Jermaine Every: Astros should trade Dallas Keuchel

Coors Light Hot Take

The Astros have a big decision to make with Dallas Keuchel. Courtesy photo

Dallas Keuchel will be a free agent after the season, and he is likely to command more money than the Astros are willing to pay. Houston has the luxury of having plenty of starting pitchers on the roster, so why not trade Keuchel and get some value for him before he walks? Brad Peacock or Colin McHugh could step into the starting rotation and the Astros could get some prospects in return. The downside is not having Keuchel for another World Series run in 2018.

Most Popular

Ronel Blanco kept Toronto off balance all night. Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images.

Jeremy Peña and Christian Walker each had three hits and an RBI, and the Houston Astros cruised to a 5-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.

The Blue Jays were held to two hits for the second straight game.

Houston took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Peña scored José Altuve on an infield single and Walker followed with a hit to score Yordan Alvarez. Peña scored on a sacrifice fly by Brendan Rodgers.

Toronto ace Chris Bassitt (2-1) settled in after the first, allowing four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. Bassitt entered with the second-best ERA in the majors at 0.77, which was the second lowest for a Toronto pitcher’s first four starts of a season.

Nathan Lukes homered in the third for Toronto, which has lost four straight games.

Astros starter Ronel Blanco (2-2) allowed two hits and one run in 6 2/3 innings. Last year, Blanco threw a no-hitter against Toronto in his first start of the season on April 1.

Isaac Paredes homered for Houston in the seventh to cap the scoring.

Houston has won four of its last five.

Key moment

Houston’s first two hits were infield singles, but Walker’s RBI single to center field scored a run and put Alvarez in position for a sacrifice fly to follow.

Key stat

Walker went 3 for 3 following a rest day on Monday. The Astros newcomer entered Tuesday hitting .156 and was mired in a 3-for-26 slump in his previous eight games.

Up next

Blue Jays RHP Bowden Francis (2-2, 3.13 ERA) will face Astros RHP Ryan Gusto (2-1, 3.18 ERA) in the series finale on Wednesday night.

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM