How new contenders have surfaced to challenge Astros postseason push
STONE COLD 'STROS
14 August 2023
The Houston Astros are heading to Miami to begin a series against the Marlins after taking two of three from the Los Angeles Angels. Despite the Astros hot start out of the All-Star break, they still can't seem to find a way to catch the Texas Rangers.
And don't look now, but the Seattle Mariners are making a late to push to try to win the division, relying on their elite pitching (currently ranked first in baseball in team ERA).
Seattle has also beaten Houston five times out of the seven times they've played in 2023. So the upcoming series against them could prove critical for the Astros, as they don't want to lose the tiebreaker.
The Astros have managed to play well overall this season without their best hitters getting hot at the same time. Whether it be injuries or slumps, the club hasn't been able to fire on all cylinders. Is it unfair to expect the team to put it all together come playoff time?
The bottom third of the lineup isn't as talented as it was in years past, so expecting that to change when the playoffs start feels like a big ask. But if Jon Singleton and Yainer Diaz prove they deserve more playing time, Houston's lineup could look a lot more formidable, even if they're just used a bit more in a timeshare scenario with Jose Abreu and Martin Maldonado.
Be sure to watch the video above for the full discussion.
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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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