5 critical Houston Astros wildcards to monitor with dust settled on Snell
LET'S GET WILD
21 March 2024
LET'S GET WILD
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!
Nolan Arenado homered and Brendan Donovan went 4 for 4, helping Sonny Gray and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Houston Astros 8-3 on Monday night.
Arenado also doubled twice and scored two runs in the opener of a three-game series. Donovan extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
Gray (3-0) pitched seven scoreless innings. He allowed three hits, struck out four and walked one.
The Cardinals have won Gray's last eight home starts dating to last season.
Astros left-hander Framber Valdez (1-2) was tagged for seven runs — six earned — in four-plus innings. Five of the 10 hits he allowed were doubles.
Arenado hit a solo drive off Luis Contreras in the eighth. It was his second homer of the season.
The Cardinals broke it open with three runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth.
Pedro Pagés hit a two-run double to make it 3-0 in the fourth. Nolan Gorman's sacrifice fly extended the lead to 7-0 in the fifth.
Donovan scored twice and drove in a run. He is batting an NL-high .391.
Houston's Jeremy Peña hit a three-run homer off Roddery Muñoz with two outs in the ninth.
Arenado drove in the first run in the fifth. He fouled off four straight offerings in a 10-pitch at-bat before ripping an RBI double to left.
Gray set the tone when he retired Jose Altuve, Isaac Paredes and Yordan Alvarez in order in the first inning. The Astros’ only hit off Gray through five was catcher Yainer Diaz’s infield single in the second.
Astros right-hander Hunter Brown (1-1, 2.00 ERA) starts on Tuesday night. Right-hander Erick Fedde (1-1, 4.50 ERA) makes his fourth start for the Cardinals.