Houston Astros raising eyebrows with sudden roster move to reinforce offense
STONE COLD 'STROS
07 August 2023
The Houston Astros are coming off a series split against the New York Yankees, with the AL leading Baltimore Orioles next on the schedule.
While the Astros are still in a good spot with their pitching (2nd in team ERA), the offense continues to be the group struggling for consistency. Houston has now fallen to 15th in team OPS and slugging, with several players going through a tough stretch right now.
While many have been quick to point at Jeremy Pena's issues as of late, he actually has more hits than Alex Bregman and Jose Abreu combined over the last seven games.
Astros GM Dana Brown made it clear before the All-Star break that the team would like to add a left-handed bat to the roster, but Brown wasn't able to find a trade that wouldn't include an Astro on the current major league roster.
But the Astros do have Jon Singleton in Triple A hitting the cover off the ball with an OPS over 1100 in his 33 games with the Space Cowboys. According to reports, he is heading to Baltimore to join the Astros with Corey Julks being optioned back to Sugar Land.
Can Singleton provide a much-needed spark down the stretch for Houston? If he hits well in his limited opportunities, perhaps he can get some starts at first base from time to time, and give Jose Abreu some much-needed rest.
Be sure to watch the video above as we break it all down.
If you enjoy the videos, subscribe on YouTube for our latest content.
And listen to ESPN 97.5 and 92.5 for Houston's best sports talk.
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.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
