How Astros pitching plus power renaissance reshapes AL West division race
A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME
13 August 2024
The Astros are rounding into postseason form. Composite Getty Image.
The Houston Astros are heating up at the right time as they have a six game winning streak after defeating the Rays on Monday night.
The top of the order put up some big numbers in Boston, and the starting pitching has really fallen into place, with Hunter Brown and Spencer Arrighetti looking like top of the rotation starters moving forward.
However, the main issue that could derail the club this year has to be the bottom half of the lineup. Over the last 30 games, look at the batting averages that Joe Espada has to work with.
Mauricio Dubon .137
Chas McCormick .175
Jon Singleton.235
Jake Meyers .196
Which is why Zach Dezenzo should continue to get more opportunities. And that goes for Victor Caratini as well. Since Caratini returned from injury, he's raised his batting average from .257 to .275.
If he had enough at-bats to qualify, he would have the second-highest slugging percentage (.466) on the team, behind Yordan Alvarez (.561).
We've also seen manager Joe Espada willing to play both Caratini and Yainer Diaz in the same lineup. Which means Yordan Alvarez has to play left field.
Alvarez started in five-straight games in left field before Monday night. Playing Yordan in left also provides opportunities to rest veteran players. Altuve hit in the DH spot on Sunday, something we've been talking about all season.
He's 34 years old and needs a day off from time to time. And this is a way you can rest him and still keep his bat in the lineup. When Kyle Tucker does return from injury, it's hard to believe he'll start every game in right field as he's working his way back into game shape.
With Yordan in left, Tucker could also benefit from hitting in the DH spot from time to time.
Playoff push
As well as the Astros have been playing, they weren't able to gain any meaningful ground on the Mariners, as they swept the Mets over the weekend.
Can the Astros stay hot and put some distance between themselves and Seattle? A series against the lowly White Sox this weekend could do the trick!
Be sure to watch the video above as we highlight some important pockets in the upcoming schedule, and examine several strategies that could give Houston the edge as they approach the final stretch of the season.
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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