How huge Astros series win plus blockbuster trades have shifted AL West division landscape
STONE COLD 'STROS
29 July 2024
Should Houston still be the favorites in the AL West? Composite Getty Image.
The Houston Astros are coming off a huge series win over the Dodgers thanks to some heroics from Alex Bregman and Yainer Diaz.
But as the Astros were taking care of business against LA, the Mariners completed two trades that have changed the landscape in the AL West.
Astro killer Randy Arozarena and former Houston relief pitcher Yimi Garcia have joined the Mariners, and have significantly upgraded their roster. Especially in the case of Arozarena, who will provide some offense to a team that has struggled to score all season. He also adds playoff experience and a knack for coming up big in high-pressure situations.
Adding a player with an ALCS MVP award on their resume should not be taken lightly, and Garcia only improves one of the best pitching staffs in baseball. He's definitely an upgrade over Ryne Stanek, who was traded from Seattle to New York over the weekend.
With the trade deadline almost upon us, it seems the Astros will be lucky just to add an arm, based on the comments from GM Dana Brown. Which means the club will likely move forward with Jon Singleton getting most of the playing time at first base.
And based on this latest series with the Dodgers, that could be a good thing. Singleton hit a massive homer to the second deck on Friday, helping the 'Stros cruise to a 5-0 victory.
However, when looking at Singleton's stats since the first of July, he only has two games with multiple hits. So he needs to make an impact with the one hit he typically gets per game, based on how his numbers have been trending.
Be sure to check out the video above as we reflect on all the action from the weekend, look ahead to the Astros upcoming games against the Pirates and Rays, and much more.
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.
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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