How Houston Astros ALDS chances versus Twins won’t hinge on familiar frustration
STONE COLD 'STROS
10 October 2023
One of the area's of frustration all season long for Astros fans has been Yainer Diaz's lack of playing time. While we expected manager Dusty Baker to start Martin Maldonado at catcher, we were hoping that Diaz would be used as a pinch hitter in critical situations.
In the 5th inning of Game 2 down 5-0, Dusty opted not to bat Diaz for Maldy after a lead off double. To be fair, this decision did not cost the Astros a win, and Diaz did bat later in the game. But this is just another example of Baker's hesitance to go away from Maldonado, especially early in the game.
Yainer is reportedly slated to start at DH in Game 3, but when that happens, Yordan has to play left field which will leave Michael Brantley out of the lineup against Sonny Gray.
Will the Astros be able to score enough runs against Gray with Javier on the mound?
Series deciding factors
Plus, whether Diaz or Maldy swing the bats well or not, the outcome of this series is going to depend on the success of the heart of the order from an offensive perspective. If Bregman, Tucker, and company don't get going, it's hard to imagine the team will advance past the Twins.
Be sure to watch the video above as we look ahead at Game 3 and much more!
And watch Stone Cold 'Stros (an Astros podcast) every Monday on SportsMapHouston's YouTube channel!
Christian Walker delivers late heroics to push Astros past Rockies
Aug 28, 2025, 4:08 pm
Christian Walker homered twice, capped by a tiebreaking solo shot in the eighth inning to lift the Houston Astros to a 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.
ANOTHA ONE. pic.twitter.com/ZSotUshBrA
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 28, 2025
The game was tied 3-3 with no outs when Walker sent the first pitch from Luis Peralta (1-2) into left center field. Walker also homered in the first inning to make this the 15th multi-homer game of his career.
Oppo for Walker! #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/ZUt9Q1Qcco
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 28, 2025
Jose Altuve also homered for the Astros, who won a second straight after dropping the series opener.
GOATuve. pic.twitter.com/CMeDnExsOj
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 28, 2025
The Rockies had a chance to take the lead when they loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh. Jordan Beck reached on a catcher’s interference call on César Salazar, but Kaleb Ort struck out Brenton Doyle to leave everyone stranded.
Bryan King (4-3) threw a scoreless eighth for the win and Bryan Abreu allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth for his fourth save.
Altuve and Walker hit back-to-back homers with two outs in the first inning to put Houston up 2-0. Mauricio Dubón scored on a bunt single by Salazar to push the lead to 3-0.
The Rockies loaded the bases with one out in the third and made it 3-1 when Mickey Moniak grounded into a force out that sent a run home.
Ezequiel Tovar homered into the seats in right field with two outs in the fourth.
Yanquiel Fernández tied it when he belted his second homer this season to right field in the fifth.
Key moment
Walker’s second home run.
MLB.com's Brian McTaggart caught up with Walker after the big win.
A clean-shaven Christian Walker led the Astros to a razor-thin win over the Rockies pic.twitter.com/wvE1n6hXMv
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 28, 2025
Key stat
The Rockies left 10 men on base.
Up next
Colorado RHP Germán Márquez (3-11, 5.67 ERA) is expected to come off the injured list Friday to oppose RHP Cade Horton (8-4, 2.88) in the opener of a three-game series against the Cubs.
Houston RHP Cristian Javier (1-1, 5.40) opposes LHP Tyler Anderson (2-8, 4.73) when the Astros open a four-game series with the Los Angeles Angels Friday night.
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