Here's what's next for Houston Astros following ALCS
ASTROS NEXT STEPS
24 October 2023
ASTROS NEXT STEPS
The Houston Astros 2023 season has come to a close as they fell to the Rangers in Game 7 of the ALCS. The struggles at Minute Maid Park continued from the regular season into the postseason, with the Astros unable to win a single game at home in the ALCS.
So what's next for Houston? Dusty Baker is reportedly retiring after this season, so a new manager appears to be coming. And the club should be very busy in free agency as they look to knock off the Rangers next year.
Sources: Dusty Baker has told multiple people that 2023 is his last season as a manager. With @Britt_Ghiroli https://t.co/7xL5VS5Ize
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) October 24, 2023
Be sure to watch the video above as we react to the series, and look ahead to next season.
Through nine games, the Astros have shown flashes of the team fans hoped they’d be—but just as often, they’ve looked like a group still figuring things out. They’ve won two of their first three series, yet sit below .500 at 4-5, with inconsistency defining the early days of the season.
On some days, it’s the offense that carries them—like when Yordan Alvarez delivers a game-changing swing, or when Jose Altuve and Jake Meyers inject life into the basepaths. But even with moments like those, the lineup hasn’t clicked on all cylinders. Isaac Paredes’ four-hit day in the series finale against the Twins stood out, hopefully he's able to ride that momentum into a strong performance in the Mariners series.
Spencer Arrighetti had a tough outing against the Twins, struggling with command, hitting batters, and leaving a hanging curveball that was launched for a three-run homer. It was a reminder of how uncertain the back of the rotation remains. Framber Valdez, Ronel Blanco, and Arrighetti all pitched poorly in their second turns through the rotation, while Hunter Brown looked sharp in contrast.
The bullpen has been more stable. Bryan King, Bryan Abreu, and Josh Hader have been solid, and Rafael Montero turned in a promising performance in the finale in Minnesota. Logan VanWey is set to join the bullpen while Luis Contreras heads to Sugar Land, offering another fresh arm as the team looks to settle into a rhythm.
Offensively, questions linger. Catcher Yainer Diaz hasn’t gotten going at the plate yet—does he need more time to swing out of it, or should Victor Caratini see more starts behind the dish? And what to do about Cam Smith and Zach Dezenzo, who haven’t provided much production? Chas McCormick has been decent but not a spark, and the team may need to consider shuffling things to find more consistency.
Nine games in, it’s unclear exactly who the Astros are. The talent is there, the flashes are obvious—but until they string together complete performances more regularly, the 2025 Astros remain a team in search of its identity.
Hopefully Hayden Wesneski follows in Brown's footsteps and provides a quality start in his second time through the rotation.
We have 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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