The Astros are rolling into Tampa Bay with a lot on the line and a pretty clear picture of where they stand. Houston has taken control of the American League West and sits just two and a half weeks from clinching the division and punching its ticket back to the playoffs after missing out last fall.
That kind of push has a different feel around it now, too. Manager Joe Espada is managing for his job after the organization cut ties with general manager Dana Brown, and the source of the pressure is obvious: Houston probably needs a deep postseason run if Espada is going to be back in 2027.
Before this three-game set at Tropicana Field, the Astros handled business in Philadelphia, taking two of three from the Phillies on the back of Cam Smith. Now they turn to another major test, heading into a road series against the Rays, who are described as the best team in the American League. Houston enters the series three games ahead of the Texas Rangers.
Friday opens with Miguel Ullola (0-0, 3.86 ERA) against Drew Rasmussen (14-5, 2.88 ERA) at 7:10 p.m. Saturday brings Peter Lambert (8-8, 3.67 ERA) opposite Ian Seymour (9-6, 4.33 ERA) at 6:10 p.m. The finale is Sunday at 1:40 p.m., with Hayden Wesneski (5-1, 3.35 ERA) matched up against Freddy Peralta (8-11, 4.82 ERA).
Houston does get one break: it avoids Nick Martinez, who pitched Thursday afternoon against the Atlanta Braves. Even so, the Rays still line up a difficult staff, and the Astros are set to see Tampa Bay’s second-best arm in Rasmussen right away on Friday night.
For Espada, the series also comes with a certain kind of challenge he seems to welcome. He said during the Phillies series that he enjoys facing teams like Philadelphia and Tampa Bay at this point in the season. If the Astros can win the series in Tampa Bay, it would push them a step closer to locking up the division and would make the trip a successful one at a crucial stage of the season.
Wesneski, meanwhile, has been one of the more encouraging arms in the group. In two September starts against the Chicago White Sox and Phillies, he has posted a 2.08 ERA over 13 innings. His most recent outing came in Philadelphia, where he worked six innings, allowed five hits and three runs, and came away with a 6-5 Houston win.
In Other News...
Astros Fans Have Seen This Risky Outfield Gamble Go Wrong Before
Jesus Sanchezs run with Toronto has come to an abrupt stop after a stretch in which both his offense and defense slipped, leaving the Blue Jays to designate him for assignment. His batting average and on-base percentage have trended down since June, and the defensive numbers have not helped his case, which is the kind of profile that tends to get a front office thinking twice even when an outfielder still has obvious tools.
For the Astros, the name is familiar enough to stir memories of past outfield gambles that did not age well, but this does not appear to be a fit that has caught much traction in Houston. The club already has other outfield options on the roster, and Sanchezs mixed track record makes him more of a cautionary tale than an obvious upgrade as the Astros sort through their depth and try to avoid repeating a familiar mistake. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremy Pea's Funk Is Becoming A Real Astros Lineup Problem
Jeremy Pea has been holding down the second spot in the Astros lineup while Yordan Alvarez rests with right ankle soreness, but the move has come at an awkward time. Since Aug. 1, Peas offense has slipped badly, and his .602 OPS over that stretch has left him near the bottom of the American Leagues regular hitters. For a club that leans on timely production in the middle of the order, that kind of slide is hard to brush off.
Pea still matters to Houston because of what he brings beyond the box score. His athleticism and overall importance to the offense have made him a fixture in the lineup, even as the results have lagged. But with Alvarez out and Pea occupying a premium spot, the Astros are suddenly dealing with a lineup issue that goes beyond one cold stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Carlos Correas Return Could Trigger An Astros Infield Shakeup
Carlos Correas return from left-ankle surgery is already forcing the Astros to think beyond the obvious. Rather than plugging him right back in at shortstop, Houston is weighing a much different look by trying him at second base, a spot he has never played professionally. It is the kind of move that says a lot about how the club views the fit of its infield as much as it does Correas own versatility.
If Correa does begin a rehabilitation assignment soon, the next step will be seeing how that alignment actually works in game action. The idea could ripple through the rest of the infield, with Jose Altuve or Isaac Paredes potentially affected by the shuffle, and the Astros seem intent on using the comeback to sharpen the defense rather than simply restore the old order. [Read more 🡒]