Houston Astros: Five Astros get roster spots on all-star team

The Houston Astros have had an amazing first half of the year as they have the best record in baseball at 56-27 and lead the American League in overall record by 8.5 games. The opening half of the season has been capped by the Astros getting five all-star selections including one pitcher who isn’t even healthy enough to play. But hey, that’s how good Dallas Keuchel was this year.

The Houston Astros all-stars are certainly deserving. You Astros fans did a great job getting the starting nod to our young core of Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and George Springer. It is the first time three Astros have been voted in to start an all-star game by fan vote, showing how much our base has been infected with Astros fever cause of how amazing the season has been.

The team’s two aces at the top of the rotation were also selected to the game, including Dallas Keuchel who will not play in the game but will attend as he is still on the mend from neck discomfort. Lance McCullers Jr. is making his first all-star game and it is VERY exciting to see his curveball getting utilized to make the best hitters in the game look absolutely silly.

Each of the Astros that made the all-star game are absolutely deserving. I’m very surprised Keuchel got the nod but that just shows how dominant he was despite only making 11 starts on the year.

In terms of fan vote, it’s great to see our fans showing up at the online ballot box and stuffing it with deserving Astros.

Keuchel’s actually been injured so much of the year he no longer is in the qualifiers category for ERA leaders, but he does lead the league despite his lack of innings pitched with a 1.67 ERA. Oh, he also leads the league in WHIP at 0.87 and has the lowest pitches per innings pitched (13.72) of any starter showing his efficiency on the mound.

Lance McCullers Jr. is a qualifier and is definitely deserving of an all star spot. He’s got a 7-1 record through 15 starts on the year coming in third in the league with a 2.69 ERA. He’s third in WHIP as well at 1.07 and despite missing a couple starts he is seventh in the league in strikeouts with 103 and is third in strikeouts per nine innings pitched at 10.66.

In terms of fan vote, it’s great to see our fans showing up at the online ballot box and stuffing it with deserving Astros (unlike Royals fans who tried to have Omar Infante start over Jose Altuve in 2015 just because he was a Royal, ugh.) The starters we voted in certainly earned the right to start the game.

George Springer is our big bopper out of the lead-off spot (of all places in the lineup to have your home run leader) and has already set the franchise record for most lead-off homers in a season with nine and we’re only 83 games into the year. He’s that five tools player that has a great arm, great range, and of course his offensive numbers are phenomenal with a .287 batting average and 24 home runs on the year. It’ll be so fun to watch him make his all star debut. If you think Springer has fun energy in every day games, I can’t imagine how silly and smiley he’ll get at his first all-star game.

Carlos Correa is making his all-star debut as well after getting shut out last year because the Minnesota Twins had to have their complimentary all-star Eduardo Nunez in his spot. This year the Astros fans didn’t leave it to chance and voted in the deserving 22 year old short stop. Correa is the first Astros shortstop to play in an all-star game, which is not surprising considering he already is the all-time home runs leader in franchise history at the position by 21 home runs in just his third season.

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This stat makes me laugh so much because it’s insane to think how many offensively inefficient shortstops we’ve had in 55 years that a 22 year old has already mashed his way to the top of the home run leader board at the position. But we’re glad to finally have him making the position more than just a slick glove and an automatic out at the plate. And Correa has earned the nod with an all-around great offensive game, batting .319 and hitting 17 home runs to go along with 58 RBIs as part of the Astros balanced offensive attack.

And then of course there’s Altuve. We’re used to seeing him at the game as he’s making his fifth all-star appearance, this being his fourth consecutive one. He’s far and away the best second baseman in the league, having led the league in hits three years in a row and is only three hits off pace for first place yet again. He is well on his way to 200 hits for the year which would be his fourth straight year with that crazy number and he’s already only two all-star appearances away from tying the Astros all-time leader Craig Biggio who has seven.

He swipes bags, he hits for power, he hits for average. Altuve has become Mr. Astro. And no one could have predicted that out of the 5’5″ mighty mouse when his career began.

It’s a very exciting time for the Astros as this is tied for the most all-star selections the team has had in an all-star game with five. The last time that happened was the 1994 strike shortened season. This year we get to see how this amazing team finishes fortunately enough.

Of course you could say how Chris Devenski and Will Harris should be there (And of course they should based on the seasons they’re each having.) But I’ll take five in a heartbeat and who knows, maybe Devenski can replace Keuchel on the roster.

Either way it’ll be exciting to see three Astros starting the all-star game for the first time and it’s also exciting to see our fan base making sure the whole nation sees the talent we have first hand. The game is on July 10th so set your DVR’s or find your favorite watering hole to see our best players represent the American League.

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And now that the game is back to being an exhibition match, I want to see George Springer try and catch a fly ball in his hat. He’s so goofy I know he’s considering it right now if he gets the opportunity. Here’s to a fun July 10th either way. And good on you Astros fans for getting your deserving Astros in the game as starters and not leaving it to the manager!

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