Here are the driving forces fueling Houston Astros offensive breakout
STONE COLD 'STROS
17 July 2023
After losing a heartbreaker to the Angels on Saturday, the Astros were able to rally and beat LA on Sunday, which secured a series win for the club.
The Astros got huge performances from Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, and Chas McCormick on Sunday, and now the 'Stros team OPS is inching closer to the top 10. The Astros spent much of the year in the bottom third of team OPS, but now have climbed to 13th.
The offense is steadily improving, and that's without the help of Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez. Imagine when those guys get back to full health. And if Alex Bregman can continue this hot streak, things will really be moving in the right direction.
But we can't go any further without talking about Chas McCormick's splits this year. Traditionally, he's been significantly better against left-handed pitching, but his splits are evening out. McCormick has an OPS of .840 versus right-handed pitching and an eye-popping 1.004 versus lefties. In fact, McCormick has the highest slugging percentage on the team, behind only Yordan.
Be sure to check out the video above as we discuss the importance of Sunday's win, and reflect on what we are seeing right now from Kyle Tucker and AL Player of the Week, Chas McCormick.
Plus, should the workload of the Astros relievers be a concern? They just had time off from the All-Star break, and they already look tired after just one series. Does the front office need to be looking for some bullpen help?
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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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