How Astros unexpected hiccups compare to their other opportunities for improvement
STONE COLD 'STROS
02 April 2024
STONE COLD 'STROS
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!
The Houston Astros closed out a powerful homestand with a statement series win over the Cubs, led by the continued emergence of Cam Smith and the lockdown stuff of Bryan Abreu. Smith, who seems to live for high-leverage moments, went toe-to-toe with Kyle Tucker and delivered again and again, further cementing his place in Houston’s growing offensive core. Meanwhile, Abreu was simply untouchable—striking out all four batters he faced in a lights-out appearance on Thursday and returning Sunday to toss two scoreless innings in front of Josh Hader’s 23rd straight save. The bullpen continues to impress.
As Houston heads west for a six-game road trip, starting with the Rockies and ending with the Dodgers, the rotation will remain under the microscope. On paper, the Rockies series should be a tune-up—Colorado owns the worst record in baseball. But even in a small three-game set, anything can happen. The Dodgers are a different animal entirely. They’ve been the class of the National League and pose a challenge that may mirror what the Astros saw from the Phillies and Cubs—but this time, Houston won’t have the advantage of home field. Considering the team’s elite pitching and recent play, the Astros should still feel confident, but they’ll need to prove they can sustain this level on the road.
Trade speculation is beginning to swirl, particularly around Baltimore’s Cedric Mullins. Mullins hasn’t lit it up this season—he’s hitting just .213—but his 12 home runs suggest some underlying pop. Houston may believe there's untapped potential in his swing that can be unlocked. It's a move that would fit the Astros’ track record: buying low on a talented player and letting their system do the rest.
Speaking of roster decisions, Christian Walker's bat is officially on watch. Despite showing flashes of life earlier this season, Walker hit just .221 in June and has been dropped to seventh in the lineup. Meanwhile, Jon Singleton has been crushing home runs in Sugar Land and waiting patiently for another big-league shot. The organization has to be thinking about giving Singleton a chance if Walker’s struggles continue.
But not every question has an immediate answer. Lance McCullers Jr.’s return from the injured list was rocky at best, surrendering eight runs in a short outing. Still, the reaction from fans calling for his release is premature at best and delusional at worst. Joe Espada left him in too long, and everyone knew it. It's still June, and McCullers is a proven postseason arm. He’s not going anywhere, not with that contract—and frankly, not with the upside he still offers.
More to the story
Then there's Jeremy Peña. The hope was that his sore ribs were nothing serious. That changed after the homestand, when further imaging revealed a small fracture and landed Peña on the 10-day IL. It’s a frustrating development, but credit the Astros’ medical staff for pushing for clarity—learning from the Yordan Alvarez situation this year. With superagent Scott Boras now representing him, it appeared negotiations were over. But Astros GM Dana Brown revealed on the pregame show this weekend that he’s already reached back out to Boras to reopen the conversation. Whether both sides can agree to new terms is a different story.
So while the Astros leave home riding a wave of momentum, the road ahead holds tougher matchups, key roster questions, and new injury concerns. They’ve shown they’re built to weather all of it. Now they’ll have to prove it.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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