This marks the start of a brutal stretch of vs BOS, @ BAL, @ PHI, vs KC. The Astros sit 5 ahead of Seattle in the loss column but would need to sweep Seattle at the end of the year to win the tiebreaker. Of course, sweeping SEA to end the year almost certainly means winning the division by multiple games, making the tiebreaker useless. Regardless, Seattle has an easier schedule to close out the year, and should be primed to start gaining on us. 8-5 over the next 13 should be enough to hold them off as the schedule eases up. What's really interesting, if the Astros maintain their post May 8 pace, they can somehow end up with the #2 seed in the AL. They're only 4 losses behind Cleveland and one behind KC, they play both before the year is out. If things go well, that series against Cleveland could be for a Wild Card bye. Also, the Rangers being 11 back is both amusing and infuriating. Those bastards really had a one year window and won it all before returning to the dump.
I like that Diaz is getting more run at 1B, maximize the lineup as much as possible with Bregman and Tucker still out.
I hope I am proven wrong and we win in a blow out. Or at least by one run. Don't like Yordan in 2 hole or Pena at cleanup. Switch the two or put Pena in 2 hole, Yordan to 3, and Diaz at cleanup. The bottom 5 in the order at this point are just a crap shoot. Some how they really need to contribute. Hoping for one of those games where one or more in the bottom five of the lineup have a good night at the plate and lead us to victory. Trying to not be negative but the lineups Espada is putting out there really do suck.
[ I can understand if he doesn’t play the first two games of this series but yeah after that, feels like this is a long hall injury
I'd rather have Pena in the 2-hole to extend the lineup. He'll see better pitches with Yordan behind him and he's already had success there (and no success at cleanup). Lineup as currently constructed is ass after Diaz. Bregman sucked for 2 months -- of course he gets hurt while OPS'ing 1.000. Exactly on par for the '24 Astros.
So if I told you that the Astros would gain 1 game on the Mariners after their respective 3 game series are over, would you take it or ask for the games to play out?
First, I don't think the tiebreaker will be necessary. It'll be over by then. Second, what's hilarious is ranger fan saying that this is just how Bochy does things. Wins the WS one year and sucks the next...because that's what he did with the GIants. They seem to be fine with this, thinking that winning it again next year is somehow already in the bag.
Yep I'm not understanding how Espada can't see this rather straightforward lineup construction. Especially when we can use every little advantage we can muster until Bregman gets back. Even then I'm trotting out: Altuve Pena Alvarez Bregman Diaz As my top 5. Every single night until Tucker finally shows up. I would also get Caratini in the lineup 2 out of every 3 games. Meyers Caratini Dubon (Insert rotating player)
So we have 14 games straight against those 4 opponents. If you gave me 8-6, I'm running to the bank with it. 7-7 certainly isn't the end of the world and probably puts us in position to finish off the job of winning yet another division (a YAD, feel free to use that).
I really hate all of the injuries we've had this year. Seems like so many guys have gone out for extended periods of time. Grumble.
