LET'S GET WILD
5 critical Houston Astros wildcards to monitor with dust settled on Snell
Mar 21, 2024, 11:56 am
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!
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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.