How Houston Astros going unorthodox is one of their best immediate answers
STONE COLD 'STROS
08 August 2024
STONE COLD 'STROS
The Astros secured a huge series win over the Rangers this week, as the offense was finally able to get going in the final two games.
In the series finale, manager Joe Espada started both Victor Caratini and Yainer Diaz. Which led to the most runs (6) the Astros have scored since July 27.
Caratini and Diaz combined for five hits in the contest, which definitely helped elevate a slumping offense. With Kyle Tucker still sidelined for the foreseeable future, should the Astros consider starting both Diaz and Caratini on a regular basis?
At this point, it seems like they have no other choice. Caratini has hit more consistently than Chas McCormick, Jon Singleton, Aledmys Diaz, and Pedro Leon. There's no debating that.
And the Astros will need every ounce of offense they can muster as they battle with the Mariners for first place in the AL West.
However, there is a ripple effect that takes place when they roll with this lineup. Yordan Alvarez will have to play left field if the DH spot is already being used for either Caratini or Diaz.
It also means the club might consider calling up Cesar Salazar just to have an extra catcher on the roster in case an injury were to take place.
Which isn't the worst idea in the world. Salazar has a .318 batting average with the big league club this year in his limited at-bats (22). Would the Astros really miss Aledmys Diaz if it allowed them to start their best offensive lineup on a regular basis?
What about the pitching?
Astros GM Dana Brown recently discussed the outlook for Luis Garcia this season. Brown said they want to be careful with him as he makes his way back from Tommy John surgery. The club doesn't want to push him and cause another setback. Garcia being a healthy part of the 2025 starting rotation appears to be the team's top priority.
This update got us thinking, we know Lance McCullers won't pitch in 2024, and it's becoming more likely that Garcia won't either. And if we look back on Justin Verlander's Tommy John surgery, he didn't pitch the following season either.
So it shouldn't come as a surprise if Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy don't pitch in 2025. And at this point, do we ever expect to see McCullers pitch again?
Also, JP France will be working his way back from shoulder surgery, so it's hard to count on him.
Verlander's return in 2025 looks uncertain as well, since he in all likelihood won't pitch enough innings (140) in 2024 for his contract to vest for next season. (He currently has 57 innings pitched).
Which means the 2025 rotation could look like this:
Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, Ronel Blanco, Luis Garcia, and Spencer Arrighetti.
If Yusei Kikuchi continues to pitch well for Houston, you have to wonder if they'll try to re-sign him.
Another option could be elevating AJ Blubaugh from Sugar Land. He currently has a 4.20 ERA, so he's not exactly killing it in the minors.
There's so much more to get to, make sure you watch the video above for the full discussion!
*Catch our weekly Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast. Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo discuss varied Astros topics. The first post for the week generally goes up Monday afternoon (second part released Tuesday) via The SportsMap HOU YouTube channel or listen to episodes in their entirety at Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
After a rough weekend and a five-game home losing streak looming large, the Houston Astros return to Daikin Park on Monday night looking to get back on track against the visiting Washington Nationals. This three-game set opens a critical homestand for the first-place Astros, who, despite the skid, still lead the AL West with a 60-46 record.
Houston will turn to its ace, Framber Valdez, who’s quietly piecing together one of the most dominant seasons in the league. The left-hander is 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA and 129 strikeouts — and when he’s on, he’s a stopper in every sense.
The Nationals counter with Brad Lord, who brings a solid 3.39 ERA into the matchup but has just two wins in 7 starts. Lord’s numbers suggest he's pitched better than his record shows, though his 1.26 WHIP could be tested against a Houston lineup that has proven dangerous when clicking. The Astros are 33-7 this season when scoring at least five runs — the formula is no secret.
At the plate, José Altuve continues to anchor Houston’s offense, hitting .280 with 17 homers and 17 doubles on the year. The supporting cast has been inconsistent of late, with the Astros averaging just .241 and getting outscored by 17 runs over their last 10 games. Rookie Brice Matthews has shown flashes, with three homers in his last 10 games, but Houston is still searching for a rhythm without key power bats fully healthy.
The Nationals arrive in Houston at 43-62, last in the NL East but coming off a competitive 5-5 stretch. James Wood, one of their key young pieces, has slugged 24 homers and added 21 doubles while batting .263. Josh Bell has also been swinging the bat well, collecting 12 hits in his last 39 at-bats.
The Astros hold a 33-23 mark at Daikin Park this season, and they’ll try to lean on home-field advantage — something that’s recently been elusive — to jumpstart a second-half push. With the trade deadline approaching and the division tightening, Houston knows it can’t afford to drop games to teams below .500.
First pitch is set for 8:10 p.m. ET, with the Astros listed as heavy -232 favorites on BetMGM’s sportsbook. The over/under is 7.5, a nod to the belief that pitching could dominate this series opener.
Injuries
You can see all the updates in Brian McTaggart's post below.
And a plethora of injury updates pic.twitter.com/G1ZjhQlJxZ
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) July 28, 2025
It sounds like Jeremy Pena will return the soonest, followed by Spencer Arrighetti. Pena is playing for Sugar Land on Tuesday.
Peña will play tomorrow in Sugar Land. He’s close https://t.co/fBnNkfTwc5
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) July 28, 2025
Joe Espada is shuffling his lineup
Taylor Trammell is leading off and playing right field, with Cam Smith getting the night off. Altuve is once again hitting second and playing left field and is followed by the DH, Victor Caratini. Christian Walker will hit cleanup and play first base, no surprise there.
Jacob Melton has been recalled to the big league roster and Jon Singleton has been DFA'd. So Melton will hit fifth and play center field followed by Yainer Diaz (C), Mauricio Dubon (3B), Brice Matthews (2B), and Zack Short (SS).
It's City Connect Monday, y'all.
⚾️: 7:10 PM
🏟️: Closed
📺: @SpaceCityHN
🎙️: @SportsTalk790 | Spanish: 93.3 FM#BuiltForThis x @reliantenergy pic.twitter.com/2FmPaf8qHd
— Houston Astros (@astros) July 28, 2025
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