It’s time for the Houston Astros (49-42) to prove that they’re more than just first half sensations. Their wheels appeared to have fallen off in the last week of the first half, but they still have lots of time to recover. They can begin turning their ship around on Friday, when they welcome the Texas Rangers (42-46) for the start of a three-game set.
For more baseball previews, you can click here for our breakdown of the MLB All-Star Game and here for our preview and prediction for the 2015 Home Run Derby.
[sc:MLB240banner ]It’s been a disastrous month for the Rangers thus far this July. Marred by a problematic pitching, the Rangers have only able to come up with a 2-8 record in 10 games this month. That stretch featured a five-game losing streak spanning from July 3 to 8, wherein the Rangers were massively outscored, 44-14.
Expect more of the same carnage moving forward if the Rangers’ starting rotation can’t get it together. So far this July, the Rangers starters have posted the worst ERA (6.71) and FIP (5.42) in the American League. Yovani Gallardo, however, pitched well in Texas’ 2-1 loss to San Diego on Sunday, but the offense simply wasn’t there for the Rangers.
Following the Rangers’ pitching order, Colby Lewis may get the nod to start this coming Friday against Houston. Despite a high 4.77 ERA this season, Lewis managed to compile an 8-4 record largely because of the prolific Texas offense behind him. In fact, Lewis gets the fourth highest run support per nine innings (6.79) in the majors. That was the case for Lewis in his last start against Houston, as he tossed eight innings of one-run ball, allowing six hits and striking out six in Texas’ 11-3 win on May 6.
Regardless of whom the Rangers will start on Friday, that pitcher can count on Elvis Andrus and Andre Beltre to do well at the plate. Andrus hit 5-for-14 (.357) with two doubles over his last five games, while Beltre went 7-for-20 (.350) with three doubles and a homer over the same span. Furthermore, Andrus and Beltre are career .500 (3-for-6) and .333 (2-for-6), respectively, against Houston starter, Collin McHugh.
Maybe a long break is just what the Astros need to recover from a slump that saw them lose all of their last six games. During that stretch, the Astros were only able to come up with seven total runs for a measly average of 0.86 per game. Collin McHugh (9-5, 4.50 ERA) is looking for a better run support from his teammates when the Astros send him to the mound this coming Friday.
McHugh had a solid finish last June, going 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA in three starts to close out the month. What has followed, however, has beem quite a letdown as he is currently 0-2 thus far this July. Houston’s miserable offense, though, didn’t do him any favors, as the Astros were only able to score only two total runs in his last two starts. That includes Houston’s 3-1 loss to the Rays on July 10, when McHugh allowed three earned runs on just four hits.
With George Springer (wrist) on the 15-day disabled list, the Astros will have to coax more production from Jose Altuve. Altuve has replaced Springer atop the order in the meantime, but hasn’t been doing very well. Over his last seven games, Altuve has compiled a poor triple slash line of 207/.233/.345. Altuve’s struggle of late reflects the performance of the rest of the Astros’ hitters with only Preston Tucker showing signs of life. Tucker batted .385 (10-for-26) with a homer and a double in his last seven games.
