How a perfect storm of circumstances could lead Astros to a JV reunion
STONE COLD 'STROS
24 July 2023
STONE COLD 'STROS
The Houston Astros had the best one-two punch in their starting rotation for a good part of the season until Cristian Javier ran into some struggles in June.
While his last two starts have been a little more encouraging, Framber Valdez is also dealing with a bit of a slump himself. While it's nothing compared to what Javier has been through, Framber has given up at least four earned runs in three of his last five starts.
We certainly expect Framber to return to his former self, and be one of the best pitchers in baseball. But will that be enough to help the Astros chase down another championship? Even if Javier returns to his early season form, he hasn't been as dominant this year as he was in 2022.
He and Hunter Brown are pitching more innings this year than ever before. And it doesn't look like their workload will be any different moving forward.
So with that in mind, should the Astros trade for Justin Verlander to help with the playoff push and perhaps take some innings off Javier and Brown by implementing a 6-man rotation from time to time?
And take a look at JV's Twitter account, his location now includes Houston.
Photo via: Twitter/Screenshot
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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.
The home run by Peraza.
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
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.