Injury Returns Bring Joy, But Losses, Not So Much

So many Astros fans have been holding their breath, waiting for the return of a number of key members of both the rotation and the lineup. Over the last couple weeks, they have gotten their wish with Yordan Alvarez, Spencer Arrighetti, Cristian Javier, Lance McCullers, Jr. and Luis Garcia all coming back from injuries. Even Taylor Trammel is back on the big league squad and Jake Meyers isn’t far away.

Yet, the home stand has been, well, meh. In seven games against the Rockies and Angles, the Astros are 4-3, not ideal when you consider the combined records of their opponents. They head into a series against the Yankees and Daikin Park in much better health and with a three-game lead in the division, but still not necessarily playing great baseball. Let’s discuss.

Cristian Javier and Luis Garcia look good.

After returning from injury, Javier has been solid if not spectacular. That changed Friday night when “El Reptil” went six no-hit innings in a 2-0 win over the Angels. He looked as dominant as ever, something that bodes well for the Astros as they get closer to the postseason. Meanwhile, Garcia in his first game back, was outstanding. He went six innings giving up three runs on just three hits and striking out six. All of the runs were scored in four at bats, two off home runs including a Crawford Boxes special that barely cleared the left field fence. It was the absolute best the Astros could have hoped for in the returns of both pitchers to the starting rotation.

Lance McCullers in the bullpen didn’t go well.

After a “short term” move to the bullpen, McCullers took the mound out of the pen for the first time on Sunday since 2018. The results were mixed. He had a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh, but struggled in the eighth giving up two runs on three hits and two walks in a game the Angels ultimately won 2-0. For the former starter, the path to the postseason remains pretty clear: McCullers needs to be able to be a reliable long relief pitcher if he wants to get time on the mound. For the Astros, they have to continue to evaluate the right hander to see if he fits into their plans both short and long term. It’s complicated.

Yordan Alverez has walked a bunch.

The Astros lefty slugger has walked eight times since returned from injury last week. Teams are already pitching around him. Unfortunately, the players around him have rarely capitalized on his getting on base. Prior to Monday’s game, the Astros were something like one for one-thousand when they had runners in scoring position over the last week. Maybe that’s a stretch. It was probably more like 2-999. Anyway, Alvarez has looked very good at the plate and other pitchers clearly see that. That can only be a good thing for the team…if they can figure out how to get a hit after his plate appearances.

Ramon Urias has been the win of the trade deadline.

Who would’ve thought this would be the win of the deadline. Sure, Carlos Correa has been outstanding both on the field and in a renewed leadership role. But, Urias has been a revelation. He has multiple home runs and absolute brilliant defense at second base where he had won a Gold Glove. The Astros have had to do whatever they can to keep him in the lineup because he has just been too valuable to sit.