How much-needed answers for Houston Astros could arrive sooner than you think

STONE COLD 'STROS

How much-needed answers for Houston Astros could arrive sooner than you think
Is help on the way?Composite Getty Image.

Coming off a series loss to the Rays, the Astros sit one game back in the AL West as they head to Arlington to take on the Rangers.

Houston only scored one run in the final two games against Tampa Bay, highlighting the biggest problem the club is currently dealing with. The lineup is not very good, and the offense is not scoring nearly as many runs as earlier this season.

They clearly miss Kyle Tucker, and the top of the order is not delivering, especially when it comes to power numbers. Yordan Alvarez has only hit one homer in the past month, and Jose Altuve only went deep once in the month of July.

To make matter worse, once pitchers get past the top four hitters in the 'Stros lineup, it's smooth sailing until the top of the order comes back around. Jeremy Pena isn't getting the job done in the five spot, and the rest of the lineup isn't doing any better.

Jake Meyers will keep getting starts in center field because of his abilities on defense, but his batting average is now all the way down to .232.

First base remains one of the biggest weak spots on the team, and Astros GM Dana Brown recently said they may look to Sugar Land to give Jon Singleton a breather.

Prospects Zach Dezenzo and Shay Whitcomb were mentioned specifically by Brown as options that could be called up to give the team a spark. Both players are putting up big numbers in Sugar Land.

Chandler Rome made an interesting observation in his column for The Athletic this week. Neither Dezenzo nor Whitcomb have nearly the amount of experience at first base compared to Joey Loperfido. And Loperfido never got a start at first base before he was traded last week.

It's hard to believe Joe Espada would start Dezenzo at first when he only has one minor league start at the position on his resume. Lopefido couldn't get an opportunity at first with 59 minor league starts under his belt.

Finally, it sounds like Kyle Tucker won't be back until possibly September. Can the Astros hold down the fort with pitching and defense until Tuck returns?

Don't miss the video above for the full conversation!

Catch our weekly Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast. Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo discuss varied Astros topics. The first post for the week generally goes up Monday afternoon (second part released Tuesday) via The SportsMap HOU YouTube channel or listen to episodes in their entirety at Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Most Popular

The Padres win the series, 2-1. Composite Getty Image.

Dylan Cease pitched brilliantly into the ninth inning and Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Donovan Solano hit consecutive homers in the eighth for the San Diego Padres, who beat the AL West-leading Houston Astros 4-0 on Wednesday.

Machado homered twice for the Padres, who won two of three against the Astros and stayed two games ahead of Arizona for the first NL wild card. The Astros came in with a five-game division lead over Seattle.

Cease (14-11), who threw his first career no-hitter on July 25 at Washington, took a one-hitter into the ninth before Mauricio Dubón beat out an infield single to shortstop. Cease struck out Jake Meyers but then shortstop Xander Bogaerts booted Jose Altuve's grounder for an error that allowed Dubón to take third, and that was it for the right-hander after 103 pitches.

Cease retired the first 15 Astros batters before allowing a single to right field by Jason Heyward to open the sixth. Cease then retired the side.

Cease struck out five and walked none. Tanner Scott got two outs for his 21st save.

Machado, who has 29 homers, lined a shot to left-center off Framber Valdez opening the sixth.

Tatis, who struck out in his first three at-bats, hit reliever Kaleb Ort's first pitch into the first row in left-center leading off the eighth. It was his 19th. Machado followed with a shot deep into the seats in left and Solano hit a liner to left, his seventh. That was it for Ort, who threw just nine pitches.

Valdez (14-7) went seven innings, allowing one run and five hits while striking out six and walking two.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Padres: 1B/DH Luis Arraez got the day off to rest his sore left knee, which he jammed into home plate while being thrown out on Monday night. Arraez started at DH on Tuesday night.

UP NEXT

Astros: LHP Yusei Kikuchi (9-9, 4.29 ERA) is scheduled to start Thursday night in the opener of a four-game home series against the Los Angeles Angels, who will go with LHP José Suarez (1-2, 6.80).

Padres: Hadn't announced their starter for Friday night's home series opener against the Chicago White Sox.

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM