How baseball's brightest minds project dominant Astros surge following infield transformations
MLB THINK TANK
20 February 2024
With the Astros upcoming season right around the corner, we're starting to see projections for how many games the club will win in 2024.
Baseball Prospectus released its PECOTA rankings, which have the team winning the division with 95 victories. The Rangers are predicted to finish in second place with 86 wins.
95 wins is a pretty aggressive number, but if the Astros' infield lives up to expectations, it's not hard to envision them knocking on the door of nearly 100 wins.
Alex Bregman is in great shape having gained 23 pounds this offseason. With it being a contract year for him, many are expecting big things from Breggy in 2024.
Yainer Diaz should be an immediate upgrade over Martin Maldonado, and Jeremy Pena was showing off his new swing on Monday against Ryan Pressly. Manger Joe Espada said Pena is hitting to all fields with more air under the ball and an increase in power.
That’s a … really different look from Jeremy Peña, who has quieted his batting stance down a ton. Makes good contact here in a live BP against Ryan Pressly. pic.twitter.com/pDCO3OlQtJ
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) February 19, 2024
Be sure to watch the video above as we discuss the expectations for the season, examine the Astros 2024 infield, and much more!
Watch Stone Cold 'Stros (an Astros podcast) with Charlie Pallilo, Brandon Strange and Josh Jordan every week on SportsMapHouston's YouTube channel.
Examining all the reasons to believe the Rockets aced the offseason
Jul 2, 2025, 4:31 pm
The Houston Rockets are reshaping their roster in real time — and we’re breaking it all down. In just 24 hours, the team has added Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela, moves that mark a clear shift in direction under Ime Udoka. With Finney-Smith in, Dillon Brooks is out — but is this a swap that actually makes Houston better?
In this episode, we dive deep into what these signings mean for the Rockets’ identity and future. Is Finney-Smith a cleaner fit in Udoka’s system than Brooks ever was? Are these aggressive contracts smart bets or future burdens? And what does all this say about the organization’s faith in its young core — from Amen Thompson to Alperen Sengun?
We also look ahead. Is this offseason already a win, or are more moves — like a Kevin Durant extension or Cam Whitmore trade — still on the table? Let’s talk about where the Rockets stand now, and where they could be headed next.
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