This unexplainable Astros x-factor looms large for the postseason
WHAT'S THE DEAL?
12 September 2023
The Astros are in the middle of another exciting playoff push and as the regular season is coming to a close, we're seeing the offense climb up the rankings as the season progresses.
In fact, while most of the season Houston's offense has been middle of the pack, going into Monday's game against the A's, the Astros were Top 5 in team OPS.
But one thing that has been an ongoing issue for the club, is how they perform at home. Currently, the 'Stros are 37-36 at home, while being substantially better on the road (45-27).
If the Astros are able to continue their winning ways and make the postseason once again, should there be any concern about their struggles at home?
This is a team that lost every game of the World Series at home and won every game on the road in 2019. Does home-field advantage really matter that much to the Astros who are clearly better on the road?
And what is causing the team to hit so much better outside Minute Maid? Chandler Rome of The Athletic wrote a piece about Jose Abreu's issues with the batter's eye at the Juice Box.
If this something the team might look to change during the offseason?
Check out the video above for the full conversation!
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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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