A three-run bomb from Altuve and a four-run eighth inning would usually result in a win right?
Not this time.
It doesn’t matter how hot a team starts a game, bad pitching always catches up. That is exactly what happened against the Nationals today, losing the series opener 12-11.
The comeback was on for a little bit at the end there.
Down 12-6 entering the sixth, an RBI-groundout in the sixth and a four-run eighth, helped by a three-run homer from Brice Matthews, brought the Astros back within one with just one inning to go.
But a 1-2-3 top of the ninth cut down the Astros chances, handing them the 12-11 loss.
Astros pitching just couldn’t hold on to a lead the whole game.
Jumping out to a 6-1 lead after three innings should have been enough for the Astros to win in the first place, but a leadoff single and a walk allowed an RBI-double from Nasim Nuñez to open the floodgates for the Nats.
Another RBI-single right after cut the Astros lead to just three before a CJ Abrams bomb tied the game back up at six, still just three innings in.
The Nats went on to put up another five just two innings later thanks to two home runs, a solo-shot from Curtis Mead and grand slam from James Woods to give them a 12-6 lead.
Halfway through that fifth inning is when the Astros finally went to their bullpen, pulling starter Mike Burrows after just one out in the fifth with the bases loaded. Espada handed the ball over to AJ Blubaugh, who gave up the grand slam on the third batter he faced.
The one good thing is that the Astros did get scoreless innings from both Nate Pearson and Enyel De Los Santos.
Houston is currently three games out of first place in the AL West and 1.5 games out of a wildcard spot.
Feature photo from @astros on X, Source Link
I don’t see how Dana Brown can keep his job after trading for Burrows and signing Imai.
I think it’s too close to the draft to make front office changes right now.
Also I’m not sure what Crane’s threshold is to fire a GM. Based on his history, it appears to be “just won a pennant.”
I didn’t express myself clearly (lazy me). DB won’t be renewed or extended. He has had some successes, but he buried us this year with those two moves.
Also, DB is losing his bet on Smith and Matthews. Mathews, Smith, and Burrows belong to AAA until they can prove they are ready. Imai to the BP. But, that would be an admission of failure and an automatic no-renewal of contract. DB is putting himself first and the team second. Would I do it differently? I don’t know.
Matthews would benefit from AAA, I agree.
I still think Cam is doing fine. Elite defensive RF, great baserunner, and his offense looks worse than it is because of some rough early season batted ball luck. But his xBA and xSLG are way above his BA and SLG. Only 8 other players in the majors have a negative gap bigger than Cam’s between their wOBA and xWOBA. His xOPS is .789 which fine for an everyday right fielder.
If they think Burrows can still be an MLB this season, I’d say he should go to AAA and keep starting there. If they’ve given up on that idea for 2026 (which isn’t unreasonable), I can see them just moving him to the MLB pen for the rest of the season. He may have to go down anyways because there’s just a whole lot of pitchers on staff with minor league options.
My eye test tell me that the “Xs” are correct, but he is batting .225. Sending him to AAA to hit better is not going to hurt his “Xs.” .225 for a corner OF is not much. I’ll check his WAR.
Yep, for 2026 he has accumulated 1.2 WAR and 1.9 fWAR. Half those WAR are probably from defense, and he is a corner OF, not a premium position. Again, I agree with the Xs, but we are struggling to classify for the post-season, and he could improve his hitting in AAA. Win-win. But, there is the Dana Brown factor.
The Astros gave up five unearned runs. They got to clean up the defense. The Astros would have won the game in the absence of errors.
Burrows should be sent down to avoid his next start. TBH I would be in favor of a bullpen game to end the 1st half if the next four starters can pitch deep(huge Imai ask). Or at the very least, rest AJ and give him the ball for three or four innings(and strongly consider moving him to the rotation if you aren’t using him over DLS in leverage situations).