THE PALLILOG
These major season milestones will test Houston Astros resolve and leadership
Jul 15, 2022, 10:51 am
The Astros have some injuries to overcome. Composite image by Brandon Strange.
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The All-Star break is approaching at a good time for the Astros. That may seem an odd assertion for a team that has won 13 of its last 16 games, is 58-30 overall and could well be 61-30 after a three game home weekend series with the awful A’s. However, the injury bug has repeatedly bitten. Yordan Alvarez is out with a sore right hand. Michael Brantley continues to be sidelined by a bad shoulder. And then Thursday night the first pitch of the game drilled Jose Altuve in the left shin and forced him from the game. The Astros have enjoyed a ridiculously easy schedule the last two-plus months. They will reach the break having faced an opponent with a losing record in 50 of their last 59 games. The schedule stiffens after the break, so a few days off to get some key bodies healthier is well-timed. Because of the lockout-delayed start of the regular season, the Astros’ break is shortened a day with a doubleheader against the Yankees slotted in Thursday. Then it’s the long flight to Seattle for three against the rampaging Mariners, winners of 11 in a row.
The Astros enter the weekend having closed within three and a half games of the Yanks for the best record in the American League. Home field advantage guarantees nothing (see World Series 2019 and 2021) but the Astros sure would be better off having it than not. The Yankees have finally hit their first lackluster stretch of the season, dropping four of their last five games. After taking the first two games of a series at Fenway Park the Yankees blew leads in losing the next two, then lost two out of three at home versus the lowly Reds. Panic time in the Bronx! While the Astros should be slapping around the A’s this weekend, the Yankees see the Red Sox again.
The plan for Verlander
Some interesting and smart maneuvering of the Astros’ starting rotation. Currently with six healthy starters, Dusty Baker and the rest of the braintrust made a tweak for the weekend. Jose Urquidy opens the Oakland series Friday night with Verlander held back until Saturday. Multiple layers to this. Verlander has been stupendously good and is a finely-tuned pitching machine. Nevertheless, he is 39 years old and off Tommy John surgery. Backing JV down from a 200 inning season pace, muy inteligente. Verlander’s last start came on seven days rest, his outing Saturday will be on eight days rest. Going Saturday means Verlander will have two days off before being part of his ninth American League All-Star team. He should not pitch in the game. Heck, ideally he'd take part in the pregame pomp and circumstance (if he desires) then pass on the game itself and fly back to Houston. Verlander would have his preferred four days rest from Saturday to Thursday, perfect for starting one of the games against the Yankees, one would think the 5:40 start (rather than the 12:10). How about Cristian Javier to start the just after nooner? He did most of the work in the Astros’ combined no-hitter at Yankee Stadium. Whether Framber Valdez gets to throw an inning in the All-Star Game, let him fly from Los Angeles to Seattle ahead of starting against the Mariners either Friday or Saturday.
If the Astros sweep the pair from the Yankees they become the clear favorite to punk New York for the number one seed. While the Astros’ after the All-Star break schedule is tougher than the before, it’s still easier than what the Yankees face. The AL West is grossly inferior to the East, meaning the Yankees intradivisional slate is much harder.
The trade deadline is less than three weeks away (August 2). Just as the Astros are a playoff lock but still should be in the market for an upgrade over Martin Maldonado or Yuli Gurriel, the Yankees are a lock but could use a starting pitcher and left-handed hitting outfielder. Two months ago I suggested Cubs’ catcher Willson Contreras and Nationals’ first baseman Josh Bell as guys who should be objects of Astros’ desire. Still holds. The sleeper acquisition would be an outfield bat, particularly if Brantley’s shoulder is a serious problem. At this point neither Chas McCormick nor Jake Meyers has the look of a plus centerfield stick. Jose Siri is not a legit Major League hitter. If there is no landable centerfielder but a quality rightfielder is obtainable, shifting Kyle Tucker to center is viable if not optimal for the Astros’ defense. Remember, in 2018 Jeff Luhnow came close to dealing for Bryce Harper. Could/would James Click try to sell Jim Crane on a similarly OMG pursuit? The Astros don’t have enough to bid seriously on Juan Soto, should the Nationals entertain offers. Unless you’d be okay trading Javier and/or Luis Garcia, top pitching prospect Hunter Brown, and much more.Most Popular
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In Houston, the winning standard has been set so high that anything short of World Series contention now feels like failure. And yet, the 2025 Astros find themselves at an unfamiliar crossroads—caught between the fading brilliance of past stars and the uncertain promise of what comes next.
Jose Altuve is at the center of this issue. His early struggles (-0.5 WAR) may indicate more than just a temporary slump. And when he swung at the first pitch after Lance McCullers had just endured a grueling 33-pitch inning on Sunday, it raised a bigger question: who has the influence to talk to Altuve?
The Astros’ culture has long been praised for its accountability, but who inside the clubhouse has the standing to challenge or counsel Altuve or other vets when needed? With so many veteran voices gone, there’s a growing sense that no one does—and that’s a problem. That’s why the idea of bringing back Michael Brantley—not as a player, but as a respected voice—could make some sense. Brantley was always viewed as a quiet leader, and his presence could restore some of the guidance this roster desperately needs.
Batter up?
While the Astros have built a reputation for reviving pitchers' careers, their track record with hitters is far less impressive. There are few, if any, examples of a bat joining Houston and unlocking a new level. That failure in development becomes especially stark when considering how much they’re currently leaning on homegrown youth.
Which brings us to Zach Dezenzo. The 24-year-old rookie is showing he belongs—his .737 OPS makes him one of the more productive bats in a lineup that desperately needs stability while Yordan Alvarez nurses an injury. While Victor Caratini provides the Astros with the ability to switch hit, he's hitting just .217. Dezenzo should be starting every day in left, with Yordan out. Jose Altuve, who has already played too many innings this year, should be shifted to DH duties to ease his physical burden. The Astros should go with Cam Smith in right and keep Jake Meyers in center to round out the outfield.
GM Dana Brown has made clear that he views Dezenzo as a first baseman or left fielder for the future. So why not get him in the lineup while Yordan's out and see what he can do with consistent playing time?
Of course, losing Yordan Alvarez is always going to hurt. But the numbers tell a surprising story. Yordan currently holds a -0.4 WAR, right there alongside Altuve and Christian Walker as the only Astros with negative marks. On paper, the team hasn’t lost much production. But let’s not kid ourselves—Yordan’s mere presence alters how opponents pitch to this team. The lineup without him lacks fear factor, and the margins get razor-thin.
Speaking of margins, one move that may haunt this front office is the decision to sign Christian Walker. The veteran first baseman is hitting just .205 with a .617 OPS—far below the level expected from a player earning $20 million annually through 2027. Compare that to Jon Singleton, who posted better numbers in 2024 and currently boasts an .880 OPS in Triple-A with the Mets organization. Walker's defense is strong, but it's hard to argue that justifies the price tag. Singleton might not be a Gold Glover, or anything close, but he came much cheaper and was quietly more productive with the bat.
No regrets?
There’s also a broader question looming: if fans had known that Altuve’s massive contract extension would potentially cost the team the ability to re-sign current MVP candidates Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman, would they still have supported the deal? Hindsight is cruel, but with Altuve’s decline and Tucker and Bregman thriving, it’s a fair debate. Houston might have paid for the past instead of securing its future.
Big deals on the horizon?
All eyes now turn to owner Jim Crane. This winter, Houston's payroll will have considerable room to maneuver. But will Crane commit to restocking the lineup with All-Star-caliber bats, or will his reluctance to offer long-term deals keep the Astros stuck in a holding pattern? It’s one thing to let players walk. It’s another to fail to replace them.
The Astros still have the bones of a contender, but the road back to dominance is getting steeper. The team can’t simply rely on what used to work. It’s time for difficult conversations, bold lineup changes, and a rethinking of how this organization develops—and retains—offensive talent.
We have so much more to get to. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! 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!
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