ASTROS REPORT

Here are the critical factors that helped Houston climb to top of AL West

Here are the critical factors that helped Houston climb to top of AL West
The Astros are on a roll. Composite image by Jack Brame.

The Astros have won seven consecutive games, and are coming off a 6-0 homestead against the Texas Rangers and the Chicago White Sox.

Houston now sits atop the American League West over the Oakland A's and are currently in first place in the American League.

Only the San Francisco Giants and Los Angles Dodgers have a better record than the Astros in all of Major League Baseball.

Last week saw a flair for the dramatic on multiple occasions, and showcased why the Astros are one of the best offensive teams in baseball.

Jose Altuve had himself a week to say the least. It started Tuesday when the former MVP hit a walk-off grand slam to give Houston a 6-3 victory over the Texas Rangers. He followed that up with a leadoff homer to start the game Wednesday, becoming the first player in major league history to hit a walk-off grand slam then a leadoff home run in consecutive at-bats. Altuve is steadily increasing his batting average week by week and making a case he belongs in this year's All-Star Game in July.

Speaking of All-Star candidates, Yordan Alvarez is making a case that he is one of the best designated hitters in the league.

The Cuban slugger is riding a 7-game hitting streak, and on Friday he hit a game-ending double in the 9th to give the Astros a 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

Carlos Correa continues to rake and hit bombs during the Astros winning streak. The All-Star caliber shortstop increased his batting average from .288 to .296 this week and hit three homers to complete his week.

The injury bug bit the Astros last week, with Alex Bregman going on the injured list with a strained left quad and Kyle Tucker placed on the COVID-19 health and safety protocols list. Players who have stepped up in their absences are Chas McCormick, Robel Garcia, and Abraham Toro. All three of these Astros have been filling in nicely. Toro had his first 4-hit game of his big league career Sunday against the White Sox and looks to be the everyday 3rd baseman until Bregman returns from the injured list. There is no timetable for Bregman's return, so Toro could be playing third base for a while.

Houston's starting pitching has been lights out during this winning streak. In their last four games, the Astros' pitchers gave gone at least 6 innings. There is a dilemma as to who would be the 5th starter in this rotation, Lance McCullers or Jake Odorizzi. The Astros will probably go with a 6-man rotation for the time being, but one can never have too many starting pitchers.

Up Next: The Astros start a 7-game road trip for three games in Baltimore against the Orioles and four games against the Detroit Tigers.

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The Rockets host the Bucks Tuesday night. Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images.

The Houston Rockets (35-22) welcome the surging Milwaukee Bucks (32-24) on Tuesday night as they look to snap the Bucks' four-game winning streak and defend their strong home record.

The Rockets have been solid at Toyota Center, boasting an 18-9 home record, but they’ll need a sharper shooting performance to keep pace with Milwaukee. Houston ranks last in the Western Conference in three-point percentage (34.3%) and will have to find offensive efficiency against a Bucks team that allows 45.2% shooting to opponents.

Milwaukee, led by Damian Lillard and Brook Lopez, has struggled on the road (12-15) but remains dangerous when controlling possessions. The Bucks are 15-7 when they commit fewer turnovers than their opponents, averaging just 13.1 per game.

Key Matchups to Watch:

  • Jalen Green vs. Milwaukee’s defense: Green leads Houston with 21.5 points per game but will need efficiency against the Bucks’ perimeter defense.
  • Alperen Sengun’s recent form: Averaging 14.8 points over his last 10 games, Sengun will play a pivotal role inside against Lopez and Milwaukee’s frontcourt.
  • Bucks’ offensive edge: Milwaukee averages 5.2 more points per game than Houston allows, making defensive execution critical for the Rockets.

With both teams sitting fifth in their respective conferences, this matchup could serve as a measuring stick as they push toward playoff positioning. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. EST in Houston.


*ChatGPT assisted with the content.

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