STONE COLD 'STROS
How Astros unexpected hiccups compare to their other opportunities for improvement
Apr 1, 2024, 7:09 pm
The Astros will look to get back on track against the Blue Jays. Composite Getty Image.
The Astros had a rough weekend, with Juan Soto and the Yankees coming to town and sweeping Houston. The 'Stros now sit at 0-4 on the season and host the Blue Jays for a three-game series starting Monday night.
So what went wrong?
Some issues from 2023 haven't been resolved, and some new concerns have also arisen, which hampered the club against New York. Let's start with the old problems that still persist. Astros first baseman Jose Abreu had a terrible 2023 regular season, and things aren't going any better in 2024. He's yet to record a hit (0-11), and manager Joe Espada has already dropped him behind Yainer Diaz in the batting order.
Rafael Montero really struggled in 2023 after posting a career-year in 2022. Montero finished 2023 with an ERA over five, and through his first 2 appearances this season, his ERA is currently 5.40. He also surrendered a home run in his first appearance.
Finally, when is this team going to win a game at home? The Astros struggles at Minute Maid Park have continued into the 2024 season. The club is 7-26 in their last 33 home games.
As far as some new areas of concern, let's start with the bullpen. The tandem of Bryan Abreu, Ryan Pressly, and Josh Hader hasn't produced the results Houston was hoping for. Abreu coughed up a 3-1 lead on Saturday, and Hader surrendered the go-ahead run on Sunday that secured the win for the Yankees.
At least with these guys, we believe water will find its level, and the backend of the bullpen will be a strength for this club over the course of the season. But for those blaming Abreu's two-game suspension for the first two losses, Saturday's performance was a tough pill to swallow.
Finally, moving Alex Bregman to the cleanup spot hasn't generated the results Espada was hoping for. They wanted Bregman to get more at-bats with runners on base, and so far that's working. The club produced two games in the series with twelve hits or more. They just haven't performed well with runners in scoring position. And Bregman is a prime example, he only has one RBI through the first four games.
Be sure to watch the video above as we react to the Yankees series, look ahead to the Blue Jays, and much more!
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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.