The Astros win their seventh game in a row
Astros daily report presented by APG&E: 3 hits from the 11-4 win
May 14, 2019, 9:02 pm
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
The Astros started this road trip with a bang in an 8-1 win, their sixth in a row. They went for lucky number 7 tonight. Here's a recap of the win and a three key points
Final Score: Astros 11, Tigers 4
Record: 28-15, first in the AL West.
Winning pitcher: Wade Miley (4-2, 3.51 ERA)
Losing pitcher: Ryan Carpenter (0-2, 13.00 ERA)
1. The Astros Offense Got to Work Early... and Never Stopped
The Astros bats have been in a tear since the Royals series early last week. After putting up eight runs yesterday, the offense got to work early after a three run HR in from Correa to dead centerfield. Brantley scored two and Bregman scored on a throwing error in the second. Aledmys Diaz hit a solo shot on back to back nights in the third. Gurriel scored Correa with a single in the fourth. George Springer hit the first inside the park HR of his career in the fifth. Diaz scored Brantley with an RBI single in the sixth. It was not until the seventh that the offense failed to score a run. Diaz, again, got himself an RBI with a sacrifice fly to score Tony Kemp. The Tigers did not get a 1-2-3 inning until the ninth.
2. George Springer: The Living Highlight Reel
Whether it's with the bat or on the field, Springer is finding himself in the daily highlight reels. Last night, he made two defensive plays. Tonight, an inside the park home run, the first for the Astros since Lance Berkman in 2002. He is making an impact every game, one way or another.
3. McHugh Tries to Find his Role in the Bullpen
Collin McHugh lost his position in the rotation late last week. He made his first appearance out of the pen on Sunday. McHugh got two quick outs in the seventh before striking out Brandon Dixon to end the inning. McHugh was nasty retiring Castellanos, Hicks and Rodriguez via the strike out in the eight to end his outing with four strike outs in a row. It was a positive outing for a guy who needed one.
Up Next: Another 6:10 PM start time tomorrow night for the third game of the series . Justin Verlander (6-1, 2.51 ERA) returns to his old stomping grounds for the series finale. The Tigers have not announced who will start tomorrow's game.
The Astros daily report is presented by APG&E.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
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!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
*ChatGPT assisted.
___________________________
Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!