This is the time of year when I typically don’t stress about the games. My taxes, due in a couple of weeks, yes, stress me. Baseball games? Ask me again in May. Yes, each one matters, but there are still 160 games left in the regular season. There is ample time before we can reach any firm conclusions about this team, its shortcomings, or areas of strength. But it is still fun to write about what we’re observing this early into a new season.
It was clear fairly early in the offseason that the Astros aimed to adjust the dynamics of their lineup. Trading Kyle Tucker and allowing Alex Bregman to sign elsewhere is one way to achieve that goal. Ultimately, the organization chose to take a new direction with the lineup, featuring Isaac Paredes, Christian Walker, and Cam Smith, who bring a different look. Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, and Jeremy Peña remain, sure, but the overall feel of the lineup is unfamiliar. A new adventure, if you will.
Thus far, that new adventure hasn’t produced much in the first two games, scoring a combined four runs (three earned). No extra base hits. Other than Alvarez’s sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, it was a quiet night at the plate for Houston. There have been encouraging moments, but nothing has translated into runs yet. They will, though. For a team that roster the likes of Altuve, Alvarez, Paredes, and Walker, the power will translate sooner or later. If there is any concern for the long-term at the moment, it is how the bottom half of the lineup looks in the coming weeks and months.
On the pitching side, Hunter Brown had a shaky start to this season, allowing three earned runs in his first three innings. Mark Vientos and Jesse Winker capitalized on a pair of RBI hits in the second to score two, followed by Juan Soto’s solo home run in the top of the third. It was all the run support that Tylor Megill and New York’s bullpen needed to secure the victory. But Brown did settle down as his evening progressed, with his full complement of pitches keeping the game within striking distance.
If there was a positive to glean from this game, it is possibly the bullpen. Quality depth within this unit is a legitimate question. With the Astros trailing all game, Joe Espada decided to turn to his other options beyond Josh Hader and Bryan Abreu. Steven Okert, Tayler Scott, Bryan King, and Luis Contreras all performed well, striking out a combined four hitters while allowing a single hit. Okert and Contreras, in particular, looked rather sharp, with those two picking up all four strikeouts.
All in all, it is easy to see why the Astros lost. The lineup simply didn’t do enough. The pitching staff wasn’t perfect, but they did enough to keep the team in the game. That happens in baseball. It is only the second game of the season. Let’s see what happens tomorrow.