Here are Houston Astros glaring advantages to maximize success ahead of postseason
WORKING IN THEIR FAVOR
16 September 2024
Only four series remain in the regular season. Composite Getty Image.
The Houston Astros are headed to San Diego to face the Padres, maintaining a 4.5-game lead over the Mariners in the AL West. With just 13 games remaining in the season, winning the division isn’t guaranteed yet. However, it would take a major surge from Seattle paired with a significant collapse from Houston for the standings to shift.
The Astros starting pitching has been leading the way, and with Spencer Arrighetti, Hunter Brown, and Framber Valdez slated to start against the Padres, you have to like Houston's chances even against a quality club like San Diego.
Speaking of pitching, should the Astros go on to win the division, it will be interesting to see who pitches Game 3 of the first playoff series. We know Framber Valdez and Hunter Brown will pitch Games 1 and 2.
The clock is ticking for JV
It appears the Astros will give Justin Verlander every chance to win that assignment, but at this point, it's hard to justify his place on the playoff roster. He's clearly the team's sixth-best starter as of today.
Remember me?
Ronel Blanco reminded everyone of what he's capable of against the Angels over the weekend. While Justin Verlander was only decent against the Halos.
The Astros 3rd postseason starter will likely be determined by the opponent. But if we're just listing the pitchers we have the most confidence in right now, Yusei Kikuchi is at the top of the list. Arrighetti oozes with upside, but there's significant downside with him as well. You typically know very early in the game which version of Arrighetti you're going to get.
To be fair, Kikuchi doesn't have much postseason experience. But he's certainly pitched in more high stakes games than Arrighetti at this point in his career. Blanco will be the wild card to watch here, as he was the club's best starting pitcher for the first half of the season.
King Tuck
Finally, we're starting to feel good about Kyle Tucker. He appears to be getting healthy just in the nick of time.
Don't miss the video above as we examine all the advantages the Astros hold over the final stretch of the season, and much more!
Catch our weekly Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast. Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo discuss varied Astros topics. The first post for the week generally goes up Monday afternoon (second part released Tuesday) via The SportsMap HOU YouTube channel or listen to episodes in their entirety at Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
How national media's biggest oversight of Astros plays into their favor
Mar 17, 2025, 4:57 pm
The Houston Astros enter the 2025 season with plenty of question marks, but their starting rotation may quietly be one of the team’s biggest strengths. Despite finishing sixth in team ERA last season, Houston’s pitching staff isn’t getting much love from national outlets. MLB’s official rankings of the top 10 rotations didn’t include the Astros, though division rival Texas claimed the No. 9 spot.
But Houston’s rotation is in a far better position than it was this time last year. Injuries to Justin Verlander and JP France complicated things in spring training, and Ronel Blanco was still an unproven starter. This season, the Astros' rotation is already set, with reinforcements on the way. Lance McCullers Jr. could be ready to return in the coming weeks, and Luis Garcia may not be far behind him.
While the national media focuses on the losses of Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker, they aren’t paying as much attention to key additions like Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker. Former MLB GM Jim Bowden predicts a third-place finish for Houston, but the roster still has plenty of firepower.
The Astros’ talent is undeniable. Baseball America ranked eight Astros players in its top 100 list for 2025, tied with the Dodgers for second-most in baseball, trailing only the Braves. MLB Network also placed eight Astros in its top 100, tied for the most with the Mets. Despite these rankings, the Astros continue to fly under the radar.
One of the biggest questions heading into Opening Day is whether Cam Smith or Zach Dezenzo will make the roster. Manager Joe Espada may have tipped his hand, stating he’s “looking beyond the stats” when evaluating Chas McCormick, who is struggling this spring with a .167 average. If McCormick starts in right field and falters, Dezenzo, Smith, and Ben Gamel will be waiting for their shot.
With a solid rotation, key offensive additions, and young talent pushing for playing time, Houston may be far better than some are predicting.
We have so much more to get to. Don't miss the video below as we cover the topics above and much, much more!
The countdown to Opening Day is on. Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!
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