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Unlocking success: Here are the essential keys to propel an Astros turnaround
Apr 30, 2024, 11:25 am
The Astros host the Guardians at Minute Maid on Tuesday night. Composite Getty Image.
To say this season has not started off well for the Astros is an understatement, for they currently sit in last place in the American League West with a 9-19 record.
That being said, there are still 134 games left to be played and Houston has everything they need to turn things around and get back to their winning ways.
Players returning from the injured list
The Astros began this season with multiple pitchers on the injured list including Justin Verlander, Jose Urquidy, Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. just to name a few. As time went on, other players saw time on the IL including Cristian Javier and Framber Valdez, thus forcing Houston to continuously adjust their rotation on the fly to mixed results.
Ronel Blanco (3-0) has been the one bright spot for the Astros so far. After throwing a no-hitter against the Blue Jays, the 30-year-old all but solidified his spot in the rotation and has arguably become Houston's best pitcher this year.
Other than Blanco, the Astros' rotation has struggled throughout much of this season, with pitchers Hunter Brown, J.P. France, Spencer Arrighetti and Blair Henley combining to have a 0-10 record and a 9.49 ERA through 54 innings pitched.
Things seem to be turning around as both Verlander and Valdez have returned to the rotation and look as if they are back to normal. More reinforcements could be arriving soon, as Javier and Urquidy have started to throw bullpen sessions, thus indicating their returns could happen in the near future.
Once these pitchers get healthy, an ideal scenario would be to have a rotation consisting of Verlander, Valdez, Blanco, Javier and Urquidy, with Hunter Brown moving to the bullpen or becoming the sixth starter if needed.
The Astros have the luxury of having a deep rotation once these players return to the team, which is necessary to turn this season around.
Consistent offense
One of the biggest challenges Houston has faced this year is scoring runs on a consistent basis.
For example, the Astros drove in the same amount of runs in their two outings against the Rockies over the weekend (20) as they did in their previous nine games against the Braves, Nationals, and Cubs combined.
On paper this offense shouldn’t be an issue, for Houston has the third-highest team batting average in the league behind only the Braves and Dodgers. And players such as Jose Altuve, Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez are playing up to their All-Star caliber levels.
Sure some guys like Alex Bregman, Chas McCormick and Jake Meyers have gotten off to slow starts, but those three can turn things around fast just as they have done in years past.
One reason for Houston’s offensive struggles has been Jose Abreu hitting a minuscule .099/.156/.113 thus far and will likely see less time on the field unless his numbers increase dramatically.
The 37-year-old is still owed roughly $16.25MM this season and $19.5MM in 2025, so cutting him and eating his salary doesn’t seem likely for the Astros at this time. But the team will certainly look at all of their options to get better offensive production at first base.
Jon Singleton has preformed better than Abreu this season, but most likely isn’t the long term answer either, considering he is batting only .238/.319/.286.
One solution the Astros will experiment with is calling up one of their top prospects, Joey Loperfido.
The 24-year-old had an impressive slash line of .276/.376/.684 in AAA through his first 117 plate appearances, and hit 13 homers as well.
In addition to his offense, Loperfido is a versatile athlete who can can play all three outfield positions, as well as second and first base.
It is likely the Astros will let the former Duke Blue Devil play some first in this upcoming series against the Guardians and hopefully give the team the offensive spark they need.
Other short-term options the Astros could try is to let either Mauricio Dubon, Victor Caratini, or Yanier Diaz play some first base this season.
None of these players would be the everyday solution, but they have some experience at the position and the capability to play first base.
Needless to say, the Astros do have multiple players who can play first, and replace Abreu if he doesn’t start to turn things around soon
As long as Houston can get their starters back healthy and their offense can score runs consistently, there is reason to believe this team can get back to their winning ways and make yet another playoff run and beyond.
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The Astros closed out their latest road trip with a winning record, a feat made more impressive considering the turbulence at the back of the rotation. Brandon Walter and Ryan Gusto both endured rough outings, with Walter in particular getting tagged hard. Still, Houston salvaged the finale, thanks largely to Mauricio Dubón’s breakout performance. The utilityman launched two home runs to power an offense that’s quietly been heating up for weeks.
But even with a solid finish, not everything is trending upward.
Josh Hader, who’s been one of the game’s most reliable closers this season, has begun to show signs of vulnerability. He’s allowed a home run in three of his last six outings. While his overall numbers remain strong, the long ball—a problem that plagued him last year—is starting to creep back into the picture.
As the Astros return home, the schedule offers no breather. They’ll face the Phillies and Cubs before a brief trip to Colorado to take on the struggling Rockies. After that comes a marquee series against the defending champion Dodgers in Los Angeles. With three of their next four opponents being legitimate World Series threats, the coming stretch looms large.
Can the bats keep pace?
If the last month is any indication, the Astros have reason to feel optimistic. Christian Walker has started to show signs of life after a quiet start to the season, hitting .260 with a .762 OPS and five home runs over the past 30 days. José Altuve has been scorching with a .302 average and .901 OPS in that span, while Jeremy Peña has taken things to another level, batting .384 with a 1.009 OPS.
As a team, the Astros rank 7th in OPS, 5th in runs, 3rd in batting average, and 7th in home runs over the last 30 days. It’s a surge that’s come at the right time—and one they’ll need to sustain.
The injury picture is also starting to shift in Houston’s favor.
Cristian Javier threw a 20-pitch live BP today in West Palm Beach. According to Joe Espada, he was up to 95 mph.
Luis Garcia should throw a live BP next week.
Spencer Arrighetti is still not throwing off a mound yet.
Yordan Alvarez has not resumed hitting.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) June 20, 2025
Joe Espada told The Athletic's Chandler Rome that Christian Javier recently threw a live batting practice session, touching 95 mph as he continues his return from Tommy John surgery. JP France has thrown multiple live BPs and could be ready to help if things continue to progress with his shoulder. Luis Garcia, however, remains further away despite undergoing surgery more than two years ago. He's expected to throw a live BP this week.
Spencer Arrighetti (thumb) should be able to return in August, and Lance McCullers has resumed throwing and is currently on the 15-day IL with a foot sprain.
The Astros are winning. The offense is rolling. The reinforcements are on the way. But with a brutal stretch looming, the team’s margin for error is about to be put to the test.
There's so much more to cover! 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.
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