The Astros woke up Aug. 1 in a spot that’s felt familiar for most of the last decade: alone atop the American League West.
Houston powered past the Rangers 11-2 on Friday night at Daikin Park, stretching its winning streak to four games and moving into first place in the division for the first time since early April. The win also gave the Astros the season series over their in-state rivals, which means they would hold the tiebreaker if the two clubs finish with the same record.
That’s a long way from where Houston sat on May 21, when it was 20-31 and 6 1/2 games back. Since then, the Astros have ripped off nine wins in their last 10 games and climbed back into the position they’ve occupied in seven of the previous eight seasons, not counting the shortened 2020 season.
Hunter Brown did his part to keep the surge rolling. The right-hander allowed two runs on six hits and two walks over 5 2/3 innings, striking out the Rangers’ lineup until Joc Pederson finally broke through with a solo homer in the sixth. Brown (3-1) was one out shy of a quality start and left with runners on first and third in the sixth; Evan Carter then delivered an RBI single off Enyel De Los Santos, with the run charged to Brown.
Houston gave Brown plenty of support early. In the second inning against Nathan Eovaldi, LaMonte Wade Jr. lined an RBI double and Yordan Alvarez followed with a two-run single with the bases loaded to make it 3-0. Alvarez now has 82 RBIs, putting him two behind Major League leader Sal Stewart of the Reds.
The Astros kept piling on from there. Cam Smith tripled in the fourth and came home on a Jeremy Peña single, then Isaac Paredes opened the fifth with his 15th homer of the season, sending it out to the train tracks in left field. Christian Walker followed immediately with his second home run in three games, pushing the lead to 6-0.
Yainer Diaz added a solo shot in Houston’s four-run seventh inning, helping turn a rivalry game into a rout.
In Other News...
Astros Finally Filled A Need But Fans Will Debate The Cost
The Astros made a late push to address their outfield mix by landing Daulton Varsho from the Blue Jays shortly before the trade deadline, a move that gives Houston a needed upgrade as it tries to position itself for the stretch run. Varsho brings immediate help and should slide in as a short-term addition, giving the club another option in a spot that had been needing attention.
The price, though, is the part that will keep the conversation going around Houston. The deal is still working its way through medical review, and the return sent to Toronto was significant enough to make this feel like more than a routine deadline add. For a team that has spent years balancing win-now moves against future value, this one lands squarely in the middle of the familiar Astros debate. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Lose Key Behind The Scenes Voice At A Tough Time
Amid a season that already has demanded plenty of patience, the Astros have lost another important voice from their dugout support staff. Dan Hennigan, the clubs Director of Hitting and Offensive Coordinator, is out after taking an assistant coaching job at Wake Forest, with manager Joe Espada saying Sunday was Hennigans final day on the job.
Houston will keep its current hitting structure intact, with Victor Rodriguez and Anthony Iapoce remaining in their roles as hitting coach and assistant hitting coach. Chuckie Caufield will absorb some of Hennigans duties around the major league team, leaving the Astros to adjust on the fly while trying to keep their offensive work steady through the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Interest In Logan Webb Just Ran Into One Huge Problem
With the trade deadline drawing closer, Logan Webb has surfaced as a name worth watching for clubs looking to add pitching, and the Astros are among the teams said to be interested. Houston has been linked to the San Francisco right-hander along with Atlanta, a reminder that frontline starters tend to draw attention quickly when the market starts to thin out and contenders start checking on every available arm.
The problem for Houston is that San Francisco does not appear inclined to entertain much discussion. Webb is viewed internally as too important to move because of his contract and his place in the Giants' plans, which makes any pursuit a steep climb from the start. Webb has also made clear he wants to stay with the Giants, so even with outside interest building, this feels like one of those deadline whispers where the asking price may never even be the real issue. [Read more 🡒]