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Astros rookie emergence raises the stakes for rotation, playoffs
Jul 27, 2023, 5:44 pm
Astros rookie EMERGENCE raises the stakes for rotation, playoffs
Coming off a series win against the Rangers, the Astros are two games back in the AL West with about two months to go in the regular season.
And as we look at the team's starting rotation, the pitcher with the best ERA is no longer Astros' ace Framber Valdez. Rookie JP France holds the best ERA of the starters at 2.87.
While France certainly passes the eye test and has been the club's most consistent starter as of late, he's only pitched about 85 innings this year. It will be interesting to see if he's still as effective over the next couple of months.
We've seen Framber, Cristian Javier, and Hunter Brown wear down a bit over the last several weeks. And they've all pitched over 100 innings to date.
If France is able to push through without wearing down, what happens in the postseason? Would Dusty Baker slot France in as the No. 2 starter?
And if France can finish the season strong with an ERA in the two's, could he be in the Rookie of the Year conversation?
Be sure to watch the video above as we share our thoughts on Houston's impressive rookie pitcher, and much more!
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Listen to The Bench with John Granato and Lance Zierlein weekday mornings on ESPN 97.5 and 92.5 FM.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.