How Astros unexpected hiccups compare to their other opportunities for improvement
STONE COLD 'STROS
02 April 2024
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!
Jose Altuve and rookie Jacob Melton drove in three runs each as the Houston Astros jumped on Chris Paddack early and cruised to a 10-3 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.
Paddack (2-6) tied career highs by allowing 12 hits and nine runs — eight earned — in just four innings for his third straight loss.
Houston rookie starter Colton Gordon (2-1) gave up six hits and two runs with five strikeouts in a career-high six innings.
Jeremy Peña tied a season-high with four hits and rookie Cam Smith had two hits and two RBIs as the AL West-leading Astros won their third straight.
Willi Castro, Royce Lewis and Ty France all hit solo homers for the Twins, who were blown out for the third time in four games after losing to Texas 16-4 Tuesday and 16-3 Thursday.
Lewis, who missed the start of the season with a hamstring strain, pulled up as he was running to first base on a single in the ninth inning and was replaced by a pinch-runner. There was no immediate word on his injury.
The Astros got to work early in this one. The bases were loaded with two outs in the first when Smith hit a two-run single to center field to make it 2-0. Melton followed with a single to right field to drive in another run.
There were runners on first and third with one out in the second when Altuve’s double scored two to make it 5-0.
The Twins loaded the bases with two outs in the third but Carlos Correa grounded out to end the threat.
Melton hit a two-run triple with no outs in the bottom of the inning to push the lead to 7-0. A sacrifice fly by Mauricio Dubón made it 8-0.
The Twins got on the board with Castro’s two-out homer in the fourth inning.
Altuve homered to left-center to start the bottom of the inning and make it 9-1.
Key moment
Smith’s two-RBI single in the first that gave Houston the lead for good.
Key stat
The Astros had four doubles to give them 15 in their last three games.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (8-3, 1.82 ERA) opposes Twins RHP Joe Ryan (7-2, 2.96) on Saturday.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
