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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Astros show signs of life in blowout win over Brewers
May 7, 2025, 3:25 pm
Framber Valdez pitched seven strong innings and Jeremy Peña homered and drove in four runs as the Houston Astros defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 9-1 on Wednesday.
Houston earned just its second victory in seven games to snap Milwaukee’s three-game winning streak and leave both teams with .500 records. The Brewers were attempting to sweep a series from the Astros for the first time since 2012.
The Astros led 3-1 before Peña broke the game open by delivering a three-run homer to left off reliever Elvin Rodriguez with two outs in the sixth inning.
JP3-run bomb. #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/En0XXWdlt0
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
Valdez (2-4) struck out seven while allowing three hits, two walks and one run to earn his first win since the Astros’ March 27 season opener. He threw a season-high 101 pitches.
The Framchise is all business.#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/J8EGGDk5gl
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
Milwaukee’s only run off Valdez came on Eric Haase’s fifth-inning homer, a 425-foot drive to center.
The Astros took a 1-0 lead off Quinn Priester (1-1) in the second inning as Jake Meyers hit a two-out single and scored on Zach Dezenzo’s double.
RBI double for Zach gets us on the board early! #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/AilCY27A9d
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
The Brewers have lost all 13 games this season in which their opponent scored first.
Five-time All-Star closer Josh Hader worked the ninth while pitching in Milwaukee for the first time since the Brewers traded him in 2022.
Key moment
The Astros led 1-0 and had runners on third and second with one out in the fifth when Peña hit a bouncer to third.
Safe all day. #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/OVjcvev7cM
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
The throw home beat Dezenzo to the plate. Home plate umpire Chris Conroy initially ruled Dezenzo out, but the Astros challenged the call and replays showed the runner slid home ahead of Haase’s tag.
Key stat
Valdez has now pitched at least seven innings an MLB-leading 57 times since 2020.
Up next
The Astros host the Cincinnati Reds on Friday. Scheduled pitchers are right-hander Hunter Brown (5-1, 1.67) for the Astros and right-hander Nick Martinez (1-3, 4.19) for the Reds.
The Brewers visit the Tampa Bay Ray on Friday. Left-hander José Quintana (4-1, 2.83) will pitch for the Brewers.
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