The Launch Angle

How does one forget about a loss earlier in that same day? Win the next one in convincing fashion.

Fresh off a 10-3 loss to the Orioles in Game 1 of a doubleheader, the Astros were looking at a possible sweep if Game 2 didn’t end differently. Already 11-20 on the season, another loss would move Houston to ten games below .500 in April. So, yeah, avoiding a loss in Game 2 was the ideal outcome.

But the Astros have a pitching problem. More specifically, the issue is that the pitching staff can’t stop issuing runs and walks, a lethal combination for any team. With Lance McCullers Jr. starting Game 2, well, my hopes weren’t exactly high for that trend to stop. The funny thing about baseball is that sometimes the unexpected happens. Lo and behold, McCullers threw six quality innings, limiting the Orioles to three earned runs on two hits with nine strikeouts. Yes, there were also four walks, but we’ll concentrate only on the good this time. In particular, McCullers’ curveball was really nasty today, with 11 whiffs on 14 swings. And, yes, his fastball velocity was down, although it appeared it was part of McCullers’ plan for today’s start.

It also helps when the lineup scores *checks notes* six runs in the first two innings and 11 runs in through five innings. The Astros are known to blow some sizeable leads this season, but it would still be awfully difficult to squander an early 10-0 lead after four innings. The Orioles scored three in the bottom half of the fourth inning to make it 10-3; however, that was the extent of the damage against McCullers.

Another funny thing about this game is that Baltimore’s starter was Brandon Young, the same guy who nearly no-hit the Astros back in August 2025. The Lumberton, Texas, native almost made history against his hometown team before (brief) Astros legend Ramón Urías had a two-out single in the bottom of the eighth to prevent that no-hit bid. Here was the lineup that day (August 15, 2025). Not exactly an impressive bunch if you watched last season’s lineup in August and September. But, still, Young’s performance was quite impressive, and that was still a Major League quality lineup based on the names alone.

And here was the lineup from today’s game, when the Astros collected ten hits and seven earned runs (ten total) against Young in only four innings. Because, you know, only in baseball.

Do I dare say, on paper, the lineup that Young faced in August 2025 was better than this lineup? No offense to Brice Matthews, Dustin Harris, Daniel Johnson, and Braden Shewmake, I’d possibly argue yes. Under normal circumstances, if injuries weren’t an issue, none of those four guys would be seeing regular playing time on this team. But a healthy Yordan Alvarez, who currently sports a .736 slugging percentage, is miles better than anyone from that August 15 game. Isaac Paredes also didn’t play in that game, so Young missed this team’s two best hitters last year. He didn’t have that luxury this time around.

Every Astros hitter picked up at least one hit, with only Walker not scoring a run. Cam Smith finally got an extra base hit, his first since April 15. In fact, Smith’s three-run home run in the first inning was his first dinger since April 6. Yainer Diaz now has an eight-game hit streak, picking up four hits across nine at-bats today. Alvarez, Paredes, and Christian Walker finished with seven of Houston’s 15 hits.

The bullpen didn’t have the best game, though. Bryan Abreu allowed another run on two hits and two walks. His velocity was initially worrisome, with a four-seam velocity hovering around 90 to 91 mph before rebounding back to 95 to 96 mph toward the end of his appearance. Enyel De Los Santos had a scoreless eighth before Cody Bolton allowed a run in the ninth. But, even with the occasional bullpen hiccup, the lead was too much for even this pitching staff to blow,

On the surface, this game had strong split-squad vibes. A handful of veterans surrounded by young players and journeyman. A fitting configuration for a team that is currently 12-20.