Houston Astros Covering the Bases: Trade targets, a flawed roster and curious bullpen managementHouston Astros Covering the Bases: Trade targets
Houston Astros Covering the Bases: Trade targets, a flawed roster and curious bullpen managementHouston Astros Covering the Bases: Trade targets
Blog Article
The Astros remain seven games under .500 after splitting a six-game California road trip. Two of the three losses were walks, the kind of missed opportunities Houston can’t afford as it tries to recruit into playoff contention.
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Power rankings: Houston Astros are #12
In this week’s power rankings, we examine the one big question each team faces. (Record from Tuesday)
Record: 30-37
Latest Power Ranking: 14
One big question: Could the Astros be in first place before the All-Star break?
The start of the season has been brutal, but the Astros had a winning record in May, and they are off to a solid start in June (last week, they won two of three against the Cardinals, then did it again against the Angels). The next five weeks before the break, the Astros will play series against the White Sox, Rockies, Mets and Marlins. They will also play series against the sub-.500 Blue Jays, Giants and Tigers. Alex Bregman is starting to hit again, the bullpen was better than it was early in the season and Kyle Tucker is expected back in the lineup soon. It was easy to give up on the Astros early, but they’re a good few weeks away from being right back in the hunt. – Chad Jennings
The latest successes
ICYMI, our national writers have weighed in with what they’re hearing and seeing
What Jim Bowden hears
Earlier this week, our resident former GM Jim Bowden weighed in on 30 things he’s hearing with 50 days left until the trade deadline. The Astros warranted a few mentions.
• Pete Alonso is expected to be thebiggest power bat traded at the deadline. The Astros, Mariners, Yankees, Giants, Cubs and Twins are possible landing spots for the three-time All-Star. If the Mets trade Alonso, they will still try to re-sign him this offseason. They love the Polar Bear, and he loves New York.
• The Cardinals plan to buy at the deadline; getting another veteran starting pitcher is their main – and only – current goal. However, if things go south, don’t be surprised if they deal veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who will be a free agent after this season, and closer Ryan Helsley, who would immediately become the best available closer on the market and could. get a huge return. In that scenario, Goldschmidt going to the Astros, Mariners or Yankees could make sense, and Helsley heading to the Orioles or Dodgers would be a game changer for both clubs. Helsley is under team control through the upcoming season.