How Astros can open roster opportunities with some unconventional tweaks
ROSTER SHUFFLE
25 July 2023
Throughout the course of the season, Dusty Baker hasn't been given his full complement of players to manage, with the Astros bitten so hard by the injury bug.
Much has been made of Baker's sometimes head-scratching lineup decisions. But how fair is the criticism, considering the team is 13 games above .500 and Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve have only played in 13 games together this season?
With the trade deadline quickly approaching, many are expecting the Astros to make a splash and upgrade the roster for the playoff push. However, considering Houston's lack of top-end talent in their minor league system to deal away, finding a trade partner could be a challenge.
Perhaps the best plan of action is for the Astros to promote a player or two from Triple-A and see how they perform. Pedro Leon is a name Astros fans have been hearing about for quite a while. Should general manager Dana Brown be looking for some minor league players that can outperform the likes of Jake Meyers, David Hensley, and Bligh Madris?
And does Dusty currently have the best players in the Astros system at his disposal on a daily basis?
Plus, it's worth noting that it's not Baker's fault that Jeremy Pena and Jose Abreu have not played up to expectations.
Be sure to watch the video above as we examine several possibilities to upgrade the roster without looking outside the organization.
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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.
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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