The Houston Astros are on one of the better runs in the modern history of Major League Baseball.
Seven straight trips to the American League Championship Series, including four World Series appearances and two titles have all happened since 2017.
However, the 2024 season has been tumultuous from the start. It began with excitement and familiarity. Dusty Baker rode off into the sunset, retiring as manager. However, Joe Espada was promoted from within and widely regarded as the right man for the job. The roster was left mostly in tact, and while key relievers left, Josh Hader was brought in on the richest relief pitcher deal in league history.
With a batting lineup basically all returning, the stage seemed set for another Astros run to the postseason.
That is not what transpired early in the season. From the very first series of the year, a four-game home sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees, something seemed off.
The newly constructed bullpen, supposedly one of the best in baseball, was losing leads consistently. As for the potent lineup, while the batting average remained high, it was failing to drive in runs, specifically in clutch situations. By June 10th, the Astros were 30-37 overall and a full 10 games behind the surging Seattle Mariners.
Since then, things have changed. The Astros are 13-4 after June 10th. They climbed to even .500 for the first time at 41-41, and now have surged ahead with a 43-41 record.
What has caused the change?
For one, Hunter Brown has been on an absolute tear. He had an awful start to the season, but once he started incorporating a sinker into his repertoire, he has been lights out. That has equated to an ERA moving from 8.89 to 4.07 from May until now.
In addition, the offense has come to life. Slow starts from players like Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman have been turned around, and the clutch hitting has also been better. Over the weekend, Bregman delivered a two-out, two-run single to help complete a comeback win over the Mets. Those were the moments that were sorely missing from this team in their first 60+ games.
The recent resurgence is great, but can the Astros sustain it and play like this for an extended period of time?
The short answer is sure! It’s possible. This is a group that has been through so much in the last seven years. Maybe the first half of the season was just sluggish after the grind of another deep postseason run? The fact of the matter is that the pitching staff has to get healthier. Innings restrictions are likely to come into play for promising young players like Spencer Arrighetti. The success of Ronel Blanco along with Brown has been excellent, but is it fully sustainable? At least at its current level, I don’t think it is.
The Astros need Justin Verlander to return, and they need Lance McCullers, Luis Garcia, or both to give them legitimate innings. And of course, a trade to add an additional arm would be nice as well. I think the lineup is in a good spot, and I rather adding an arm over a bat.
Regardless, things are looking much rosier in H-Town. Houston is used to making a run, and it’s starting to appear as if 2024 will be no different.
Dawson Eiserloh is the co-host of “RP3, D-Loh & Meche” which is broadcast weekdays (11-1) on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette and 104.1 Lake Charles — Southwest Louisiana’s Sports Station