2025 Astros

[baddog]

42 minutes ago, AggiesAreWe said:

Astros pitching is pulling it's weight. 3rd best team ERA in American League (3.46). Top 5 in save opportunities and WHIP. Top 3 in strikeouts.

Houston's team batting is currently middle of the pack in AL with team batting average at .226. Hitting is getting better over the last 10 games bringing that average up from .204.

If the Astros can continue to pitch this well and the hitting continues to improve, then I can see Houston atop the division by the All Star break.

Thought Whitley had a good game too. I sometimes cringe when Abreu or Hader take the field

[AggiesAreWe]

43 minutes ago, baddog said:

Thought Whitley had a good game too. I sometimes cringe when Abreu or Hader take the field

Pitched a perfect two innings to end it. Had 3 K's

[AggiesAreWe]

Stros with a 5-1 win.

Houston pitching has given up just 1 run on 4 hits in last 18 innings pitched.

[AggiesAreWe]

Josh Hader last eight games: 0.00 ERA | 10.0 IP | 3 H | 0 BB | 13 K

[baddog]

Stros sweep the Jays with a 3-2 victory. Hader’s stats are good, but he always makes it interesting by walking the leadoff batter followed by a double.

[AggiesAreWe]

26 minutes ago, baddog said:

Stros sweep the Jays with a 3-2 victory. Hader’s stats are good, but he always makes it interesting by walking the leadoff batter followed by a double.

Final was 3-1

and Hader did not walk the leadoff batter. He walked Springer who was the second batter he faced.

[baddog]

7 hours ago, AggiesAreWe said:

Final was 3-1

and Hader did not walk the leadoff batter. He walked Springer who was the second batter he faced.

I watched the game and know the final. 3-2 is a typo I didn’t catch. Springer was a mistake. Thanks for the heads up.

[baddog]

On 4/22/2025 at 11:31 AM, AggiesAreWe said:

Pitched a perfect two innings to end it. Had 3 K's

Whitley only had 2 Ks, but I let it slide. Wee all make mistakes.

[A BUC 77]

Hey 3 in a row.  First time this year.  I think we are coming around.

[AggiesAreWe]

Currently 2nd best team ERA in American League and up to 8th in team batting average. Has improved batting average over the last 12 games from .204 to now .237.

This current good play trend will lead to more wins and less losses.

[AggiesAreWe]

Houston is 13-13 and you can thank the pitching for the Astros not being under .500.

They have the 2nd best ERA in AL with a 3.11, best WHIP at 1.08 and 2nd best opponent OBP at .206. They also lead the league in quality starts with 13.

Where as the hitting or lack thereof is the Astros downfall so far this season. Sitting 9th in the league in team batting average at .230 and 10th in runs scored. Only 2 teams (Royals and White Sox) have worse slugging percentages and OPS than Houston.

Losing Bregman and Tucker bats are really showing right now but also Alverez, Diaz and Walker need to pick it up. All are in a significant slump at the plate.

With all that, Astros are only 1.5 back of first in the division. Plenty of baseball still to play. If the pitching can stay this good and consistent, I believe the hitting will come around.

[rupert3]

I thought Valdez pitched very well with a 3 hit loss.  Bats do need to wake up tho.  Always have a tough time with Royals seems like.

[rupert3]

Bats woke up today Hunter pitched pretty good thought Scott from BP was ganna blow it but won 7-3

[A BUC 77]

Man, Altuve not leading off, playing left field, hard to recognize these Stros.  Not complaining though, doing pretty good right now.

[AggiesAreWe]

Getting to the top of the division may come sooner than the All-Star break.

[rupert3]

Looked good last nite.  Not sure why they pulled Blance in the 6th and use 3 pitchers in the 7th, but hey we win.  Nice comeback.

[rupert3]

6-4 come from behind again  3 over 500.  Now sweep tomorrow

[baddog]

McCullers pitching for the first time in over two years. Looking good so far.

[spidersal]

I sure hope the person that posted that the Astros would be in 1st place in their division by the break didn’t have a stroke before they posted. The way they are playing as of today may lead them to last place by the break

[AggiesAreWe]

17 minutes ago, spidersal said:

I sure hope the person that posted that the Astros would be in 1st place in their division by the break didn’t have a stroke before they posted. The way they are playing as of today may lead them to last place by the break

It's two months (62 games) till the All-Star break and they are only 3 games back of 1st.

They have improved their team batting average from .203 to .243 (7th in AL) in the last 3 weeks while having the 3rd best team ERA (3.31) in the AL.

The bats continue to improve and the pitching stays this consistent, the wins will come.

I still stick to my prediction of 1st by the break with these improvements.

[spidersal]

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, however they tend to win a couple and then lose a couple. Basically playing mediocre as of today and in next to last place. Hopefully you will be right, I just don’t see it now

[rupert3]

Starting pitching has to improve as the bats are doing fairly good.  However they always have skids this time of the season.

BTW Yuli Gurriel is now a free agent.  Cleared waivers with San Diago.  He didn't want to go to minors to play.