6 positive Astros updates (and 2 not-so-good) have Houston vibing a certain way

The stakes are high

6 positive Astros updates (and 2 not-so-good) have Houston vibing a certain way
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.

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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The Angels beat the Astros, 3-0. Composite Getty Image.

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.

Key moment

The home run by Peraza.

Key stat

It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.

Up next

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.

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