This story was excerpted from Brian McTaggart’s Astros Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
HOUSTON -- Coming off a dominating three-game sweep of the Dodgers in Los Angeles, the Astros came home for the final week before the All-Star break and fell flat. Houston was swept by the Guardians and lost two of three to the Rangers, leaving them with a five-game lead atop the American League West division.
That’s still not a bad position for the Astros, considering they lost Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman in the offseason, have been without slugger Yordan Alvarez for 2 1/2 months and have had three starting pitchers who were in the rotation to begin the season -- Ronel Blanco, Hayden Wesneski and Spencer Arrighetti -- on the injured list most of the season. And recent injuries to All-Star shortstop Jeremy Peña (rib) and starting center fielder Jake Meyers (calf) have further cut into their offensive depth.
“[We’re in] a really good spot,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “If we would have drawn this up and envisioned us having a strong first half compared to last year -- 16 games over .500, five games up in the division -- that’s exactly where a team that’s trying to achieve a goal of winning the division, that’s exactly where we wanted to be.”
The Astros (56-40) have the second-easiest remaining schedule in the Major Leagues and will begin the post-All-Star break portion of their schedule with a showdown in Seattle this weekend against the Mariners, who just swept three games from the AL-leading Tigers in Detroit.
When asked about having a five-game lead in the division despite the number of injuries the Astros have endured, All-Star pitcher Hunter Brown’s faith in his team hasn’t changed.
"I think that we're the best team in our division and the best team in the league,” he said. “Sitting in first place and in a good spot is exactly where we want to be and where we think we should be."
One second half goal for the Astros: Secure the top seed in the AL
The Astros hit the All-Star break with the second-best record in the AL. They’re 2 1/2 games behind the Tigers and only one game ahead of the Blue Jays. The top two seeds in the AL will receive a bye into the AL Division Series, so staying in the No. 2 spot is important. The Astros, though, are eyeing the top spot in the AL by running down the Tigers, with a huge three-game series in Detroit looming in August.
Likely Trade Deadline strategy: Buyer
The Astros are in contention, so they’re not going to stand pat, especially considering they have some needs. GM Dana Brown has made it clear he’d like to add a left-handed bat, even if Alvarez comes back at some point. The Astros have the fewest at-bats in the big leagues from the left side of the plate. Don’t rule out Houston adding a starting pitcher they could put after Brown and Framber Valdez in the rotation.
Key player: Yordan Alvarez
Alvarez, who’s been out since May 2, has had only 121 plate appearances and struggled through April while dealing with what turned out to be a fractured bone in his right hand. That’s now healed, but he had two injections in his hand in early July to reduce lingering inflammation and hadn’t yet resumed swinging a bat at the All-Star break. The Astros desperately need their slugger back for the stretch drive and especially the playoffs.
Prospect to watch: INF Brice Matthews
The Astros called up their top prospect on July 10 and put him in the lineup at second for the first two games of the series against the Rangers. Matthews likely isn’t in Houston yet if the team didn’t have a rash of injuries, but he has a chance to open a few eyes, especially while Peña remains on the shelf. At worst, Matthews could set himself up to come to camp next year and compete for the starting job at second base.
Games remaining: 66 (Home, 29; Away, 37)
Remaining strength of schedule: .482, 29th hardest in MLB, 14th in AL, fifth in AL West.
Key series
-- July 18-20: Astros make their final visit to Seattle to face the second-place Mariners right out of the All-Star break.
-- Aug. 18-20: Astros make their only trip to Detroit, which hits the break as the top seed in the AL.
-- Sept. 19-21: Final series of the season between the Astros and Mariners in what will be Houston’s final three home games of the regular season.