driver to look out for is Daniel Suarez. The second-year driver was sixth in first practice plus he has shown enormous amounts of promise during his rookie season last year. Even though he has struggled at Daytona in both of his starts in the Cup Series, I think with a year under his belt and a better understanding of the Cup Car, he should fare much better this year. My dark horse pick to win is Aric Almirola. He is driving for a new team in 2018 with Stewart-Haas and while he has struggled in the past he is at the race track where he got his very first win in 2014. Not only is he good at Daytona, he was also second fastest in first practice so he definitely has speed. This Daytona 500 will have one of the best finishes of all time and I think this year we are primed to see an “upset” of sorts. I believe that Almirola can be the “underdog” and pull it off. It’s looking to be a great season and 2018 and I can’t wait to see how the Daytona 500 plays out.
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Kyle Tucker doubled twice and had three RBIs and Jose Altuve added three hits and drove in two runs as the Houston Astros used a seven-run seventh inning to break a tie and coast to a 9-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday.
The Astros snapped a four-game skid and bounced back after allowing the Rangers to score their season high in a 12-8 win in the series opener.
Altuve said he hopes this game can help get the Astros on a roll after their early struggles.
“We as a team are very confident... this is the kind of team we are, we have done it before,” Altuve said. “I don't see why we can't start doing it again.”
It was tied at 2 and the bases were loaded with one out in the seventh when pinch-hitter Victor Caratini’s RBI single to right field off José Ureña (0-1) put the Astros on top.
Altuve followed with a double to the corner of left field to send two more home and push the lead to 5-2. Austin Pruitt took over and intentionally walked Yordan Alvarez before Tucker doubled to center field to score two more.
Houston made it 9-2 when Alvarez scored on a sacrifice fly by Yainer Diaz.
“That was great,” manager Joe Espada said. “That’s the offense that I’m used to seeing. When we get pitchers against the ropes, we've got to put them away and that’s exactly what we did today.”
Ronel Blanco, who threw a no-hitter in his season debut and pitched six scoreless innings Sunday, gave the Astros another solid start Saturday. He gave up two runs in the first inning before settling down to pitch five scoreless frames. He allowed five singles with three walks and five strikeouts.
It was a much-needed performance after Houston’s starters had allowed 31 earned runs with a 20.93 ERA across 13 1/3 innings in the last five games.
“It started with Blanco,” Espada said. “He set the stage and then our offense got some big hits.”
Texas starter Andrew Heaney yielded four hits and two runs while walking four in 3 2/3 innings.
“I’m fighting myself a little bit right now, mechanically, mentally, just having a hard time getting some traction, getting going,” he said. "So I’m just going to keep working.”
The Rangers loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, but Bryan Abreu (1-1) struck out Evan Carter to escape the jam before Houston took the lead in the bottom of the inning.
Rookie Wyatt Langford had two hits and an RBI for Texas and Adolis García added two hits.
Houston’s José Abreu, who is hitting just .122 this season, had two hits with a double for his first multi-hit game this season and his first extra base hit of the year.
Blanco walked Evan Carter and García with two outs in the first before giving up his first run of the season on an RBI single by Josh Smith. Langford followed with a run-scoring single to push the lead to 2-0.
Abreu opened the fourth with a double and moved to third on a groundout by Jake Meyers before scoring on a groundout by Mauricio Dubón to cut the lead to 2-1.
Heaney then hit Altuve and Alvarez with pitches and was lifted for Jacob Latz. Tucker lined a double into center field to score Altuve and tie it at 2-2.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rangers: LHP Brock Burke was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday after breaking his right hand punching a wall after a poor outing Friday night. … Pruitt had his contract selected from Triple-A Round Rock to take his spot on the roster. … INF Justin Foscue (left oblique strain) was transferred from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day list.
Astros: 3B Alex Bregman missed a second straight game with flu-like symptoms. … RHP Shawn Dubin (forearm strain) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Saturday to take the spot of RHP Joel Kuhnel, who was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land.
UP NEXT
Texas RHP Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 1.45 ERA) opposes RHP Cristian Javier (1-0, 1.10) in the series finale Sunday.