PURSUIT OF PERFECTION

Houston Astros secret weapon remains key piece to championship puzzle

Houston Astros Alex Bregman, Michael Brantley, Martin Maldonado, Jose Urquidy, Jose Altuve
Martin Maldonado caught a perfect game this week. Composite image by Brandon Strange.
Top Houston Astros revelations from the 2022 World Series

Throughout the offseason, there was a lot of talk from Houston Astros owner Jim Crane and even manager Dusty Baker about wanting to address the catcher position.

Houston’s biggest target was Willson Contreras, who spent seven seasons with the Chicago Cubs and ultimately signed with the St. Louis Cardinals.

As a result, catcher Martín Maldonaldo, who’s spent the past four seasons with Houston, became a little disappointed with the team and fans, but he told the Houston Chronicle he has used it as motivation heading into 2023.

Maldonaldo reminded everyone in the World Baseball Classic on Monday why he has been a key figure for the Astros behind the plate, which extends beyond just batting numbers.

The 36-year-old catcher was behind the plate for Team Puerto Rico, which put together the first ever perfect game in the history of the World Baseball Classic in a 10-0 win against Israel.

There were four different pitchers on the mound that put together eight perfect innings for Puerto Rico. The game was cut short due to the WBC’s mercy rule. The one constant was the person behind the plate — Maldonaldo. He even came around to score three different times in the win, getting one hit and drawing a walk for Puerto Rico.

Maldonaldo has always been known for his stellar defense. Nicknamed “The Machete” for his ability to cut down opposing base runners seeking to steal bases, Maldonaldo’s biggest downside has been his ability to get hits.

During the 2022 postseason, Maldonaldo’s slashes were .207/.303/.241. He got six hits in 29 appearances. Some Houston fans expressed frustration throughout the playoffs with Maldonaldo’s struggles.

The Astros have seeked a catcher with a higher offensive upside for several years. It is why they traded for Christian Vazquez in 2022. While Houston missed on Contreras, it has seen two younger catchers shine during spring training.

Yainer Diaz’s slashes are .300/.300/.550, and Korey Lee’s slashes are .375/.474/.813 throughout 2023 spring training.

While both 24 year olds offer a higher offensive upside, at least in spring training, Maldonaldo’s performance in the WBC highlights why he has been a prominent player for Houston the past few years. He was also the catcher last June when the Astros no-hit the New York Yankees.

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Christian Walker got on base twice in the opener. Composite Getty Image.

The Houston Astros return to action Wednesday night with a chance to get back on track and even their three-game set against the visiting Chicago White Sox.

White Sox continue to have Houston's number

After falling 4–2 in Tuesday’s opener, the Astros now trail the season series 3–1 and will turn to Ryan Gusto (3-3, 4.78 ERA) in hopes of steadying the ship and reinforcing their grip on first place in the AL West.

Houston enters the matchup at 36–30 overall and 22–13 at home, a mark that reflects just how comfortable they've been playing in front of their fans. Though the offense has been inconsistent at times, the Astros are an impressive 19–4 when they manage to keep the ball in the yard — a stat that will be key with Gusto on the mound. The young right-hander has had an up-and-down season, but he'll be tasked with limiting a White Sox offense that did just enough to sneak away with a win in the opener.

Chicago, meanwhile, continues to play with a bit of unexpected edge despite sitting in last place in the AL Central. At 23–44, the White Sox have struggled most of the season — particularly on the road, where they’re just 7–26. Still, they've now won four of their last five games and will hand the ball to Sean Burke (3-6, 4.03 ERA), a righty who’s shown flashes of command and competitiveness in his rookie campaign.

The Astros will once again lean on their veterans to lead the way at the plate. Jose Altuve continues to be a consistent presence at the top of the lineup with nine home runs and 24 RBIs on the year. Yainer Diaz, who’s 10-for-39 with three home runs over his last 10 games, has started to find his swing again and could be a factor in the middle of the order. Houston will need more of that timely hitting if they want to avoid dropping their second straight at home — something that hasn’t happened often this year.

On the other side, Chase Meidroth has quietly become one of Chicago’s more reliable bats. Hitting .293 with five doubles and a pair of homers, Meidroth’s emergence adds some much-needed spark to a lineup that’s lacked consistency. Andrew Benintendi, hitting .257 over his last 10 games with four doubles, has also begun to warm up at the plate.

Both teams come in with nearly identical offensive production over their last 10 games — the Astros hitting .227 to the White Sox’s .226 — but Houston holds the edge in ERA at 3.44 compared to Chicago’s 4.04. That said, the Astros have been outscored by five runs over that stretch, and will need to clean up a few things on both sides of the ball to avoid falling into a mini-slide during this six-game homestand.

First pitch is set for 8:10 p.m. ET from Daikin Park, with Houston looking to reassert itself against a team it hasn’t solved yet this season. A win would not only even the series — it would also be a reminder that the Astros remain very much in control of their own narrative heading into the summer grind.

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -181, White Sox +150; over/under is 8 1/2 runs.

Here's an early look at Houston's lineup for Game 2

Jacob Melton is hitting last and remains the left fielder with Altuve back at second base. Diaz is once again in the cleanup spot as Walker is hitting fifth. Victor Caratini will hit behind Walker and serve as the DH. Otherwise, a pretty typical lineup for Joe Espada's club.


*ChatGPT assisted.

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