The Houston Astros have clawed their way back to a .500 record for the first time this season, achieving the milestone by completing a two-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday afternoon. This victory extended Houston's winning streak to seven games, a remarkable feat considering their turbulent start to the year.
The Astros launched their season with an 0-4 record and found themselves at a dismal 7-19 by April 25. However, their resilience began to show in June. Coming into the month with a 25-33 record, the team has since flipped the script, winning 15 out of their last 22 games. Their latest triumph positions them within 4.5 games of the division lead, demonstrating their renewed competitiveness.
One of the standout performers in Wednesday's game was Spencer Arrighetti. The young pitcher silenced the Rockies' bats, holding the lineup scoreless across seven innings and recording a career-high 10 strikeouts. Arrighetti’s dominance on the mound provided a much-needed boost to the Astros' pitching staff, which has been beleaguered by injuries this season.
The rotation has faced significant setbacks, losing key pitchers such as Cristian Javier and José Urquidy to Tommy John surgery earlier this month. Justin Verlander, a cornerstone of the rotation, is also sidelined with a neck issue, with no clear timetable for his return. Compounding these woes, right-hander J.P. France will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. France struggled this year with a 7.46 ERA in five starts before being demoted to Triple-A, a stark contrast to his more respectable 3.83 ERA over 136 1/3 innings last year.
Manager Joe Espada has been upfront about the challenges the team faces. "Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. are still working their way back from last year's elbow surgeries," Espada noted earlier this week. Their eventual returns are eagerly anticipated as the Astros aim to stabilize their rotation, which has posted a 4.26 ERA this year, ranking 18th in baseball. For much of the season, the Astros have found themselves among the bottom five teams in this category.
General Manager Dana Brown also reflected on France’s situation, offering a candid assessment on the team's handling of his injury. "When he got hurt in spring training and he felt the discomfort, we were really pressing to get him back and maybe we may have rushed him a little bit," Brown acknowledged on the team's pregame show. "Especially with Verlander being out at the same time, we were trying to really plug holes in this rotation. He felt pretty good and so we pressed him a little bit and he tried to pitch through it. I think this time we're probably going to be more patient."
Despite setbacks, Houston's recent surge presents a team invigorated and ready to challenge for the division lead. However, the path ahead is demanding. Following an off-day on Thursday, the Astros embark on a 10-game road trip, with series against the New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, and Minnesota Twins. The Blue Jays series will be a four-game affair, while the Mets and Twins will host three-game sets each.
The Astros' ability to maintain their winning momentum during this stretch will be critical. The team's offensive and defensive units will need to step up in the absence of their star pitchers. Given their current form and fighting spirit, fans remain hopeful that the Astros can continue to defy early-season expectations and emerge as strong contenders in the race for the postseason.