The stakes are high
6 positive Astros updates (and 2 not-so-good) have Houston vibing a certain way
Mar 5, 2024, 10:23 am
Josh Hader, Jose Urquidy, and Cristian Javier are looking good in spring training. Composite Getty Image.
As the Houston Astros prepare for the start of the season against Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees, several encouraging updates were revealed over the weekend.
A slimmer Cristian Javier looked good in his spring debut, and Jose Urquidy had another impressive performance coming off the news that he may have been tipping his pitches last season.
And the Astros new weapon out of the bullpen (Josh Hader) looked great in his first action with the club.
Justin Verlander will be on the IL to start the season unfortunately, but it looks like he won't miss much time. They have just run out of days and don't want to rush the future Hall of Famer.
Justin Verlander's $35 million option for the 2025 season is contingent on him throwing 140 innings in 2024. The Mets are on the hook for $17.5 million of it, should it kick in. https://t.co/vKYpLO0ugn
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 5, 2024
The Athletic's Chandler Rome believes the earliest he can return is April 11 against the Kansas City Royals. Which means we'll likely see Framber Valdez on Opening Day pitching against Cole.
Speaking of Framber, his first start of the spring didn't go very well over the weekend. But there's no reason to be too concerned this early. He's still working with PitchCom and getting used to calling some of his own pitches.
Finally, Astros prospect Forrest Whitley should begin throwing again soon after dealing with a finger injury that has kept him sideline this spring. Will the former first round pick finally be able to contribute to the club in 2024?
Be sure to watch the video above as we discuss Whitley, the rest of the Astros pitching staff, and much more!
Catch Stone Cold 'Stros (an Astros podcast) with Charlie Pallilo, Brandon Strange, and Josh Jordan every Monday on SportsMapHouston's YouTube channel. We'll continue to drop more episodes throughout the week.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.