How Astros player power rankings just took a surprising twist
WILD TURN OF EVENTS
13 June 2023
WILD TURN OF EVENTS
The Houston Astros are already a third of the way into the season, and one of the pleasant surprises has been the play of utility man Mauricio Dubon.
Dubon was a critical piece to the puzzle, with Jose Altuve missing a chunk of the season from a fractured thumb. Not only did he hold down second base in Altuve's absence, but he's continued to play well enough to deserve playing time even after Altuve's return.
Mauricio has made some terrific plays in the outfield and has the highest batting average on the team.
Another player that has shocked us this season is Jose Abreu. Abreu has shown some signs of life recently, but overall has been a big disappointment at this stage of the season.
Be sure to watch the video above as we discuss which players have been the most valuable so far this year, and what we should expect moving forward.
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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.
The home run by Peraza.
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
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.