So, the Astros can actually score runs off a pitcher who has a 6.00-plus ERA and not make them look like a Cy Young award winner. Good to know for future reference.
I somewhat joke about the lineup because there are times when a pitcher with a 6.00-plus ERA actually throws well against them. The rate of such a performance happens undoubtedly less than what my memory suggests, but I can never shake that feeling whenever I see that high ERA and unfamiliar pitcher’s name.
In what largely turned into the Isaac Paredes’ show, the Astros’ lineup was able to set the tone early, scoring all five runs in the first three innings (three in the first, two in the third). Paredes smacked, to no one’s great surprise, a three-run shot close to the Crawford Boxes to make it a 3-0 early lead.
Christian Walker would hit a RBI triple(!) in the third inning to increase the lead to four runs before Paredes hit a sacrifice fly to drive him in.
An early 5-0 lead, with this pitching staff, doesn’t feel safe. Not this season. But Peter Lambert is one of those pitchers who has helped stabilize the rotation, and he continued to do so by allowing only one run over 5 1/3 innings. While walks, four in total tonight, still prove problematic for Lambert at times, the only real damage allowed was a solo home run from Brent Rooker in the sixth. He also had some good fortune with sequencing, as he subsequently issued a one-out walk to Tyler Soderstrom and a double to Henry Bolte. Enyel De Los Santos was brought in to relieve Lambert at this point, picking up the last two outs to escape the inning with a 5-1 lead.
The game was relatively uneventful following that point. De Los Santos also threw a scoreless seventh with Bryan King and Josh Hader each providing a scoreless frame to finish this game out. The Astros would generate some traffic on the basepaths in the last few innings, but it ultimately didn’t amount to any runs. Now 29-36, with a Mariners loss, Houston is 4.5 games back in the AL West. Not a great position or record at this point, but it could be worse. Overall, though, it wasn’t a bad way to conclude a Friday night.
Feature photo from Astros on X
Give me hope, Cody.
Altuve is back in the lineup and Hunter is around the corner. Loperfido too.
I didn’t like last night lineup, but if it was based on analytics, not on Dusty’s like schizophrenia, good.
Last night’s lineup wasn’t bad
Other than putting Paredes at 3B, putting Yordan at DH, taking Nick Allen out and putting Trammell in at LF, I’d say it was close to an optimal offensive lineup as you can have right now with this roster.
Currently I think the best 9 to roll out (which can be tweaked based on facing RHP or LHP) is 2-Vazquez, 3-Walker, 4-Tuve, 5-Isaac, 6-Pena, 7-TT, 8-Jake, 9-Cam, DH-Yordan
You say you disagree with me, and then make my argument. Or,…you disagree a little?
In addition, I don’t see the value of Yordan hitting second, he should be our RBI machine. Yordan should be protecting Altuve. Altuve is skillful with the bat and can advance runners, and run. JP3 can hit and run. After Yordan, depending on the situation, I’d bat Walker or Paredes. We need more production from the last 4 batters. I’d leave defensive considerations for the later innings. We are in June, we have enough data for the analytics department to step in.
Well there was only a 1 player difference from the lineup I’d have liked to have seen and the one they rolled out, so I liked it well enough.
I think Altuve will eventually be put back into the top 4 once he gets back into things; he never did a rehab assignment. Who knows, he might have been the one to request not being so high initially because Pena walker Yordan and Paredes have been hitting well recently
I like the idea of Altuve at 2 behind Pena and in front of Yordan but only if the more patient altuve from the start of the season returns and opposing pitchers stay afraid that that unless they give him pitches in the zone, altuve will actually walk. Yordan with Pena and altuve as his baserunners would be great.
Everything you said, and even if Altuve goes rogue, he can do many things with the bat, make contact, direct the ball in one direction, hit and run, bunt,…..Altuve hitting in the 4 hole (we have seen it), for instance, is pure comedy. A more consistent lineup would be beneficial too.