The Houston Astros are back at .500 for the first time this season after an impressive turnaround. On Wednesday afternoon, the Astros achieved a 40-40 record by completing a two-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies. This victory extended Houston's winning streak to seven games, marking a significant milestone as the team continues to recover from a rocky start.
The Astros began the season with an alarming 0-4 record and faced a particularly rough period in late April, when they were 7-19. However, since entering June with a 25-33 record, they've managed to win 15 of their last 22 games. This remarkable stretch has brought them within 4.5 games of the division lead, a testament to the resilience and determination of the team.
Spencer Arrighetti played a crucial role in the latest triumph, holding the Rockies lineup scoreless across seven innings and striking out a career-high 10 batters. His performance underscores the efforts of the Astros' rotation, which, despite several challenges, has managed to hold its own, posting a 4.26 ERA this year. This ranks them 18th in baseball, a significant improvement given that, for much of the season, they were among the bottom five teams in the ERA category.
The Astros' pitching staff has had to weather significant adversity this season. Right-handed pitcher J.P. France is set to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. France, who had a 7.46 ERA in five starts this season before being demoted to Triple-A, had posted a more promising 3.83 ERA in 136 1/3 innings last year. Additionally, the team has lost Cristian Javier and José Urquidy to Tommy John surgery earlier this month. Justin Verlander is currently sidelined with a neck issue, and there is no timetable for his return.
General Manager Dana Brown addressed the situation surrounding France: "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. 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."
Manager Joe Espada also provided updates on the progress of two more injured pitchers. "Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. are still working their way back from last year's elbow surgeries," he mentioned earlier this week. The return of these key players could significantly bolster the Astros' rotation as they look ahead to the second half of the season.
With the immediate challenge behind them, the Astros will have an off-day on Thursday before embarking on a 10-game road trip. This trip features matches against the New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, and Minnesota Twins. The Blue Jays series will be a four-game stretch, while the Mets and Twins series will each be three games. This road trip will be crucial for the Astros as they seek to maintain their momentum and continue climbing up the standings.
Despite the setbacks, the Astros have shown remarkable resilience and an ability to adapt. With a rotation that's starting to gel and key players potentially returning, the team appears poised to make a significant push in the coming weeks. The combination of strategic patience and tactical prowess, exemplified by the guidance of GM Dana Brown and Manager Joe Espada, has given the Astros a fighting chance to turn their season around.