The Houston Astros have clawed their way back to .500, marking a significant milestone in a tumultuous season. On Wednesday afternoon, they completed a two-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies, improving their record to 40-40. This victory extended Houston's winning streak to seven games, showing a promising upward trajectory for a team that started the season 0-4.
Beginning the season on a rocky note, the Astros found themselves at 7-19 by April 25. However, a strong push in June, where they won 15 out of 22 games, has brought them within 4.5 games of the division lead. Now, as they head into a vital stretch of the season, their newfound momentum could be crucial.
Pitching Woes and Triumphs
The Astros' path to .500 has been marred by significant pitching issues. On Wednesday, Spencer Arrighetti shone brightly, holding the Rockies scoreless over seven innings. Arrighetti's performance, featuring a career-high 10 strikeouts, provided a much-needed boost for the rotation, which has posted a 4.26 ERA this year, ranking 18th in baseball.
Despite Arrighetti's heroics, the Astros' pitching staff is beleaguered with injuries. Right-handed pitcher J.P. France is set for season-ending shoulder surgery, following a difficult season where he posted a 7.46 ERA in five starts. France had shown promise last year with a 3.83 ERA over 136 1/3 innings, adding to the disappointment of losing him for the season.
In addition to France, the Astros have also lost Cristian Javier and José Urquidy to Tommy John surgery earlier this month. The rotation is further thinned by the absence of Justin Verlander, who is currently sidelined with a neck issue with no timetable for return. As Manager Joe Espada noted, Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. are still recovering from elbow surgeries they underwent last year.
The Astros' GM, Dana Brown, reflected on the challenges they've faced with their rotation. "When he got hurt in spring training and he felt the discomfort, we were really pressing to get him back and maybe we may have rushed him a little bit," Brown told the team's pregame show. "Especially with Verlander being out at the same time, we were trying to really plug holes in this rotation. He felt pretty good and so we pressed him a little bit and he tried to pitch through it. I think this time we're probably going to be more patient."
Upcoming Road Trip
Following a well-deserved off-day on Thursday, the Astros will embark on a challenging 10-game road trip. They will face formidable opponents in the New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, and Minnesota Twins. The Blue Jays series is a four-game matchup, while the Mets and Twins series each span three games. This road trip will be essential in determining whether the Astros can maintain their momentum and make a deeper push into divisional contention.
As the Astros prepare for this critical phase, the resilience and recent performances of their roster will be under the spotlight. Their journey so far has been a testament to the team's ability to rally and overcome significant hurdles, a quality that will be paramount as they navigate the remainder of their season.
It's a pivotal moment for the Astros, a team marked by both promise and adversity. With their eyes set firmly on climbing up the standings, the coming weeks will reveal whether this mid-season surge is the start of a sustained run or merely a fleeting streak of success. For the Astros and their fans, hope and anticipation ride high on the team's ability to overcome injury setbacks and leverage their current form into lasting success.