Houston Astros: Week 7 Round Up – The Ebb and Flow Sweepstakes!
The Houston Astros had back to back sweeps in Week 7. Unfortunately, the second one and first of the home stand was a losing one.
As the Houston Astros departed the Bronx for Miami to face the Marlins, a quick turn around in game times would have depleted the energy of any other team. Thankfully, this was not the case with the spacemen! Week 7 started off with a bang, in more ways than one!
In spite of the efforts of the fish, the Astros were able to leave Miami on Wednesday with their first series sweeping victory of the season. A 10-game home stand would await them on their return to Houston.
In a three game set against the Cleveland Indians, the tribe won all three in the first series sweeping defeat for the Astros in 2017. An equally potent offense and lights out starting pitching kept the offense’s bats hypnotized, while ballooning the ERA’s of the back end of the rotation to above 5.00 on the season.
Unfortunately, the bad news did not end there for the spacemen. Injuries dominate the highlights from this past week.
1. Keuchel’s Kink in the Neck
Lefty ace, Dallas Keuchel is on the 10-day DL with a pinched nerve on the side of his neck. This was retroactive from Wednesday. According to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com in a tweet he sent out Saturday, the beard should only miss one start that was scheduled for today. Brad Peacock will start in his place.
The team called up AAA reliever, Ashur Tolliver to fill the 25-man roster void. Allowing only one earned run off of two hits in four innings on Sunday, he walked two and struck out five.
Even still, Tolliver was immediately sent back to Fresno after yesterday’s game. McTaggart also tweeted afterwards that the team will announce a new arm being called up tomorrow.
2. BMac Battles Concussion Symptoms
Keuchel is not the only starting player to go on the DL. Catcher, House of Houston reported early on Sunday that Brian McCann is on the 7-day concussion DL, retroactive to Saturday.
Hinch stated to the media that the veteran catcher had been feeling ill for some time. Team doctors confirmed that McCann had, indeed, sustained a concussion.
No cause has been determined. However, this likely happened when he took the foul ball to the face up in New York on Sunday Night Baseball.
To foster this, the team called up Juan Centeno from AAA Fresno. He will serve as backup to Evan Gattis, who now figures to get the lion’s share of catching starts this week.
Additionally, both Keuchel and McCann are eligible for activation back onto the roster by Saturday. McCann may need more than a week, but will be very active once healthy.
3. Welcome to the Jungle!
The Astros welcome the Detroit Tigers for the next four nights. The feat does not get easier for the spacemen, as they face another club from the AL Central division.
The Baltimore Orioles come into town next weekend for three games before the Astros head out on the road again. Memorial Day week has the spacemen facing another AL Central team in the Minnesota Twins.
Next: Houston Astros: Time to rethink Carlos Beltran at DH?
Late inning offensive magic needs to return. Especially, while in front of the crowds at Minute Maid Park. After all, there’s no place like home!
GO HOUSTON ASTROS!!!!