STONE COLD 'STROS
Here are the driving forces fueling Houston Astros offensive breakout
Jul 17, 2023, 4:31 pm
Here are the driving forces FUELING Astros’ Offensive BREAKOUT!
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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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.