Astros Crawfish Boil: June 27, 2024

So they got the ship settled, back at the waterline. It’s a brand new season.

Houston’s magnificent 2022 pitching staff finished the regular season with every pitcher with over 16 IP below the MLB average in WHIP. Part of that was no doubt due to the Astros remarkable luck with starting pitcher durability. Each of the top five pitchers started at least 25 games, not including Jake Odorizzi’s dozen before his trade. We were due a karma-balancing year where every pitcher gets injured.

Considering the fragile state of Houston’s 2024 pitching staff, you have to think that offense is more important now than at any time during Houston’s current run. It’s easy to forget, even when the Astros were 7-19, they were still amongst the MLB leaders in most offensive categories. Now at 40-40, they lead the majors with a .263 batting average, with a 111 team OPS+ despite an MLB-third lowest 219 walks.

Since dropping Jose Abreu on June 14, the team is 8-2, and only looking to continue the climb up the standings. With the Seattle Mariners struggling, it seems to be only a matter of time before we see Houston catch and then pass them. Here’s some links.

Houston Astros News

Astros 2024: Questions turning the corner (Chipalatta)

Recent hot streak shows why Astros aren’t done yet (YB)

Astros Righty Begins Rehab Assignment (LWoS)

Which players have the most home runs in MLB postseason history? (YB)

Astros hit target set in Mexico, reach .500 for first time

The Astros are finally .500 but there’s ‘no sense of relief’ (NY Times)

Astros bringing in former All-Star catcher as veteran depth (YB)

Astros to Target Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to ‘Solve the 1B Problem’ (Heavy)

Astros starting pitcher is set to undergo season-ending surgery (YB)

AL West News

A’s: Wacky play at the plate is one you don’t see every day. Or ever

Blarts: MLB Franchise Taking Heat For Being Lone Team Without Pride Night (The Spun)

M’s: Raleigh hits 3-run homer and Mariners avoid sweepWilliams continuing his love of golf through coaching (The Lewiston Tribune)

The Los Angeles Angels: Imprisoned ex-Angels employee opens up about Tyler Skaggs death: exclusive (NY Times)

MLB News

At a Crossroads, Carlos Carrasco Feels He Has Gas Left in the Tank (FG)

Jeremiah Estrada’s Split-Change Is a Killer (FG)

With top spot on lock, 2 new names join Hitter Power Rankings

Ohtani’s leadoff HR gives him franchise-record RBIs in 10 straight

Mets thump Yanks again, climb back to .500

Look at the kid fly! Chourio hits inside-the-park HR in Brewers’ walk-off win

The Marlins Are Chasing (History) (FG)

Wildest 1st AB ever? ‘Big Christmas’ loses bat, then HRs

Gunnar keeps barreling toward history: ‘He’s doing everything’

Judge matches pace from record-setting 2022 with 30th HR

Houston Astros Birthdays

LF Yordan Alvarez (27) has 145 career home runs with Houston. His .876 OPS for 2024 is the lowest of his career. That’s pretty good for the doldrums.

LF/1B Daryle Ward (49) played 418 games for the Astros between 1998 and 2002. He slashed a .269/.316/.465 line with 49 round-trippers and 188 RBI.

IF Eddie Kasko (1931-2020) appeared in 201 games for Houston in 1964 and 1965, hitting .244 and providing better than league-average fielding at shortstop.