5 critical Houston Astros wildcards to monitor with dust settled on Snell
LET'S GET WILD
21 March 2024
Opening Day is right around the corner. Composite Getty Image.
After missing out on signing Blake Snell in free agency, it has been reported by The Athletic's Chandler Rome that the Astros are not currently pursuing any starting pitchers on the free agent market.
Astros GM Dana Brown made it clear that Snell was a unique opportunity to sign a real difference maker to the team. He believes there are no longer any free agent pitchers available that are upgrades over the depth the Astros already have on the roster.
Which sounds a little strange considering World Series champion Jordan Montgomery remains unsigned. Brown should be familiar with Montgomery's work, considering he had a huge part in bouncing Houston from the ALCS in 2023.
Montgomery appeared in three games in that series, recording two wins. His postseason ERA is actually lower than Blake Snell's. So the thought that Montgomery isn't any better than JP France or Brandon Bielak is absurd.
Perhaps Brown wasn't including Montgomery in his comments because of how much money he will command. That's the only way his statement makes any sense.
Speaking of Bielak, the Astros are stretching him out in case they need him as a starter with Jose Urquidy likely out until the middle of May with forearm discomfort. Justin Verlander will also begin the season on IL.
Bielak threw 62 pitches in his last outing. MLB.com's Brian McTaggart is reporting that Bielak is working on throwing more first pitch strikes.
"Of pitchers with at least 50 innings last year, he was second-to-last in the Major Leagues with 51.1 percent first-pitch strikes."
Hopefully, he improves on that this season. His ERA is over five this spring in the Grapefruit League.
Finally, Astros prospect Joey Loperfido has been a revelation. Is there a chance he makes the big league roster?
Be sure to watch the video above as we break it all down!
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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