Happ, Astros try to continue winning ways against Giants

J.A. Happ, who was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City Wednesday to take Jordan Lyles’ spot in the rotation as the Astros try to limit Lyles’ innings, will make his first start in the Majors since Aug. 5 when he faces the Giants tonight at 9:15 p.m. CT.

Happ (4-14, 6.26 ERA) went 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in a three-game stint with the RedHawks, holding opponents to a .177 batting average. He also threw seven scoreless innings of one-hit ball his last time out.

Happ will try to carry that momentum into Friday’s start.

“I was definitely trying to build off each outing. The last one was the best, as far as getting deeper into the game and getting a pitch count that’s manageable and getting early outs,” Happ said. “That was my main focus, making sure one of the first two pitches was a strike and trying to get early outs.”

More than anything, Happ said his time in the Minors allowed him to clear his mind in the wake of his struggles with the Astros.

“I think the fact there was way too much negativity going on through my head definitely didn’t help,” he said. “I’m getting past that, getting over that and trying to be positive.”

Here is the Astros’ starting lineup:

CF Jordan Schafer

RF Jason Bourgeois

LF J.D. Martinez

1B Carlos Lee

3B Matt Downs

2B Jose Altuve

SS Clint Barmes

C Humberto Quintero

LHP J.A. Happ