The losing streak should be a blip on the radar

Recent slump aside, things are looking up for the Astros

Recent slump aside, things are looking up for the Astros
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

While last week's seven-game losing streak was tough to endure, there are plenty of reasons to believe that it is not something the Astros will have to re-live the rest of this season. Not only is the team getting healthier, but the poor performance of last week was a complete abnormality and not the symptom of a failing team.

Sure, Houston does benefit from playing in one of the more winnable divisions, but even if they didn't, I wouldn't be hitting the panic button on Houston after last week's slump. Here are a few reasons why:

Altuve looks to be 100% 

One of the biggest takeaways from yesterday's game that ended Houston's losing streak was that Jose Altuve looked like himself. It started with him hitting the leadoff home run to start the game, showing that he's still got the power in his swing. Then, in his next at-bat, he could have settled for a single but instead was aggressive on the basepaths to leg out a double, showing that he isn't scared to run at full speed.

Another positive sign was that Altuve was able to string together four straight games with a hit by getting one in each game in New York, showing that he is seeing the ball well again. A dangerous, healthy Altuve could prove pivotal for the Astros, who will need that to keep the top of their order as one of the toughest for an opposing pitcher to face.

Springer is coming back, Correa to follow 

The Astros will get another key piece of their lineup back this week in George Springer. Springer has been out of Houston's lineup since May 24th when he suffered a hamstring strain. He began a rehab assignment in Corpus Christi this past weekend where he looked great, hitting a couple of home runs in his first game on his way to a .400 average over his three rehab games.

That will leave one last major piece of the batting order missing: Carlos Correa. Correa likely won't go on a rehab assignment or rejoin the team until after the All-Star break, but it shouldn't be too long before Houston has their entire lineup intact and back in action. He was flirting with a .300 average before being sidelined, currently with a .295 average including his eleven home runs so far in 2019. Getting him back in the lineup somewhere around Michael Brantley and Yordan Alvarez will further bolster this potent lineup.

Arguably even more importantly, Correa's return will provide a significant boost on defense. Having Carlos back at shortstop will allow Alex Bregman to move back to his normal position of third base, and move Yuli Gurriel back to first base. That alone will solve some of the defensive issues that have fallen on the Astros in recent games due to players having to move around and play some somewhat unfamiliar positions.

Better pitching to come 

Another proponent of last week's struggles was some poor pitching for Houston, something they haven't had to deal with that much in 2019. First, it's important to note that some of the pitching issues were not long-standing issues. Roberto Osuna's struggles that resulted in the loss in Cincinnati on Wednesday were anything from normal; it was only Osuna's third blown save and first loss of the season. He should be given the benefit of the doubt to get back on track as the closer the next time the Astros need him in a high-leverage save situation.

Another low point of the week was seeing Ryan Pressly allow the go-ahead runs to the Yankees on Saturday. That too was abnormal, as Pressly just recently ended one of the most impressive streaks of scoreless innings ever. The eighth and ninth innings for the Astros should go back to being locked down the next opportunity they get to test Pressly and Osuna.

Another benefit to the pitching staff will be the return of Collin McHugh. McHugh, like George Springer, is nearing the end of his rehab assignment with the Corpus Christi Hooks. While it's unclear where McHugh will fit in the pitching makeup for Houston upon his return, he should provide a lift overall as it will give the Astros another arm to get into the fold.

In addition to all of this, the Astros are still the beneficiaries of what should be considered one of the best 1-2 punches in an MLB rotation in Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole.

Let's not forget about Alvarez

That brings us to one of the best things that have resulted from recent injuries: Yordan Alvarez. Even when some of Houston's typically hot bats looked cold in this past week, Alvarez continued to show his potential, hitting more home runs and racking up more RBIs in his short twelve-game season so far.

Alvarez now has seven home runs in his twelve games to go along with 16 RBIs. He has been just as dominant at the major-league level as he was in the minors, and it creates a great problem for Houston once they have Springer and Correa back: how do they configure this lineup? No matter what order they end up in, it's no question that the rest of 2019 and in the playoffs, the Astros will be a tough task for any opposing pitcher.

So again, while the losing streak was a bleak spot on this season so far, there are just too many positives about this team to believe that there will be any stretch of games that go as poorly as those did again this year. The potential for this team has been, and remains, that of a potential World Series champion.

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Joe Mixon has given the running game a huge boost. Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images.

Joe Mixon has carried Houston’s offense in the three games since he returned from an injury.

The running back could be even more important this week with the Texans dealing with another injury to a top receiver after Stefon Diggs went down Sunday.

Diggs sustained a non-contact injury to his right knee and coach DeMeco Ryans refused to provide any details on his injury Monday, saying only that he’s still being evaluated.

His injury comes with leading receiver Nico Collins out for at least one more game after being placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.

Mixon has had at least 100 yards rushing and a TD run in three straight games. He finished with 102 yards rushing and a touchdown in Houston’s 23-20 win over Indianapolis on Sunday.

“Joe showed up big time for us when we needed him most making plays,” Ryans said.

Mixon, who is in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati, became the first player in NFL history to have at least 100 yards rushing and a TD run in four of his first five games with a team.

The only time he didn’t have 100 yards and a score this season came in Week 2 when he missed almost the entire second half with an ankle injury that kept him out the next three games. He ranks third in the NFL by averaging 100.6 yards rushing a game.

If Diggs is out this week, Tank Dell is the most likely candidate to pick up the slack in the passing game.

His production has dropped off this season after a standout rookie year where he had 709 yards receiving with seven touchdowns in 11 games before breaking his leg. He has 229 yards receiving this season and scored his second touchdown in Sunday’s win which improved the AFC South-leading Texans to 6-2.

But Ryans said it will take a group effort to make sure Stroud and Houston’s passing attack, which rank eighth in the NFL, stay on track.

“What I loved about our game (Sunday) was that you saw was multiple guys stepping up and making plays,” he said. “That is what excites me the most about our team … a lot of different guys stepping up and making plays and that is what we will continue to see.”

What's working

Houston’s defense entered Monday’s game ranked second in the NFL by allowing just 280.3 yards a game. The strength of the unit has been the pass defense, which is giving up just 164.3 yards a game.

Safety Jalen Pitre, who had an interception Sunday, said the secondary has gotten a boost from Houston’s pass rush, which ranks third in the league with 27 sacks.

“We’re doing a pretty good job, but it’s a huge credit to our D-line,” Pitre said. “They’re outstanding. They do their job at a high level and it does nothing but make opposing quarterbacks know that they’ve got to get the ball out earlier and that turns into incompletions and interceptions.”

What needs help

The offensive line continued to struggle in pass protection Sunday. Stroud was sacked just twice but was hit nine other times and was under pressure on 57.5% of his drop-backs according to NextGen stats.

The Texans benched left guard Kenyon Green for Jarrett Patterson in the first quarter Sunday as he struggled against the rush. But Green had to come back soon after that because Patterson got a concussion.

Ryans said they’ll continue to evaluate the line to see how they can improve the protection.

Stock up

Dell, who is in his second season, had four receptions for 35 yards and a touchdown Sunday. The performance came after he was targeted four times against the Packers but finished with zero receptions. He has nine career touchdowns, which ties him with Will Fuller for most in franchise history through a player’s first 18 games.

“I’m just super proud of him, what he’s been able to do and he’s going to have to step up really big for us,” Stroud said.

Stock down

Green for his struggles in pass protection Sunday. The 15th overall pick in the 2022 draft missed all last season with injuries before returning to the starting lineup this season.

“We can definitely be better, especially on my end,” he said after the game.

Injuries

S Calen Bullock was limited in practice Monday after injuring his shoulder Sunday. … LBs Azeez Al-Shaair (knee) and Henry To’oTo’o (concussion) both missed the Colts game but could return this week. … S Jimmie Ward is likely to miss a fifth straight game with a groin injury.

Key number

13.3% — Houston’s defense limited Anthony Richardson to a 13.3% completion percentage in the first half Sunday, which was the second-lowest completion percentage by any player in a half since 1991. The second-year quarterback completed just 2 of 15 passes before halftime.

Next steps

The Texans have a quick turnaround before a visit to the New York Jets on Thursday night where they’ll try for their fifth win in six games.

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