How Astros surging offense could be primed to explode at just the right time
OVER THE TOP!
29 August 2023
OVER THE TOP!
The Houston Astros appear to be getting back on track when it comes to their offensive production. They've been pretty average for most of the season, but they now find themselves in the Top 10 in slugging, OPS, and home runs.
And don't look now, but Michael Brantley is expected to return to the lineup in the next couple of days, and Jose Altuve hit for the cycle on Monday night against Boston.
With that in mind, what should we expect from the Astros lineup moving forward? Also, where will Brantley hit in the lineup? We doubt Dusty will move Bregman out of the number two spot with him hitting so well recently. So we have to think Brantley will likely hit sixth, with a right-handed bat sliding in at number five after Kyle Tucker.
But with Dusty calling the shots, who really knows?
Be sure to watch the video above as we break it all down!
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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.