The Reptil Room

 

Cristian Javier has the distinction of no-hitting both my teams in the same calendar year. Both were combined no-hitters, yes, but in the modern age of pitchers blowing out their elbows and only going 5 innings, I think that's understandable. But yes, Javier no-hit the Yankees midyear and then he went and no-hit the Phillies in Game 4 of the World Series. Last year was Javier's fullest season and his best season by far, and it gave the Astros the confidence that Javier could be a trusted starter once the big guns started leaving.

So now here we are. No Verlander, McCullers is hurt again, and the Astros' rotation is very much down to Framber Valdez and Cristian Javier. And, of course, the Astros are in second place slowly creeping up to the Rangers. 

Javier and Valdez, who were often used towards the end of the rotation when Verlander, Greinke and Cole ruled things, are now running the show, and the team is still thriving, albeit in a different way than before. Through 12 starts, Javier is 7-1 with a 2.84 ERA and 72 Ks. Given the opportunity to start from the very beginning of the season, Javier has been as deadly as ever, and is building on his already-excellent 2022 season. Even is Valdez has been the standout since 2020, especially after last year, Javier might be the more crucial pitcher and the more difficult guy to get the best of. 

For the record, Valdez is no slouch either, he's 6-4 with a 2.16 ERA and 84 Ks. In a year where several Astros pitchers will be limiting innings returning from injuries, Valdez is consistently going far into games, and has gone 7 or more innings in 7 out of 12 of his starts. He's the more traditional ace, and may be the future of the team once McCullers finally leaves, but I still like Javier a little better, because damn. Keeping the group they have now, Valdez, Javier, Brown, Bielak and France, together, even if Garcia, McCullers and Urquidy will return soon, does seem like it'll yield perpetual pitching greatness going forward. Cause when you bring up 3 guys that are ready and solid, and have 3 guys who could come back and be excellent at any point, you're doing something really right.

Ultimately, though, what holds this team back from definitely lapping Texas is the fact that the lineup isn't up to usual standards. You have people like Alvarez, Bregman and Tucker hitting, but so many others are hitting below league standards, including Jeremy Pena, Jose Abreu, and, well, Martin Maldonado. Jake Meyers and Chas McCormick are decent hitters but they could be doing a little better, while Pena and Maurico Dubon are letting their defense lead the way. Tucker's having an atrocious defensive year, and those figures are keeping him from the possibility of another ASG gig. And Altuve, even after the injury, is just kinda there. 

It's interesting to see a type of Astros team where the hitting, which used to be the difference-maker, is fumbling the bag for the rotation. Again, they could take the West out of spite and ruin my day, but seeing them struggle and work through it is a new sensation that's honestly more interesting than them dominating again.

Coming Tonight: A guy I made a custom of last March and waited like 4 months to post it on account of an injury. That ain't happening again, he's healthy and hitting bombs where they matter.