You want to see a depressing box score?
No walks, five hits, and 15 strikeouts. Needless to say, this lineup didn’t have a good day against Joe Ryan. Cam Smith collected two hits, including the game’s hardest hit ball (114.7 mph). The only run for the Astros was courtesy of Christian Vázquez’s RBI single in the second. But when Jeremy Peña, Isaac Paredes, Yordan Alvarez, Christian Walker, and Jake Meyers are 1-for-20 with seven strikeouts, the odds feel high that the lineup won’t score many runs.
Alas, Mike Burrows didn’t have his best stuff, allowing four earned runs in six innings. The majority of the damage occurred in the bottom of the fourth, allowing a three-run shot to Ryan Kreidler. He also allowed a solo home run to Victor Caratini in the second. Both home runs came against four-seam fastballs, which has been a recurring issue for the right-hander. Of the 12 home runs allowed this season by Burrows, eight occurred against four-seam fastballs.
On the plus side, AJ Blubaugh threw a scoreless eighth inning and we saw Nate Pearson have a scoreless debut. The addition of Pearson to the bullpen is intriguing as it gives the Astros another reliever who can reach the upper nineties with his fastball. With Bryan Abreu’s velocity uncertain from game to game, there is value to having another hard throwing right-hander waiting in relief.
Ultimately, the Astros fell short again. 2.6 runs scored per game in May. Dropping two of three against the Twins doesn’t help matters. This team simply isn’t good and this 20-31 record is no mirage. We’re now closer to June and if this team doesn’t string together some winning streaks soon, this season isn’t going to get any better.
Feature photo from Astros on X, Source Link
How far are we from good? I’d say, one outfielder and two starting pitchers. Once Hunter Brown is back, one OF and one SP (and a manager who move the runners). Too late to change the trainers and medical staff.