Houston Astros: Week 23 Round Up: Dancing Sweep to Sweep

Starting another road trip after a warm homecoming last weekend, the Houston Astros found themselves having a very ebb and flow time in Week 23.

The Houston Astros started out Week 23 on a very high note. They took their winning ways into Seattle to sweep the divisional rival Mariners for the three games straight on Monday through Wednesday. Another seven game win streak had the spacemen soaring high.

Then, a critical mass awaited them in Oakland. Facing the divisional rival Athletics for four games, including a Saturday doubleheader, the team found themselves in an unfamiliar place. They allowed the worst team in the American League to sweep them out of the Bay Area.

But that wasn’t the only problem! According to multiple sources, including Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, the Athletics outscored the Astros 41-15 in that series. The bullpen alone was responsible for 29 of those 41. That’s just a hair above being a real embarrassment.

To throw even more salt on the wound, the Cleveland Indians have now edged the Houston Astros for the best record in the American League. This is for all the marbles in getting home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Even though my colleague Kenneth Cline assures us fans there is nothing to worry about, this series put a wrench in that line of thinking. Here now are some of the other news and highlights from Week 23 for the Houston Astros:

Nailed It!

Collin McHugh was pulled out of his scheduled start early on Friday in Oakland. According to Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle, McHugh sustained a “torn right middle finger.” There’s something you don’t see everyday! A kind of “Man Bites Dog” scenario if there ever was one!

McHugh is scheduled to make another start on Thursday in Anaheim. That start is, of course, up in the air right now. Skipper A.J. Hinch is taking this, like any and all injury that happens between now and playoffs time, very conservatively.

Brad Peacock figures to see a little more rotation time because of this. Good thing too, since Peacock has been nearly lights out in the rotation!

The Bear is Back….AGAIN!

Evan Gattis returned to the lineup on Sunday against Oakland, after a rehab stint with the lower A affiliate, the Quad City River Bandits. He had been battling a nagging problem in his right wrist, but appears to be all better now in Week 23.

There was some confusion surrounding his second return, however. Kaplan over at the Chronicle tweeted out on Saturday that Gattis’ stint on the DL was actually retroactive to August 30th. This made his activation eligibility date fall on Saturday the 9th, instead of the originally though Sunday the 10th. And he was, indeed, activated that very day.

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Gattis served as DH and went 0-for-3 with a pair of ground outs and a line out to left field. Despite this, and his trouble to get a hit while down at Quad Cities, going 0-for-8 in that stretch, the bear has been making some solid contact with the ball.

DH Dilemma

Carlos Beltran cannot say the same, either recently or in all of 2017, honestly. He made a PH appearance for Gattis in the 8th inning and struck out on three pitches. Father time is really catching up to him, and Beltran may not have a future on this team after this season.

But I digress back to Evan Gattis. He has struggled since his first concussion injury and just hasn’t been able to spot the barrel of his bat to pitches through the right gaps yet. That all will change with, what is hopefully in the September stretch, more playing time.

A stacked bench should help with that. Even with Centeno down with a mild concussion, Stassi can be at the ready to come in for any potential injury. Thereby, Gattis gets freed up for more DH at-bats when not catching.

Hopefully, Hinch is smart about that, and doesn’t just waste that spot on the $16 million man. Only time will tell!

Ace in the 2 Hole!

Justin Verlander made his Astros debut on Tuesday in Seattle. And what a debut it was! In six strong innings, he gave up just one earned run while fanning seven batters.

The 34 year old right handed pitcher will make another start in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday. If Week 23 was any indication, the Astros will certainly reap the benefits of acquiring him at the last minute of the waiver wire deadline.

Next: THREE reasons not to worry about the Indians

Getting out of Oakland will certainly help with team morale. The Astros have never had the best record at the Coliseum, so a change of scenery may be just the ticket to get them back on another extensive win streak. Let’s hope that is the case!

GO HOUSTON ASTROS!!!!

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