Latest news with #JoeEspada
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Astros Win 3-2 In Extras Against Angels
An ugly win is still a win. The Astros weren't exactly in top form on Friday night against the Angels. Yes, they started the game with back-to-back solo home runs from Jeremy Peña and Isaac Paredes before a single out was recorded. That was a promising start. Advertisement Then nothing else until extra innings. For most of the evening, the lineup didn't generate much traction against Yusei Kikuchi and the Angels' bullpen. Jose Altuve and Yainer Díaz combined for seven strikeouts. Seven of the team's nine hits came from three players (Peña, Paredes, and Jake Meyers). One-for-eight as a team with runners in scoring position. To win, the Astros needed that vaunted run prevention reputation this season to prove accurate once again. For Hunter Brown, though, it wasn't exactly his best start. To be clear, he was still plenty good enough, as evidenced by his five innings of one-run ball with two hits and a pair of walks allowed. But he still had only four whiffs on 31 swings, striking out four on 87 pitches. He did escape a jam or two, however, and had a bit of drama with Zach Neto about a sinker that ran in to hit him. Joe Espada's decision to remove Brown after five innings prompted a raised eyebrow from me. Again, only 87 pitches, but not exactly at his best, entering third time through the order territory. Thankfully, Bryan King had some heroics to escape a bases-loaded jam that he inherited from Shawn Dubin, only to give up the tying run to Christian Moore in the next inning. Bryan Abreu also had his issues, loading the bases before escaping his own jam. Josh Hader would keep the game tied in the ninth, with Bennett Sousa closing the door in the tenth for the Astros to win. Advertisement So, how about that winning run? It came off a wild pitch, with no outs. The lineup, however, couldn't capitalize more on the opportunity with three consecutive outs. Of course, picking up that one run, no matter how it occurred, was the difference. Again, this game wasn't exactly a well played one. It also didn't help that the home plate umpire had issues with calling a consistent strike zone, but a win is a win. Brandon Walter will start on Saturday opposite of José Soriano. BOX SCORE HERE More from
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Cam Smith's workload, an All-Star logjam and recovering pitchers: Astros takeaways
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The College World Series semifinals concluded Wednesday, allowing Houston Astros manager Joe Espada another chance to marvel at an absurd ascension. Last year, Cam Smith propelled Florida State University into college baseball's final four. Twelve months later, Smith is the starting right fielder for a division-leading team trying to maintain a dynasty. A whirlwind winter preceded a prolific spring training and subsequent position change, neither of which has fazed an affable 22-year-old who still maintains an aw-shucks attitude. Advertisement 'He wants to be great, so he thinks, 'The more I do on the field, the quicker I can reach greatness,'' Espada said Thursday afternoon. 'But we have to let him know (he) has to rest, recover.' Smith played in his 61st game Thursday. Six more and he'll reach uncharted territory. Smith started 66 games and took 322 plate appearances during his final season at Florida State, the highest workload he has ever absorbed as an amateur. Smith will obliterate that benchmark before the All-Star break. How his body responds to the longest season of his baseball life is a compelling subplot to an already riveting rookie season. Can't get enough of Cam. #VoteCam ⭐️ — Houston Astros (@astros) June 19, 2025 Team officials are encouraged that Smith's supreme athleticism and strict habits will allow him to handle a heavy workload, but they also believe reducing some of his rigorous pregame routine will benefit him in the second half. 'He understands that cutting down on some of his swings in the cage, (that) some of his work in the outfield is less — but quality,' Espada said. 'Right now, he looks good. He's moving great. But it's something that I'm mindful of.' Finding a left-handed-hitting outfielder at the trade deadline could lessen some of Smith's workload during the second-half dog days, too, but if Smith continues to produce as he did during Houston's four-game split with the Athletics, platooning him might be impossible. Espada slotted Smith fifth in Thursday's batting order against A's left-hander Jacob Lopez — the highest he has hit in any lineup as a major leaguer. A hitless night didn't diminish an otherwise dominant series, one in which Smith raised his OPS from .690 to .758. His two-homer game Tuesday ended a streak of 147 at-bats without a long ball. Following it with a three-hit game Wednesday inspired optimism that Smith is starting to harness a consistency that has sometimes eluded him. Advertisement 'Physically, he's fine. My conversations with him are more (about) just how he is mentally,' Espada said. 'The mindset of handling the failures, the ups and downs. Right now, I am very impressed with the way he's going about his work. He's playing his best baseball right now, but for us to maintain that, we have to be careful how much we push him.' Jacob Wilson of the Athletics and the Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. separated themselves during the first round of All-Star fan balloting, ahead of the American League shortstop who has better numbers than both of them. Whether that matters for Jeremy Peña's candidacy is a fascinating discussion. All of Peña's statistics make him a surefire All-Star. He entered Thursday slashing .321/.377/.474 across Houston's first 74 games. According to Baseball-Reference, Aaron Judge is the only player in baseball worth more wins above replacement than the 4.3 Peña has accumulated. 'Snub' wouldn't suffice if Peña is somehow left off the American League roster. If he isn't elected to start the game, though, finding a place for him could get complicated — far more complex than his first half deserves. A representation rule and a remarkable showing from Peña's fellow American League shortstops are to blame. Twenty-seven American League position players entered Thursday worth at least 2.0 WAR, according to Baseball-Reference. Seven are shortstops: Peña, Wilson, Witt, Gunnar Henderson, J.P. Crawford, Zach Neto and Taylor Walls. Major-league rules dictate that each club must have at least one representative in Atlanta. At least two shortstops, Wilson and the Los Angeles Angels' Neto, are logical candidates to be the representatives for their team in Atlanta. If Witt isn't elected to start the game, it's difficult to envision any scenario in which he is omitted from the roster. Advertisement The same should be said for Peña. Major League Baseball combines player balloting and commissioner's selections to pick reserves for the rosters, which featured four shortstops last season. Players electing Peña is perhaps the most direct route to his inclusion. The sanctity of an exhibition game won't be impacted if an infielder plays a different position, either. Given the preponderance of worthy shortstops, perhaps it is a situation the sport should explore. The trajectory of Houston's trade deadline can be traced to West Palm Beach, Fla., where four injured pitchers reside in various states of recovery. How Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia, Spencer Arrighetti and J.P. France progress will determine what the Astros prioritize across the next six weeks. Predicting exact timelines for the pitchers' returns is an impossible exercise, especially given the team's checkered history with its 'return to play procedure.' That Garcia has suffered a slew of setbacks only complicates the process. Still, time is running short for any of the quartet to return before the All-Star break begins on July 14 — 17 days before the trade deadline. All four men are building back up as starters, a process that requires at least another month once a pitcher starts facing hitters. Of the quartet, only France and Javier have reached that benchmark. Arrighetti isn't even throwing off a mound while recovering from a fractured right thumb. According to Espada, France is scheduled to throw his third live batting practice session sometime next week, putting him the closest to a potential return. Javier only threw his first live batting practice session Thursday afternoon. According to Espada, his fastball reached 95 mph. At least two more live batting practices loom before Javier could begin a possible minor-league rehab assignment, during which he'd require at least four outings to build his pitch count. Advertisement Garcia could throw a live batting practice session next week, Espada said, but he has reached this benchmark on multiple occasions before suffering setbacks. Garcia hasn't pitched in a major-league game since May 1, 2023. How effective he would be after such a long absence is one of many questions general manager Dana Brown and his baseball operations staff must ponder.
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
First-Place Astros Hit With Disappointing News on Playoff Hero Pitcher
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. After 71 games of the MLB season, the Houston Astros find themselves in a familiar spot — first place in the American League West, the same place they've finished in the last seven straight full seasons. Only the pandemic-shortened 2020 season saw them finish as low as second. They've won two World Series and played in four over that span of success. HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 07: Manager Joe Espada #19 of the Houston Astros looks on prior to the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Minute Maid Park on September 07, 2024 in Houston, Texas. HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 07: Manager Joe Espada #19 of the Houston Astros looks on prior to the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Minute Maid Park on September 07, 2024 in Houston, with a 41-30 record after winning eight of their last 10 games and five in a row, all is not 100 percent well for the Astros. On Monday they placed the pitcher who almost singlehandedly got them into the 2017 World Series on the injured list — just five weeks after he made a dramatic comeback after missing all of the last two seasons recovering from flexor tendon surgery. In 2017, McCullers created one of the most indelible moments is Astros history when, facing the New York Yankees in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, he threw an incredible 24 consecutive curveballs to finish off the Yankees and send the Astros to only the second World Series in the history of the franchise, which dates to 1962. The last time Lance McCullers Jr. faced the Yankees in the Playoffs… 24 straight curveballs to close it out — Will Maddux (@MLBMetrics) October 23, 2022 In that ALCS, McCullers allowed just one run over 10 innings across one start and his Game 7 relief appearance — a game in which he earned the first and to date only save of his career, in postseason or regular season games. McCullers' comeback gave the Astros a major boost in morale when he took the mound against the Chicago White Sox on May 4. At the time, the Astros had struggled to get to a 17-15 record, in third place. They have won 25 while losing just 15 since McCullers' return, even though McCullers has a record of 1-2 in his seven starts. But the Astros have won four of the games he has started anyway. But on Monday, McCullers was forced back onto the injured list, though perhaps fortunately not with an arm issue this time. More MLB: Insider Reveals Red Sox's Reasons For Dumping Rafael Devers in Devastating Trade According to a report by the Houston Chronicle, the 31-year-old's problem this time around is a sprained foot. McCullers last pitched last Tuesday, taking the loss after going five innings and giving up four runs to the Chicago White Sox. The Astros did not say if he sustained the foot injury during that game, or sometime since. The 2017 All-Star hurler, who placed seventh in 2021 Cy Young Award voting, was scheduled to start Monday's opening game of a four-game set against the Athletics in West Sacramento, California. McCullers' 15-day IL stint was made retroactive to Friday, but whether he would need more than 12 days to recover from the sprain remains up in the air. More MLB: Ex-Red Sox Exec Rips Team Over Rafael Devers Debacle 'Malpractice'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mauricio Dubón's walk-off single lifts Astros over Twins 2-1, sweep 3-game series
Houston Astros manager Joe Espada, right, walks with Jose Altuve after Altuve was hit by a pitch thrown by Minnesota Twins pitcher Louis Varland during the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Houston Astros' Mauricio Dubón hits a game-winning RBI single against the Minnesota Twins during the 10th inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Houston Astros pitcher Shawn Dubin (66) reaches to tag out Minnesota Twins' Willi Castro during the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Houston Astros' Jeremy Peña, right, dives toward home plate to score as Minnesota Twins catcher Christian Vázquez waits for the throw during the ninth inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Houston Astros' Mauricio Dubón celebrates after hitting a game-winning RBI single against the Minnesota Twins during the 10th inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Houston Astros' Mauricio Dubón celebrates after hitting a game-winning RBI single against the Minnesota Twins during the 10th inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Houston Astros manager Joe Espada, right, walks with Jose Altuve after Altuve was hit by a pitch thrown by Minnesota Twins pitcher Louis Varland during the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Houston Astros' Mauricio Dubón hits a game-winning RBI single against the Minnesota Twins during the 10th inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Houston Astros pitcher Shawn Dubin (66) reaches to tag out Minnesota Twins' Willi Castro during the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Houston Astros' Jeremy Peña, right, dives toward home plate to score as Minnesota Twins catcher Christian Vázquez waits for the throw during the ninth inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Houston Astros' Mauricio Dubón celebrates after hitting a game-winning RBI single against the Minnesota Twins during the 10th inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) HOUSTON (AP) — Victor Caratini tied it with a sacrifice fly in the ninth and Mauricio Dubón hit a walk-off single in the 10th on Sunday to help the Astros beat the Minnesota Twins 2-1 to sweep the three-game series. Jake Meyers started at second base in the 10th and scored on Dubón's two-out single to left field. Advertisement Astros starter Brandon Walter gave up a run on six hits with nine strikeouts across 6 2/3 innings. Shawn Dubin, Bennett Sousa and Josh Hader (4-0) combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. Walter has allowed three earned runs across 17 2/3 innings in three starts this season. Minnesota's Brooks Lee led off the third inning with a home run. Jose Altuve was hit by a pitch to lead off the seventh but Caratini grounded into a 4-6-3 double play before Meyers grounded out. Cole Sands (3-3) took the loss. Key moment Jeremy Peña drew a leadoff walk in the ninth and stole second. Peña moved to third when Altuve singled and then scored on Caratini's sacrifice fly off Jhoan Duran to make it 1-1 and force extra innings. Advertisement Key stat The Astros, who beat the Twins 3-2 on Cam Smith's walk-off single in the ninth on Saturday, have won five in a row and 16 of their last 22 to take a five-game lead over second-place Seattle in the AL West. Up next Houston's Lance McCullers Jr. (1-2, 4.91 ERA) takes the mound Monday to open a four-game series with the Athletics, who have not announced a starter. Minnesota is off until Tuesday when David Festa (1-1, 4.76) is scheduled to start against Cincinnati's Andrew Abbott (6-1, 1.87) to open a three-game set. ___ AP MLB:
New York Times
12-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
A Christian Walker turnaround can change Astros' trade deadline priorities
HOUSTON — An answer to the Houston Astros' most apparent need is already in their clubhouse. He switched lockers some time last month, hoping to harness a sliver of luck amid an otherwise subpar season. Christian Walker went 8-for-42 across his next 12 games, negating whatever nirvana the superstition may have spurred. He averaged at least a 96.5 exit velocity during eight of those 12 contests, continuing a confluence of poor luck and putrid results. Advertisement 'Sometimes it can get really frustrating when you don't get your hits,' manager Joe Espada said. 'You see other players (get) end-of-the-bat knocks, and they get lucky on some of these balls. You as a hitter, you're like, 'Man, I'm doing everything I can to put the barrel on the ball and they're not falling for me.'' Few aspects of Walker's horrific start have been more frustrating. Stretches of three or four games have offered hope for a turnaround, only for the subsequent seven or eight to erase all momentum. For instance, he had a three-RBI game on May 11, only to follow it with a 5-for-47 funk. So, assign proper perspective to Walker's first four-RBI game as an Astro on Wednesday night. The beleaguered first baseman broke out of a brutal slump in a season full of them, spearheading a 10-2 shellacking of the Chicago White Sox with his first three-hit game since May 25. ALL-STAR SMASH.#VoteWalker ⭐️ — Houston Astros (@astros) June 12, 2025 Walker's performance raised his OPS to .653. He hasn't had a higher one since that aforementioned outburst on May 11. The anemia that followed is the story of Walker's season. Whether he can avoid it is the Astros' most pertinent question. Parlaying a performance like Wednesday into something more sustainable would crystallize the club's focus toward the July 31 trade deadline. A left-handed hitter and starting pitcher sit atop the Astros' wish list, but any prolonged success from Walker may alter their priorities. The development would lessen Houston's urgency to address a lineup still missing Yordan Alvarez, its most potent left-handed threat. Alvarez's return — whenever it arrives — already represents a pseudo-deadline acquisition, but pairing him with a well-performing Walker would be a permutation Houston hasn't yet seen this season. Advertisement 'The nature of the at-bats — taking good pitches, swinging at good pitches — I feel good,' Walker said. 'I'm happy with how competitive I feel in the box right now.' Walker still awoke Wednesday with a .623 OPS. Of the 17 qualified major-league hitters with a lower one, only Michael Harris III and Willy Adames had taken more plate appearances. Of the 27 players worth fewer wins above replacement, just Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez had played more than Walker. Like Perez, Walker has salary, service time and status as a respected veteran that afford an almost endless runway to correct whatever ails him. Houston's lack of other options only widens it. Walker will start at first base and slot somewhere in the middle of the Astros' order regardless of what the club does during the trade deadline. Espada slid Walker to the five-hole before the series opener against the White Sox on Tuesday. In 147 plate appearances as the cleanup hitter, Walker slugged .296. 'It's trusting the process and having the confidence that, at some point, this is going to turn,' Espada said. 'He knows this tide will turn for him.' Finding better fortune is a factor, but Walker still boasts his highest chase rate, whiff rate and strikeout rate of the past four seasons. He entered Monday with a .208 batting average and, according to Statcast, a .243 expected batting average. Forty-three of Walker's 74 strikeouts have come with a runner on base, problematic for an offense that has scored the sport's seventh-fewest runs. Whether a wholesale turnaround from Walker and full health from Alvarez will fix that is what general manager Dana Brown must ponder over the next seven weeks. Even if both of those circumstances come to pass, a left-handed bench bat or outfield platoon partner would be beneficial for an imbalanced roster. Either would profile as cheaper for an Astros team short on tradeable assets. Focusing the few they have on fortifying a pitching staff staggered by injuries is another byproduct of Walker's potential renaissance. Advertisement Gauging whether one is looming is difficult. Hammering a hanging slider for a two-run home run during Wednesday's first inning ignited the dugout, but it should be standard for someone of Walker's caliber. A more telling sequence came two frames later. Four-seam fastballs have flummoxed the first baseman all season, strange for a player who produced a run value of nine against the pitch last year, according to Baseball Savant. Walker entered Wednesday with a minus-1 run value against the pitch. His .203 batting average against them was 43 points lower than last season and 79 away from the career-best mark he established in 2023. Opponents are aware and attempting to seize advantage. During the third inning, White Sox starter Sean Burke believed he did. Walker waved through one of his elevated four-seamers to even the count at 1. 'It's something we're working on for sure, but it's hard to plan for that,' Walker said. 'You start looking at the top and you get your hanger and you miss it because you're looking for something else.' Drivin' in the runs. #VoteWalker ⭐️ — Houston Astros (@astros) June 12, 2025 Part of Walker's work to remedy the problem involves 'maybe daring guys to go up there,' reasoning that 'if they miss a spot two inches, three inches lower, now we're talking about a ball that can get hit 107, 108 (mph).' Burke did. The 1-1 four-seamer he threw grazed the top rail of Walker's strike zone. He struck it 106 mph into the left-center field gap. Two runs came home. 'It felt good to turn that around,' Walker said.
