A SILVER LINING?
How Houston Astros recent misfortune could ultimately be a blessing in disguise
Aug 31, 2022, 2:55 pm
Look at the bright side, Astros fans. Composite image by Brandon Strange.
When Houston Astros ace pitcher Justin Verlander got taken out of Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, fans felt butterflies of nerves moving around their stomach.
Since then, the news seems to be about the best-case of scenario the Astros could have hoped for. Verlander is heading to the 15-day injured list but reports expect it to be a short stint. Of course, the Astros are dealing with other injuries such as with Yordan Alvarez, Ryan Pressly and Martin Maldonaldo.
Tuesday saw a flurry of moves for the Astros to correspond with the short-handed roster. While injuries are never a good thing and always scary, there could be a silver lining among the wounded roster as the postseason nears.
Houston has roughly 30 games left in the season, of those, over half are against either the Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels and the Detroit Tigers. Those teams are not exactly a gauntlet for Houston, which holds over a 10-game lead in the AL West and a four-game cushion over the New York Yankees for the best record in American League.
It is no secret that Houston’s success will be defined by what happens in October. After a run of five straight ALCS appearances, including three World Series trips, the Astros are looking to pair another world championship to the infamous 2017 title.
While the injuries, in the short term, are a bummer, and in the case of Alvarez surrounded with worry about long-term effects, Houston has put itself in a position where it can afford to allow its key players to take as much time to heal from their injuries without needing to rush.
The 2021 World Series run saw the Astros enter battle against the Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves without a key weapon in pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. after he suffered an injury to his arm. If there is any chance the Astros can minimize history from repeating, they should take it.
The Astros have proven they can beat the Yankees, and anyone else in the AL, on the road and at home in 2022. In the meantime, all eyes will be on Brandon Bielak, J.J. Matijevic and especially Hunter Brown when he gets activated Thursday. A new playoff contributor could be a hot September away.
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The Astros dropped a tough one Tuesday night, falling 4–2 to the White Sox after slipping behind early. But before anyone reaches for the panic button, take a breath — this team may not look like the dominant, late-inning machine from 2022, but there are still reasons to believe something bigger could be brewing.
In this episode, we unpack what this loss really means and why the bigger picture still matters. Despite a wave of injuries, the Astros are hanging a few games over the .500 mark — a feat that may be more impressive than it seems on the surface.
We take a closer look at Lance McCullers Jr., who’s no longer fighting for a spot at the back of the rotation. His stuff looks sharper, and his role as a solid No. 3 is starting to take shape. We also spotlight Ryan Gusto, a young arm who might quietly become a key piece down the stretch.
The offense hasn’t exploded the way fans hoped, but maybe that’s the point — Houston is still in the fight, and in some ways, overachieving considering the circumstances. Rookie Cam Smith is settling in nicely at the big-league level, and although Christian Walker has underwhelmed, Isaac Paredes has emerged as one of the top third basemen in the American League. Plus, let's not forget Yordan Alvarez should be returning in short order to give the offense a lift.
And yes, it’s early, but we can’t help but wonder… could this be the start of another World Series run? After all, the Astros were swept by the White Sox in 2017 — and we all remember how that story ended.
Be sure to watch the video below as ESPN Houston's John Granato and Lance Zierlein weigh in!
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