Astros rookie emergence raises the stakes for rotation, playoffs

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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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The Angels beat the Astros, 3-0. Composite Getty Image.

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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