The pitching is coming together. We have good pitchers and even more reinforcements on the way in the form of Blanco and Javier.
Blanco, yes. Javier, ehhhhh..... I think the pitching is still inconsistent. Now that hunter is back, spaghetti is crashing back down to earth. You don't know what you're going to get with Imai's outing. Burrows is........yea lol.
I still think he could be pretty effective as a reliever. It will be pretty ridiculous if they force him back into the rotation if they already have 6 guys pitching well.
He and Javier should get chances out of the pen. I wouldn't let them go more than an inning, but both have enough stuff left to overwhelm hitters in short outings.
Adding someone like Mickey Moniak or Jarren Duran solves the OF problem. I believe that Wade will be a good hitter vs RHP. Smith's defense justifies his lineup/roster spot even if he doesn't improve over what he's been, which is a bad/below average hitter against RHP and an above-average/streaky hitter against LHP. Lineup against LHP: SS Pena DH Alvarez 3B Paredes 2B Altuve 1B Walker RF Smith CF Meyers LF Dezenzo C Diaz/Vazquez Bench: Allen/Shewmake/Delgado, Duran/Moniak, Wade Lineup against RHP: CF Duran/Moniak SS Pena DH Alvarez 3B Paredes LF Wade 1B Walker 2B Altuve C Diaz RF Smith Bench: Vazquez, Allen/Shewmake/Delgado, Dezenzo, Meyers
For now, Espada needs to bat Meyers 9th. He was there Saturday, got a hit, then Joe changes course next day with Matthews 9th, at home. Jake had 3 Ks yesterday. Hopefully Wade brings more stability, Lope performs, and the Astros need less at the deadline.
