Houston Astros: Five guys who need to step up for team’s playoff push

The Houston Astros are in a battle for the AL West division crown. Let’s take a look at 5 guys who need to step up for the playoff push.

The Houston Astros are currently on a nine-game home losing streak, something this club hasn’t done in 50 years. This streak has been mixed up with a fairly split road record. All in all, the team is 73-46 with 1 game lead on the A’s and a 4.5 game lead on the Mariners.

There are several things you can attribute to this losing streak and slump. Injuries can take a big chunk of the blame. Carlos Correa just came back from injury. Jose Altuve, George Springer, Lance McCullers Jr., Chris Devenski, Brian McCann, and Jake Marisnick are all on the shelf.

Hopefully, these injuries will soon be coming to an end. Altuve is running on a treadmill. Springer is sliding and swinging the bat. McCullers is throwing again. Devo and McCann are on rehab assignments. Only Marisnick figures to not be back sometime this month.

These injuries and inconsistencies in play have the Houston Astros in a much tighter race than anyone thought they would be. To be completely fair, the A’s have been playing phenomenal baseball and deserve to be pushing the Astros right now. But, this is a tighter race nonetheless, especially from a different team than was expected. The Angels looked like the team most likely to push the Astros, rather, they sit in fourth with no shot at the playoffs.

So, the Astros find themselves in a hole that needs to be dug out of. Guys are in slumps, hitting-wise and pitching-wise. Whenever the offense is going, the pitching seems like it’s not. Whenever the pitching is going, there isn’t enough run support.

If the Houston Astros want to repeat as champions, regardless of injuries, they’re going to need guys to step up. They’re going to need guys to bust out of slumps and put the team on their back. Marwin Gonzalez and Tyler White have done their part in recent weeks. Let’s take a look at five such guys.