The Houston Astros used 20-game winner Dallas Keuchel to win the American League Wild Card Game.
They’ll start 19-game winner Collin McHugh in Game 1 of their AL Division Series against the Royals on Thursday night.
But there’s more than a one-victory difference between the pitchers, which McHugh explained by sharing a joke he recently told Keuchel.
“You win 20 games with a two-and-a-half (ERA),” McHugh said, “and you’re a pretty good pitcher.
“You win 19 with almost a four, and you’ve got a really good team behind you.”
As McHugh dryly delivered the last word of that sentence Wednesday afternoon, a few laughs emerged from the Kauffman Stadium interview room.