MOVES ARE NOT A NECESSITY, BUT COULD REALLY HELP THE TEAM PUSH FOR ANOTHER TITLE
Luhnow says Astros looking for a starter and a catcher; what about a reliever?
Jul 23, 2019, 7:11 am
MOVES ARE NOT A NECESSITY, BUT COULD REALLY HELP THE TEAM PUSH FOR ANOTHER TITLE
Jeff Luhnow met the media Monday before the start of the Astros home game with the hard-charging Oakland A's and told everyone within earshot that the team would like to add a starting pitcher and a catcher before the trade deadline at the end of the month. With all the injuries to the starting pitchers that had given Luhnow and AJ Hinch the gluttony of riches a year ago of so many to pitchers to chose from, it has become evident that help is needed to fill out the rotation before they hit the stretch run towards the playoffs. Justin Verlander, Wade Miley, and Gerrit Cole are firmly entrenched at the top of the staff, but help is needed to replace the injured Lance McCullers and Brad Peacock, as well as the one-time starter Collin McHugh who is now back in the bullpen. The young arms on the farm system were given a chance, but they cannot be counted on for consistency and quality starts when the playoffs roll around and any slip up is magnified and could be the difference between advancing and being sent home. With all the big named starting pitchers on the market this year, there are plenty of options and varying contract terms out there to chose from as Luhnow attempts to make a deal.
After getting off to a red-hot start and close consideration for a spot on the All-Star team, catcher Robinson Chirinos has cooled off at the plate and needs to catch a few days off behind the plate to assure he is fresh for the playoffs. He has been better than expected and has the total trust and confidence of the pitching staff, but the team does not want him catching 3 games in a row and Max Stassi has not been able to step up and carry the torch when called on this season, battling through injuries and inconsistencies. Luhnow was hot after ex-Astro Martim Maldanado before the Cubs acquired him in a trade with the Royals a few weeks back. That has left Luhnow and his staff to scour the market and see who else is out there, available and not too expensive to obtain. The goal is to save the top prospects and only consider a move for one of them if it is for a front line starter that has some level of remaining team control. Trading for a catcher would not seem to be an option for the likes of Kyle Tucker, Forrest Whitley or any other top prospect in the Houston system. Ideally, the team would prefer to part with a younger player down on the farm or a more experienced player with some major league experience that isn't in their plans for this season or in the short term.
The newest concern for the team seems to be in the bullpen where the arms are starting to run thin with injuries and extended use and AJ Hinch getting so concerned that he actually gave Ryan Pressly a full series off against the Rangers. Josh James was the latest casualty after he was taken out of the game Sunday with concerns of arm fatigue, velocity issues and a fear that there may be more to the diagnosis than just too many appearances recently. As long as Luhnow and his staff have time before the deadline, why not explore the options out there to add another arm to the mix in the bullpen? Hinch does not have the plethora of options he once had not too long ago when he walks to the mound to get one of his starters. Hector Rondon has really struggled of late and has been susceptible to the long ball while giving up 9 earned runs in his last 5.2 innings pitched. Chris Devinsky is a shell of his All-Star season of a few years ago and Will Harris has had a rough month of July after a steady start to the season. McHugh has been injured most of the year and Joe Smith just rejoined the team earlier this month after being out the entire year after Achilles surgery. The younger guys like James and Framber Valdez have been very inconsistent and not what the organization had hoped for heading into the season. I say all of this to say that Luhnow and his staff should leave no stone unturned and try to add another arm or two to the pen as long as they are out there and active in the trade market. The hope would be to find a seller that is looking to rebuild and would only require a low-level prospect or two to get a deal done. At the end of the day, a division title is not the end goal for this team and anything short of another World Series appearance would be viewed by most observers as a disappointment. Jeff Luhnow it's time for you to play the role of Monty Hall and get on the phone to find teams willing and able to trade. Let's make a deal, or two or maybe even three so that this team can finish what it started and write some more history for H-Town and Astros fans everywhere!
Two of baseball’s best square off Tuesday night as the Houston Astros welcome the Philadelphia Phillies to Daikin Park for a three-game showdown between division leaders. Both teams have hit their stride heading into the matchup, with Houston sitting atop the AL West at 45-33 and Philadelphia leading the NL East at 47-31.
The opener features a must-watch pitching duel between two left-handers in strong form. Framber Valdez (8-4, 3.09 ERA) takes the mound for the Astros, coming off a stretch of dominance that includes 99 strikeouts and a 1.12 WHIP across 15 starts. He’ll be matched by Phillies starter Ranger Suárez, whose 6-1 record and 2.20 ERA have helped anchor one of the National League’s best rotations.
Both clubs are rolling. The Phillies come in having won eight of their last 10, boasting a .284 team average and a +24 run differential in that stretch. Houston has gone 7-3 over its last 10, hitting .276 and outscoring opponents by 16 runs.
Offensively, the stars are beginning to surge. Jeremy Peña continues to deliver at the top of the Astros’ order with 11 homers and 16 doubles, while Jake Meyers has been red-hot, collecting 16 hits in his last 37 at-bats. For the Phillies, Nick Castellanos remains a steady extra-base hit threat, and Kyle Schwarber’s power has started to show up again with three home runs in his last 10 games.
Philadelphia has thrived when keeping the ball in the yard, going 21-9 when not allowing a home run. That will be tested against an Astros lineup that ranks top-four in the American League in on-base percentage (.323) and is 27-13 at home.
This is the first meeting between these two contenders this season, and it comes at a pivotal point on the calendar. The All-Star break is approaching, the standings are tightening, and every game is beginning to carry October weight. Tuesday night in Houston will feel like a preview of something bigger.
Here's a sneak peek at the Astros lineup for Game 1.
Home sweet home.
⚾️: 7:10 PM
🏟️: Closed
📺: @SpaceCityHN | SCHN2
🎙️: @SportsTalk790 | Spanish: 93.3 FMhttps://t.co/W06pfHRkGz x @reliantenergy pic.twitter.com/dXlvx2CRlP
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 24, 2025
The lineup looks a little different tonight, with the club facing a left-handed pitcher. At first glance, Jake Meyers batting cleanup immediately stands out. He's followed by Cam Smith and Christian Walker, who is hitting sixth again. Yainer Diaz has been bumped down to seventh, with Cooper Hummel playing left field and hitting eighth. Mauricio Dubon is hitting ninth and playing second base, with Altuve serving as the DH.
Injury update
Shawn Dubin was placed on the 15-day IL with a forearm strain. RHP Jordan Weems has been added to the big league roster.
We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/h96Fv3mXjS
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 24, 2025
___________________________
*ChatGPT assisted.
Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!