STONE COLD 'STROS
How Astros still have ace in the hole against new challengers to the crown
Aug 28, 2023, 3:49 pm
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How Astros still have ace in the hole against new challengers to the crown
The Houston Astros currently sit one game back in the AL West and hold the final Wild Card spot as we approach the final month of the season.
After the Astros face the Red Sox and Yankees this week, they begin a 3-game series against the Rangers next Monday that could have massive playoff implications.
One thing going for the club right now is that the bats appear to be getting hot at the right time. Alex Bregman and Jeremy Pena had some spectacular performances against Detroit over the weekend. The offense has been uncharacteristically middle of the pack for most of the season, but they are now in the Top 10 for team slugging, OPS, and home runs.
Dropping 17 runs on the Tigers Sunday certainly helped to pad the stats.
The Astros schedule could be their ace in the hole
The other thing working in Houston's favor is the schedule. They have a more favorable schedule than the Mariners and Rangers as we approach the final stretch of the season. The 'Stros have two series with the Royals and one with the lowly A's during the month of September.
Those three series could be the difference between making the postseason and going home. It's been a long time since these games in late August and September have meant so much to the team.
Be sure to watch the video above as we discuss what the Astros have in front of them with the regular season quickly coming to an end.
Catch Stone Cold 'Stros (an Astros podcast) every Monday on YouTube!
And be sure to listen to ESPN 97.5 and 92.5 FM for Houston's best sports talk.
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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.