The Houston Astros have finally clawed their way back to a .500 record for the first time this season. On Wednesday afternoon, the Astros achieved a 40-40 standing by completing a two-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies, extending their winning streak to seven games.
The season began ominously for the Astros, who stumbled out of the gate with an 0-4 start. By April 25, they were languishing at 7-19, and the outlook appeared bleak. However, the Astros have turned things around significantly. Entering June with a subpar 25-33 record, they have since managed to win 15 of their last 22 games, positioning themselves within 4.5 games of the division lead.
The latest triumph over the Rockies was driven by an exceptional performance from Spencer Arrighetti, who held the Rockies scoreless across seven innings. Arrighetti struck out a career-high 10 batters, demonstrating his potential to be a formidable force on the mound.
Despite this recent surge, the Astros' rotation has faced significant challenges this season. Notably, right-handed pitcher J.P. France will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. France, who has struggled with a 7.46 ERA in five starts this year before being demoted to Triple-A, had shown promise with a 3.83 ERA in 136 1/3 innings last season.
In addition to France, the Astros have also lost Cristian Javier and José Urquidy to Tommy John surgery earlier this month. Meanwhile, ace Justin Verlander is currently sidelined with a neck issue, and there is no timetable for his return. Manager Joe Espada has also noted that Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. are still working their way back from elbow surgeries incurred last year.
"When he got hurt in spring training and he felt the discomfort, we were really pressing to get him back and maybe we may have rushed him a little bit," General Manager Dana Brown said on the team's pregame show. "Especially with Verlander being out at the same time, we were trying to really plug holes in this rotation. He felt pretty good, and so we pressed him a little bit and he tried to pitch through it. I think this time we're probably going to be more patient."
Overall, the Astros' rotation has posted a 4.26 ERA this season, ranking 18th in baseball. For much of the year, the team has been among the bottom five in the ERA category. The pitching staff's struggles have been a significant factor in the team's uneven performance thus far.
The Astros now face a challenging phase of their schedule. Following an off day on Thursday, they will embark on a 10-game road trip, squaring off against the New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, and Minnesota Twins. The series against the Blue Jays is a four-game set, while the Mets and Twins series are three games each.
Despite the obstacles, the Astros have displayed resilience and the ability to rally, fueled by timely hitting and standout performances like that of Arrighetti. As they continue their pursuit of a division title, the team will need to effectively navigate these upcoming road challenges and tap into their depth to compensate for the injuries that have plagued their rotation.
Manager Joe Espada's patience and strategic decisions will be crucial as Houston aims to sustain its winning momentum and elevate itself in the standings. The journey to rectify the season's rocky start is far from over, but the pieces are starting to fall into place for the Astros as they strive to capitalize on their recent resurgence. As Espada succinctly put it, "Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. are still working their way back from last year's elbow surgeries." The grind continues, but the Astros are unquestionably back in the hunt.