BASEBALL IS BACK!
With the lockout over, here's what you need to know about the Astros upcoming season
Mar 10, 2022, 4:03 pm
Play ball! Composite image by Brandon Strange
astros projections
With the MLB lockout finally behind us, let's take a look at what's changed for this season, and how it impacts the Astros.
Astros fans will get a full 162 game season in 2022 with Opening Day now taking place on April 7. All the fans wondering about Carlos Correa should know that free agency will begin once the CBA is ratified. Which could be as soon as today. As far as spring training, players will have to report by March 13 with games starting on March 17.
Astros fans have to like the DH being adopted by the National League this season, which means no more worrying about finding a way to get Yordan Alvarez in the lineup for interleague and World Series away games without moving Michael Brantley to right field.
Speaking of playoffs, 12 teams will now make the playoffs beginning this season. And finally, the CBT will begin at 230 million and increase to 244 million.
As bad as the lockout was, at least we will get a full season of baseball, and that's good news for Astros fans. The Astros are the AL favorite to win the World Series, tied with the Yankees at +900 on Bovada.
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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.