How these last hopes for Astros must repair unlikeliest of foundational cracks
FIXING THE ASTROS
04 June 2024
Can the Astros turn this season around? Composite Getty Image.
The Houston Astros are coming off another crushing series loss and now sit 7.5 games behind the division leading Seattle Mariners.
And while things haven't been going well for the club this year, some areas of the team are showing improvement. Despite all the injuries to the starting rotation, the pitching has been excellent as of late.
Hunter Brown and Spencer Arrighetti appear to be developing into quality back of the rotation starters. Which is key with the injures to Jose Urquidy and Cristian Javier.
Alex Bregman seems to have found his power stroke at the plate, but now that he's hitting, Jose Altuve, Kyle Tucker, and Jeremy Pena are struggling. It's just been one of those years for the Astros. They can't seem to get hot at the same time.
And when the pitching and hitting give the bullpen a late-game lead, they've struggled to hold it. Josh Hader and Bryan Abreu seem to have overcome their early season issues, but Ryan Pressly is another story. His command has been a problem for most of the year. His walks per nine innings (3.2) haven't been this high since 2015. When he makes a mistake, there's often a runner on base, which has cost the Astros several games.
Look at the bright side
One possible saving grace for this team is their schedule. If they can start stacking up series wins against the Cardinals, Angels, Giants, Tigers, and White Sox, maybe they can get back to .500 and put themselves in striking distance of the Mariners.
Be sure to watch the video above for the full discussion!
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How Astros revealed blueprint for 2025 in Opening Day victory over Mets
Mar 27, 2025, 6:59 pm
Framber Valdez pitched seven scoreless innings and Josh Hader struck out Juan Soto with two on to save the Houston Astros' 3-1 win over the New York Mets on Thursday.
After loading the bases with nobody out in the ninth, Hader fanned backup catcher Hayden Senger in his first major league at-bat. Francisco Lindor's sacrifice fly made it 3-1, and there were runners on first and third when Hader struck out Soto swinging at a full-count slider wide of the zone for his 200th career save.
Soto singled and walked twice in his Mets debut after signing a record $765 million, 15-year contract as a free agent this offseason.
Making his fourth straight opening day start, Valdez (1-0) allowed four hits and struck out four.
Converted reliever Clay Holmes (0-1) yielded five hits and three runs — two earned — while walking four in 4 2/3 innings. Pitching on his 32nd birthday in his Mets debut, the former All-Star closer with the Yankees made his first big league start since making four as a rookie with Pittsburgh in 2018.
Jeremy Peña got hit by a pitch with one out in the second before touted prospect Cam Smith grounded an opposite-field single on the first pitch he saw in the majors. Brendan Rodgers walked to load the bases and Houston took a 1-0 lead when Jake Meyers grounded into a forceout that scored Peña.
Yainer Diaz hit an RBI single in a two-run third that extended the lead to 3-0.
The Mets debuted the No. 7 patches they’ll wear on their uniforms all season to remember Ed Kranepool, who died in September at 79. Kranepool spent his entire 18-year career with the Mets and was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 1990.
Don't miss the video below as Charlie Pallilo, Brandon Strange, and Josh Jordan from Stone Cold 'Stros react live to the win on YouTube!
Key moment
Hader finally closed it out on his 35th pitch — two more than his season high last year.
Key stat
Houston’s Jose Altuve made his first career start in left field after making his previous 1,749 starts in the field at second base.
Up next
Mets RHP Tylor Megill opposes RHP Hunter Brown when the series continues Friday night.
