Astros stumble out of October as injuries and inconsistency take toll

Craig Larson Jr.

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Astros stumble out of October as injuries and inconsistency take toll image

Even with Framber Valdez’s September meltdown and a forgettable mid-August stretch in which they were outscored by Baltimore and Detroit 41–8, the Houston Astros managed to remain in the playoff picture until the curtain dropped this past weekend.

Seattle surged past them at the right time. Cal Raleigh’s bat carried the Mariners, and their bullpen closed the door with Andres Muñoz anchoring the ninth inning. For Houston, the contrast was hard to miss. Josh Hader was supposed to give them the ultimate late-game weapon when they committed $95 million to him last winter. Instead, he finished tied for 11th in the majors with 28 saves, a figure that underscored just how uneven the Astros’ season became.

The bigger blow came from within. Yordan Alvarez, who blasted 35 home runs a year ago, never found his rhythm. He played in 99 fewer games and hit just six home runs. That loss of middle-of-the-order power stripped Houston of the balance that had carried them through so many Octobers.

There were other losses too, ones that don’t show up on a stat sheet. Alex Bregman’s departure to Boston left a leadership void in the clubhouse. His steadying presence has been credited as a quiet factor in the Red Sox postseason push.

Not everything points to decline. Jeremy Peña emerged as the clear face of the franchise. The shortstop had just turned 19 the last time Houston failed to play meaningful October baseball. Now entering his prime, he raised his OPS by 125 points and carried himself like the centerpiece of the lineup.

A full rebuild is not in order, but a reset is coming. The organization must get prospects like Brice Matthews and Jacob Melton more time on the field, and GM Dana Brown will have decisions to make this winter. If the roster is reshaped correctly, Houston’s absence from October may prove to be brief.

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Craig Larson Jr.

Craig Larson Jr. is a freelance contributor with The Sporting News. Craig has been covering professional and collegiate sports for media outlets since 1990. He’s attended 17 Super Bowls 11, Final Fours and five World Series, along with multiple Kentucky Derbies, championship fights and All-Star Games.