You want a snapshot of how things are going offensively for the Astros? Christian Vázquez drove in two of the team’s four runs on Friday. The starting catcher, simply by necessity, wasn’t signed until March 7. Houston, by the way, is only averaging 2.6 runs per game in May entering this contest against the Cubs.
And Cam Smith can’t catch a break.
Brice Matthews and Zach Cole drove in a pair of runs to give Houston four on the day, all scored between the third and fifth innings. With this pitching staff, that hasn’t always proved enough. Thankfully, Spencer Arrighetti was able to survive five innings, allowing just two hits but walking four. It wasn’t his best day on the mound, but good enough is sometimes all you need.
This bullpen, however, still gives me heartburn. Steven Okert gave up a two-run home run to Pete Crow-Armstrong. And Bryan Abreu, I don’t even know at this point. His four-seam velocity was down again, averaging around 93 mph while maxing out at 94.6 mph. But Bryan King saved everyone’s bacon, picking up a four-out save.
Now 21-31, the Astros are still facing an uphill climb up the standings. With a lineup still struggling, the pitching staff will need to pick up the slack.
Feature photo from @astros on X, Source Link
I believe the bullpen is being overused because of the injuries and the starting pitchers’ short outings. The same old vicious circle.
Run production? For as long as we don’t move the runners and, therefore, require 4 hits in one inning to score one run, we’ll stay where we are.
Arrighetti pretty much self inflicted his pain. A walk and two HBP with no outs, and no runs? You are blessed, Spence.