Houston's losing streak extended to six games
Astros daily report presented by APG&E: 2 hits from the 4-1 loss
Jun 21, 2019, 9:15 pm
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
Houston was desperate to get a win and end their five-game skid on Friday night against the Yankees in the Bronx. Here is a recap of game two of four against New York:
Final Score: Yankees 4, Astros 1.
Record: 48-29, first in the AL West.
Winning pitcher: James Paxton (5-3, 3.75 ERA).
Losing pitcher: Brad Peacock (6-5, 3.62 ERA).
1) Great start for Peacock
Brad Peacock had about as good of a start as the Astros could have asked from him on Friday night. He only had one major mistake, a two-run home run to Gary Sanchez in the third which put New York up 2-0. Other than that, he was dominant for most of the night against the Yankees' potent lineup as he would go on to strike out eleven while issuing zero walks.
Unfortunately, he would not get the offense needed behind him to get a win. Peacock's final line: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 11 K, 1 HR. Hector Rondon took over for Peacock to pitch the seventh, but unlike the great inning of relief the night before would allow a two-run home run to extend New York's lead to 4-1. Chris Devenski wrapped up the pitching night for Houston with a quick 1-2-3 eighth inning.
2) Missed chances for the offense
It was another frustrating night on offense for Houston, who other than an RBI-double by Jake Marisnick in the top of the fourth to trim the lead to 2-1 would be unable to convert scoring opportunities. The Astros would get plenty of traffic on the bases, but all for naught as they'd strand twelve runners on base and go 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position in the loss.
Up Next: Game three of this four-game series will get underway at 6:10 PM tomorrow and will air on FOX. The pitching matchup is expected to be Wade Miley (6-4, 3.30 ERA) for the Astros and Masahiro Tanaka (5-5, 3.23 ERA) for the Yankees.
The Astros daily report is presented by APG&E.
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A month into the 2025 season, the Houston Astros have emerged as one of MLB’s most confounding teams. Their offense ranks near the bottom of nearly every key category, yet they remain competitive thanks to a pitching staff that has quietly become one of the most formidable in baseball.
Despite winning back-to-back games just once this season, Houston’s pitching has kept them afloat. The Astros boast a top-10 team ERA, rank seventh in WHIP, and sit top-eight in opponent batting average—a testament to both their rotation depth and bullpen resilience. It’s a group that has consistently given them a chance to win, even when the bats have failed to show up.
Josh Hader has been the bullpen anchor. After a rocky 2024 campaign, the closer has reinvented himself, leaning more heavily on his slider and becoming less predictable. The result has been electric: a veteran who’s adapting and thriving under pressure.
Reinforcements are also on the horizon. Kaleb Ort and Forrest Whitley are expected to bolster a bullpen that’s been great but occasionally spotty—Taylor Scott’s 5.63 ERA stands out as a weak link. Lance McCullers Jr. missed his last rehab outing due to illness but is expected back soon, possibly pairing with Ryan Gusto in a piggyback setup that could stretch games and preserve bullpen arms.
And the timing couldn’t be better, because the Astros' offense remains stuck in neutral. With an offense ranked 26th in OPS, 27th in slugging, dead last in doubles, and just 24th in runs scored, it's clear the Astros have a major issue producing consistent offense. For all their talent, they are a minus-two in run differential and have looked out of sync at the plate.
One bright spot has been rookie Cam Smith. The right fielder has displayed remarkable poise, plate discipline, and a polished approach rarely seen in rookies. It’s fair to ask why Smith, with only five Double-A games under his belt before this season, is showing more patience than veterans like Jose Altuve. Altuve, among others, has been chasing too many pitches outside the zone and hardly walking—a troubling trend across the lineup.
Before the season began, the Astros made it a point to improve their pitch selection and plate discipline. So far, that stated goal hasn’t materialized. Many of the players who are showing solid discipline—like Isaac Paredes or Christian Walker—were already doing that on other teams before joining Houston. It raises the question: are the Astros’ hitting coaches being held accountable?
The offensive woes are hard to ignore. Catcher Yainer Diaz currently owns the second-worst OPS in baseball, while Walker ranks 15th from the bottom. Even a star like Yordan Alvarez has yet to find his groove. The hope is that Diaz and Walker will follow Alvarez's lead and trend upward with time.
With so many offensive questions and few clear answers, a trade for a left-handed bat—whether in the outfield or second base—would be ideal. But with the front office laser-focused on staying below the tax threshold, don’t count on it.
For now, Houston's path forward depends on whether the bats can catch up to the arms. Until they do, the Astros will remain a team that looks good on paper but still can’t string wins together in reality.
We have so much more to get to. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
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