How Houston Astros league-best rotation could actually get better
IT STARTS HERE
28 June 2023
One of the most important pieces of the Houston Astros rotation over the last two years has been none other than Cristian Javier. His combined no-hitter in the World Series turned things around for the Astros and helped them secure a championship.
Javier received a deserving contract extension in the offseason, and he's been good, not great, for Houston this year.
While his declining numbers don't jump out at you at first glance, a deep dive in the stats are very telling. Javier's velocity is down this year, and his release point is different as well. By releasing the ball higher this season, his spin rate has declined and the effectiveness of his “Invisi-Ball” fastball is down.
Plus, his walks are way up, with 5 in his last outing. And his strikeouts are way down, recording only 5 in his last 3 outings combined.
Javier and the Astros have a big opportunity to gain some ground on the Rangers when they face each other this weekend. Hopefully we see a classic Javier performance.
Be sure to watch the video above as we discuss how important Javier is to the Astros' title chances in 2023, and shed some light on what might really be going on behind the scenes.
Plus, how unstoppable Houston's rotation will be when Javier gets his mechanics cleaned up.
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José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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