Without a doubt, this season has been unlike any other. Unfortunately for the Houston Astros they are sliding in this season like no other. Teams have just 60 games to work with, so the clock is already ticking. The Astros come into Monday at 6-9, half a game back of the Texas Rangers, and five games back of the streaking Oakland Athletics. The Astros losing streak has reached five games. Currently, a fourth of the way through the season, they are on the outside looking in on the playoff race. When they’ve hit, they haven’t pitched. When they’ve pitched, they haven’t hit. On top of all this bad news, Houston was involved in a benches clearing incident which capped off their five-game losing streak.
Benches Clear In Oakland
This occurrence has, for the time being, overshadowed the A’s recent dominance and the Astros recent struggles. On Sunday, benches cleared when A’s outfielder Ramon Laureano charged Houston’s dugout. Laureano, who had been hit by a pitch earlier in the game, was hit by another pitch by Astros pitcher Humberto Castellanos. After the HBP, Laureano started telling Castellanos how to release the off-speed pitch that hit him as he was walking to first. This led to some jawing between the outfielder and Astros hitting coach Alex Cintron. Cintron said something and appeared to take a step out of the Houston dugout, which caused Laureano to charge the dugout. Luckily, Astros backup catcher Dustin Garneau restrained Laureano before any punches were thrown.
Cooler heads would prevail, but discipline will be handed down. Laureano will definitely be suspended as will Cintron. A’s catcher Austin Allen was also ejected during the incident, so he may face a suspension as well. The bottom line is that both Laureano and Cintron were the catalysts of the incident and MLB will not take this lightly. The league has made it abundantly clear that punishment for starting incidences like this will be severe.
Astros Losing Streak
Lost in this benches-clearing incident is this losing streak the Astros are mired in. Houston has lost five in a row, including three crucial games against the division-leading A’s. During this stretch, they have been outscored 32-16. The only time they have scored over four runs in that stretch was in a 14-7 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Their run totals in these five games have been seven, four, two, one, and two. Their pitching hasn’t been perfect, but for the most part, it has kept them in the games. The offense has yet to capitalize.
Since returning from his quad injury, Michael Brantley is 1-16. The outfielder was one of the hottest Astros hitters before the injury, hitting .438, but has not had the same success since returning. Houston has also been without George Springer for the past three games due to a wrist injury. The Astros are hopeful the outfielder can return soon and give this offense a much-needed boost. Reigning Rookie of the Year, Yordan Alvarez has been working hard at the team’s alternate training site, but there is no clear timetable for his season debut.
This Houston offense has been looking for ways to get going. The returns of Springer and Alvarez could work wonders for this struggling lineup. This has been a rough stretch for the Astros, but there is still time to right the ship. Houston has struggled for most of this season, but they remain just half a game behind second in the AL West. They’re five games back from the top of the division. For everything that has gone wrong in this weird season, there is still time for things to go right.
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