The Astros are still in the playoff picture, but the roster math is starting to get real. As September approaches, Houston has to sort out not just who can help right now, but who actually belongs on a postseason roster if the club gets there. A few players have spent enough time fading that their October cases are looking shaky.
Taylor Trammell is one of them. He flashed in spring training, then got squeezed off the Opening Day roster before returning from Sugar Land on April 10.
For a while, he looked like a useful piece, batting .314/.375/.412 from his call-up through May 31. But the production has fallen off hard since then.
From June on, he’s hit .172/.270/.366, and August has been rougher still. He misread a fly ball and wound up taking a home run trot on what turned out to be a deep flyout.
That kind of moment sticks, and it’s been part of a month in which he’s hitting just .130/.245/.304. With LaMonte Wade filling similar roles and other outfield options available, Trammell looks like a tough sell for October.
Cristian Javier is in an even more precarious spot because the Astros’ pitching picture is so unsettled. Hunter Brown is a lock, though he’s been scuffling lately.
Peter Lambert has been Houston’s steadiest starter, but after getting hammered by the Los Angeles Angels, there are legitimate questions about whether he’s running out of steam after throwing more innings than he has in a season since 2018. Still, Javier stands out as the biggest problem.
Injuries have already made his recent years difficult, with Tommy John surgery followed by a right shoulder strain earlier this year. And when he has been on the mound, the results have been ugly: a 6.44 ERA and 1.73 HR/9.
In three August starts, the home run issue has only gotten worse, with 2.40 homers allowed per nine and a 5.40 ERA. That’s not the kind of profile you want when the games get tighter.
Raynel Delgado looks like the clearest odd man out. The Astros just brought him up and have used him only sparingly as a depth infielder, which is already a bad sign for his October chances.
Houston likely only needs one utility infielder on the playoff roster, and Nick Allen has the edge because he’s more experienced and a better defender, even if his offense is limited. If Carlos Correa is able to come back this year, that would almost certainly close the door on Delgado completely.
In Other News...
Astros Make Stunning Front Office Change In Middle Of AL West Race
The Astros are making a notable front office pivot in the middle of an AL West race, parting ways with general manager Dana Brown by mutual agreement. Brown had been in the role since January 26, 2023, and his contract was originally set to run through the end of the 2026 season, making the move a significant organizational shift rather than a routine personnel adjustment.
Houston is turning the day-to-day baseball work over to assistant general managers Charles Cook, Gavin Dickey and Connor Huff, with senior advisor Jeff Bagwell also in the mix as owner Jim Crane oversees baseball operations during the transition. For a club still trying to navigate a tight pennant chase, the timing adds another layer of uncertainty to an already important stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Espadas Awkward Mistake Now Feels Bigger For The Astros
A routine mound visit turned into an uncomfortable reminder of how quickly things can look off for a team already under a microscope. Against the Athletics, Astros manager Joe Espada went out to settle Hunter Brown down, only to inadvertently signal for a pitching change and send a reliever into the game instead. It was the kind of dugout miscue that usually fades away by the next inning, but in Houston right now, even a small slip can feel a lot louder than it should.
The timing makes it harder to ignore. The Astros have mutually parted ways with GM Dana Brown, and Espadas status as manager is reportedly uncertain as the club tries to steady itself after recent performance struggles. Houston still has a talented roster, but the departures, the uneven results, and the underwhelming postseason runs since Espada took over have only sharpened the scrutiny, turning an awkward moment on the mound into part of a much bigger conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Get A Needed Lift Heading Into Yankees Series
The Astros head into their series opener against the Yankees with a small but important bit of stability restored. Joe Espada, who missed the series finale against the Athletics because of a family emergency, has rejoined the club and is set to be back in the dugout after Omar Lpez filled in as manager in his absence.
It comes at a useful time for Houston, which is trying to keep its footing in a tight stretch of the season while sitting at 65-66 and still leading the AL West. Having Espada back for a marquee series at Yankee Stadium gives the Astros a familiar voice again as they try to hold position and keep the division race moving in their direction. [Read more 🡒]