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Houston Astros: Week 20 Round Up: Flashing a Two Pair Hand

By James Zeankowski

HOUSTON, TX - AUGUST 19: Tyler Clippard #19 of the Houston Astros celebrates celebrates the win with teammates after a call was turnover to end the game agains the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park on August 19, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Astros won 3 to 0. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - AUGUST 19: Tyler Clippard #19 of the Houston Astros celebrates celebrates the win with teammates after a call was turnover to end the game agains the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park on August 19, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Astros won 3 to 0. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images) /
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The Houston Astros tallied more wins than loses in Week 20. With the Washington Nationals coming to town, just how ready are they now?

Facing the Arizona Diamondbacks and Oakland Athletics should be an easy feat for any team, especially one like the Houston Astros. However, in Week 20, this proved once and for all that even teams at the bottom can find ways to beat the best!

The spacemen succeeded in taking two out of four from the desert gang, and another two out of three from their divisional rivals from the bay. Not a bad turn around, considering the team lost five out of six in Week 19.

But now, the real test begins. The Astros will host the Washington Nationals for a three-game set starting Tuesday, and will finish the week out in Anaheim against divisional rivals, the Los Angeles Angels.

The Nationals are, by far, the only comparable inter-league foe to the consistently hot Los Angeles Dodgers. Meanwhile, Mike Trout and his boys on the other side of LA have been getting really hot lately. So much so, in fact, that they currently hold the second AL Wild Card spot, as of this writing.

The spacemen will need to keep beefing up that win column in Week 21, that’s for sure! Here are some of the other news and highlights from Week 20:

I Love the 90s!

This past weekend was legends weekend at Minute Maid Park. Greats such as Craig Biggio, Jose Cruz, and the recently HOF inducted Jeff Bagwell, were all on hand for the festivities. The team even constructed this tweeted video to highlight it all!

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Concurrently, the team also wore corresponding uniforms to commemorate the 1997 divisional championship won by the team. A fun time was certainly had by all! Especially after yesterday’s game, when Carlos Beltran hosted a charity event to raise $25K for 5 scholarships given out by his foundation.

The team tweeted out some of the highlighted guests, which included, to name a few, Carlos Correa, George Springer, Collin McHugh and Evan Gattis.

Mending Fences

Speaking of Evan Gattis, he is one of 4 players on the DL that will begin rehab assignment down at AA Corpus Christi on Tuesday. He will join the likes of Michael Feliz, Tony Sipp and Will Harris. Harris will likely only need one start, while Gattis, Feliz and Sipp will require a minimum of 3 each.

At the same time, 3 other players on the DL are also incredibly close to coming off as early as this week. Barring any setbacks, both catchers should be back by this weekend, with Brian McCann being activated Thursday when eligible, and Gattis likely to join the team in Anaheim to face the Angels this weekend.

The other two, Carlos Correa and Lance McCullers, have been progressing really well in their respective batting practices, ground ball drills, and bullpen sessions. Their rehab dates are yet to be determined, but Skipper A.J. Hinch indicated to Ben DuBose of MLB.com that Correa could begin one as early as mid week.

Next: THREE issues facing the Astros right now

Slowly, but surely, all of our hurt regular guys are getting healthy and coming back just in time for the September stretch and post season run. Of all the news of this past week with the team, that is by far the best of all!

GO HOUSTON ASTROS!!!!

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