How Astros surging offense could be primed to explode at just the right time
OVER THE TOP!
29 August 2023
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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Marcus Semien hit his 250th career home run and Adolis García also went deep to back up a strong start by Nathan Eovaldi and give the Texas Rangers a 5-1, series clinching victory over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Eovaldi (7-3) limited Houston to five hits and a run with eight strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings for his third straight win.
Houston starter Hunter Brown (9-4) allowed five hits and four runs while striking out eight in five innings as the AL West leaders lost for the fifth time in six games. It was the second straight tough outing for the All-Star, who gave up a season-high six runs in his last start against Cleveland.
Wyatt Langford walked to open the second and the Rangers made it 1-0 when he scored on a triple by Evan Carter. There were two outs in the inning when Carter scored on a ground-rule double by Ezequiel Duran to push the lead to 2-0.García’s third homer in the last four games put Texas ahead 3-0 with two outs in the third inning.
Carter doubled to start the fourth and Kyle Higashioka singled before Carter scored on a sacrifice fly by Alejandro Osuna to make it 4-0.
The Astros cut it to 4-1 on a home run by Zack Short with no outs in the sixth inning.
Semien’s shot with one out in the eighth inning was his second of the series and gave him 250 in his 13-year career.
Key moment
Texas jumping on Brown for two runs in the second inning to take the lead for good.
Key stat
García’s 20 home runs against the Astros since 2021 are the most of any player in that span.
Up next
The Astros open the second half of the season Friday night at Seattle, and the Rangers host Detroit on the same night.
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