Astros-Royals: 3 things to know for Game 2 of the ALDS

On a rainy Thursday evening at Kauffman Stadium, the Houston Astros provided the thunder in Game 1 of the American League Division Series, riding 11 hits - including homers from George Springer and Colby Rasmus - to a 5-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals and an early lead in the best-of-five showdown.

Despite their struggles on the road, the Astros defeated the AL's top team in their own muddy backyard - just two days after blanking the New York Yankees in the Bronx for the wild-card - and could head back to the Lone Star State holding a 2-0 ALDS lead with a victory Friday afternoon.

In order to do that, however, Houston will have to stymie - for a second straight game - the team that scored more runs at home in 2015 than all but six clubs. And who will they entrust with that daunting task? Scott Kazmir, who crafted a 6.00 ERA over his final seven starts.

Here are the three things you need to know heading into Game 2:

CARLOS NOT READY TO GO(GO)

Carlos Gomez's finicky intercostal muscle didn't seem to bother him too much in Tuesday's wild-card showdown - evidenced by his fourth-inning homer off Masahiro Tanaka - but the 29-year-old was omitted from the Game 1 lineup in Kansas City, replaced in center field by Jake Marisnick. After appearing in the series opener as a pinch-runner,Gomez was expected to return to the lineup in Game 2 for just his third start since Sept. 13 (postseason included).

"I'm proud of how he's going about it," manager A.J. Hinch said Thursday. "He's one of the toughest guys I've been around. To have him on our side and willing to fight through this is pretty cool."

Gomez, however, won't be in the lineup Friday as Hinch continues to exercise caution with the two-time All-Star. Consequently, Gomez will miss his opportunity to further torment Johnny Cueto. In 12 career plate appearances against Cueto, Gomez boasts an impressive 1.250 OPS, going 4-for-12 (.333) with a pair of home runs and a double. Speaking of which ...

HERE'S JOHNNY?

Since arriving in Kansas City ahead of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, Cueto has hardly resembled the dude who finished among the top-four in NL Cy Young voting twice in the last three seasons.

The crafty veteran - who fashioned a 2.62 ERA in 19 starts for the Cincinnati Reds earlier this year - has stumbled to a 4.76 ERA in 13 outings with the Royals, allowing a whopping 101 hits - including 10 homers - in 81 1/3 innings. At Kauffman Stadium, the 29-year-old scuffled hard down the stretch after allowing just one run over his first 17 innings in his new home.

Cueto's last four home starts

Perhaps Cueto, who hasn't pitched past the fifth inning in any of his three career postseason starts, can take solace in the fact that he only allowed one home run over his last four starts in 2015. That trend might be difficult to sustain against the Astros, who produced more homers and isolated power than 28 other teams during the regular season.

NO REST FOR THE RELIEVERS

Ned Yost used four relievers to get 21 outs Thursday, as Yordano Ventura allowed three runs over two innings before yielding to the bullpen following a 49-minute rain delay. Though they did a fine job, Yost's overworked bullpen logged more innings than all but four teams over the final month of the season, and it's starting to show.

If Cueto falters early, Yost may have to get creative to mop up innings, as Chris Young threw four frames Thursday before Kelvin Herrera, Ryan Madson, and Luke Hochevar each chipped in one inning of work. Even if Cueto pitches deep into the game, there's no guarantee Kansas City's tired bullpen will be as dominant as they were even two months ago.