Houston Astros covering the bases: Trade goals, imperfect roster and curious bullpen management

The Astros remain seven games under .500 after splitting a six-game road trip to California. Two of the three losses were play-offs, the kind of missed opportunities Houston can’t afford as it tries to get back into the playoff race.

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Power Rankings: Houston Astros are No. 12

In this week’s Power Rankings, we look at the big question facing every team. (Recording Tuesday)

Recording: 30-37
Latest power ranking: 14

A big question: Could the Astros be in first place by the All-Star Break?

It’s been a brutal start to the season, but the Astros had a winning record in May, and they’re off to a solid start in June (last week they won two of three against the Cardinals, then did it again against the Angels). . The next five weeks before the break, the Astros will play a series against the White Sox, Rockies, Mets and Marlins. They will also play a series against the Blue Jays, Giants and Tigers below .500. Alex Bregman is starting to hit again, the bullpen has been better than it was early in the season, and Kyle Tucker should return to the lineup soon. It was easy to give up on the Astros early, but they’re a good few weeks away from getting back in the hunt. — Chad Jennings

Latest successes

ICYMI, our national writers have given their thoughts on what they’re hearing and seeing

What Jim Bowden hears

Earlier this week, our former general manager Jim Bowden gave his thoughts on 30 things he heard with 50 days until the trade deadline. The Astros deserved some mentions.

• Pete Alonso should be the biggest power stick traded at the deadline. The Astros, Mariners, Yankees, Giants, Cubs and Twins are possible landing spots for the three-time All-Star. If the Mets trade Alonso, they will still make a concerted effort to re-sign him this offseason. They love the polar bear and he loves New York.

• Cardinals plan to buy at the deadline; Acquiring another veteran starting pitcher is their main – and only – focus right now. However, if things go south, don’t be surprised if they deal veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who will become a free agent after this season, and closer Ryan Helsley, who would immediately become the best closer available on the market and could bring in a huge return. In this scenario, Goldschmidt going to the Astros, Mariners or Yankees could make sense, and Helsley heading to the Orioles or Dodgers would be a game-changer for either club. Helsley is under team control until next season.

Viral moment of the week

“The magic of Jose Altuve. I’ve been trying to understand it for years of watching him play. His bat-to-ball skills. He’s unique. That’s what makes him great,” Joe Espada said. https://t.co/xK5kCBmL5a

– Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) June 12, 2024

Part of the magic of “José Altuve” is the ability to put that Jordan Hicks slider into play. It was 2,082 feet from home plate — the farthest pitch Altuve has ever put into play, according to MLB.com. The ground ball went to the right side and gave Houston its first point in Tuesday’s 3-1 victory.

baseball beat

Our beatwriter Chandler Rome has selected what you need to know

Here are three storylines to watch ahead of the trade deadline, including the question still on the Astros’ minds: Who’s in charge?

Kyle Tucker is on injured reserve after taking a nasty foul ball to his right shin.

Kyle Tucker landed on the IL. (Logan Riely/Getty Images)

A one-run loss Monday night in San Francisco exposed the Astros’ flawed roster construction while leaving us wondering how tenable the setup is.

Joe Espada’s curious bullpen management in a late win Saturday against the Angels reverberated Sunday, when Houston suffered one of its worst losses of the season.

Did you catch this?

As long as the Astros continue to keep José Abreu on the roster, Joe Espada will be hamstrung by the inflexibility of his bench and the inability to hide a player in decline. Monday’s 4-3 defeat reinforced it.

The day Abreu became an Astro, team officials celebrated his propensity for producing runs throughout his career. It’s an antiquated way of explaining an analytical sport, but there is inherent value in employing someone who relishes situational hitting. For the first nine years of his career, Abreu did just that.

Midway through the 11th, the Astros would rather have almost anyone else at bat with a game on the line. Manager Joe Espada has considered hitting the fading veteran, but has a roster with few valuable options.

Espada is not responsible for the construction of the list. General manager Dana Brown and his baseball operations department gave Espada 26 players to place in advantageous positions. In no world is this iteration of Abreu against the San Francisco Giants, closer Camilo Doval, one of them.

Jose Abreu, Astros first baseman. (Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via AP)

Sending a rookie with 39 major league bats to hit in Abreu’s place isn’t a good solution either, but it’s the only alternative Espada encountered. The manager opted to save Joey Loperfido to pinch Abreu in an extra inning that the entire stadium knew was coming. Abreu’s withdrawal only made it official.

Few hitters in the world are in a favorable matchup against Doval, a man who saved a major league-high 39 games last season, throws two fastballs that touch triple digits and generates a whiff rate of 42 percent with one of the best breaking throws in the sport. .

Doval dominates too many threatening hitters to count. Yordan Alvarez started Monday’s ninth inning by swinging one of his nasty two-strike sliders. The fact that Abreu hit another and stranded two baserunners should not be considered a cataclysmic failure.

A more serious concern is the fact that Houston doesn’t have a roster equipped to avoid it. Allowing Abreu to take the Doval fight is the result of poor roster construction and a stubborn attempt to salvage a calamitous contract.

Losses like Monday’s invitational make one wonder how much longer the setup will be tenable.

Field notes

And now, a quick word from the comments section.

That’s a logical take, David. Houston can toe the line of buying and selling, perhaps a gradual unloading while preparing to compete in 2025. But Jim Crane is one of the most aggressive owners in baseball and it’s worth wondering if he will draft a more daring deadline plan.

(Top photo by Joe Espada: Steph Chambers/Getty Images)