How Astros efforts to extend championship window just took a big step forward
BIG PICTURE PLANS
27 August
The future is bright for the Astros. Composite Getty Image.
The Houston Astros championship window has seemingly been a big topic of conversation for the last five years. Which is fitting for a team that's appeared in the ALCS for seven straight years.
This upcoming offseason could be a tipping point, however, as Alex Bregman and Justin Verlander could sign elsewhere in free agency. Leaving only Jose Altuve and Lance McCullers still on the roster from the first championship team in 2017.
But all hope isn't lost. The Astros find a way to reload every season, and we're watching prospects the Astros developed turn into top-notch major league players.
Hunter Brown and Spencer Arrighetti are showing signs that they can be front of the rotation starters for years to come. And Yainer Diaz looks like one of the best young hitters in baseball.
Throw in the fact that the AL West is the worst division in MLB, and you have to like Houston's chances in 2025 no matter how this season ends.
At the very least, you're looking at a 2025 starting rotation of Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, Ronel Blanco, Spencer Arrighetti, and hopefully Luis Garcia. We'll see about McCullers. It's hard to count on him since he hasn't pitched in two seasons.
So the pitching is beyond solid for next year, but we'll have to see about the offense. If owner Jim Crane decides to let Bregman walk, will they look to add another bat in free agency?
Be sure to watch the video above as we examine the Astros championship window, and discuss some free agents the club may target, like Orioles' slugger Anthony Santander.
Catch our weekly Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast. Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo discuss varied Astros topics. The first post for the week generally goes up Monday afternoon (second part released Tuesday) via The SportsMap HOU YouTube channel or listen to episodes in their entirety at Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Dylan Cease pitched brilliantly into the ninth inning and Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Donovan Solano hit consecutive homers in the eighth for the San Diego Padres, who beat the AL West-leading Houston Astros 4-0 on Wednesday.
Machado homered twice for the Padres, who won two of three against the Astros and stayed two games ahead of Arizona for the first NL wild card. The Astros came in with a five-game division lead over Seattle.
Cease (14-11), who threw his first career no-hitter on July 25 at Washington, took a one-hitter into the ninth before Mauricio Dubón beat out an infield single to shortstop. Cease struck out Jake Meyers but then shortstop Xander Bogaerts booted Jose Altuve's grounder for an error that allowed Dubón to take third, and that was it for the right-hander after 103 pitches.
Cease retired the first 15 Astros batters before allowing a single to right field by Jason Heyward to open the sixth. Cease then retired the side.
Cease struck out five and walked none. Tanner Scott got two outs for his 21st save.
Machado, who has 29 homers, lined a shot to left-center off Framber Valdez opening the sixth.
Tatis, who struck out in his first three at-bats, hit reliever Kaleb Ort's first pitch into the first row in left-center leading off the eighth. It was his 19th. Machado followed with a shot deep into the seats in left and Solano hit a liner to left, his seventh. That was it for Ort, who threw just nine pitches.
Valdez (14-7) went seven innings, allowing one run and five hits while striking out six and walking two.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: 1B/DH Luis Arraez got the day off to rest his sore left knee, which he jammed into home plate while being thrown out on Monday night. Arraez started at DH on Tuesday night.
UP NEXT
Astros: LHP Yusei Kikuchi (9-9, 4.29 ERA) is scheduled to start Thursday night in the opener of a four-game home series against the Los Angeles Angels, who will go with LHP José Suarez (1-2, 6.80).
Padres: Hadn't announced their starter for Friday night's home series opener against the Chicago White Sox.
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