The Houston Astros have clawed their way back to a .500 record for the first time this season, a noteworthy milestone achieved with their latest victory over the Colorado Rockies. The win, which extended Houston's impressive winning streak to seven games, brought their season record to an even 40-40.
This resurgence is particularly remarkable considering the Astros' rocky start to the season. The team began the year with four consecutive losses and found themselves floundering with a 7-19 record by April 25. June saw the Astros entering with a discouraging 25-33 record, but an impressive turnaround saw the team winning 15 of their last 22 games.
Wednesday's victory over the Rockies was pivotal, narrowing the gap in their division to just 4.5 games. A standout performance from pitcher Spencer Arrighetti was instrumental in this success; he managed to hold the Rockies scoreless over seven innings and struck out a career-high 10 batters.
Despite the win, the Astros are confronting significant challenges with their pitching staff. Right-handed pitcher J.P. France is slated for season-ending shoulder surgery. France, who had struggled earlier this season with a 7.46 ERA in five starts, had been demoted to Triple-A before the decision for surgery. His loss compounds the Astros' pitching woes, as the team has already seen pitchers Cristian Javier and José Urquidy undergo Tommy John surgery this month.
Adding to their troubles, star pitcher Justin Verlander is out with a neck issue, with his return timetable currently unknown. Manager Joe Espada relayed that both Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. are still recovering from elbow surgeries they underwent last year.
GM Dana Brown reflected on the challenging season during a pregame show. "When he [France] 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," Brown revealed. "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."
Indeed, patience might be the only option for the Astros as they navigate this turbulent period. The team’s rotation has posted a middling 4.26 ERA this year, placing them 18th in Major League Baseball—a significant drop-off from their typical standards. For much of the season, they have found themselves languishing among the bottom five teams in the ERA category.
Manager Joe Espada has reiterated that the recovery process for Garcia and McCullers is ongoing. Espada mentioned earlier this week, “Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. are still working their way back from last year's elbow surgeries.”
As the Astros prepare for an off-day on Thursday, their focus will inevitably shift to the looming 10-game road trip. This stretch includes matchups against formidable opponents: the New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, and Minnesota Twins. With a four-game series against Toronto followed by three-game series against both the Mets and Twins, this will be a critical juncture for the Astros to maintain their momentum.
Houston's recent form has given fans and pundits alike a reason for cautious optimism. They have shown resilience in the face of adversity and have strung together an impressive series of performances to get back on track. The coming weeks will likely define their season, as they look to bridge the gap to the division lead and solidify their standing in the playoff race.
In a season marked by injury and uncertainty, the Astros' ability to adapt and persevere will be put to the ultimate test. The road ahead is challenging, but if the last month has shown anything, it is that this Houston team has the grit and determination to fight for every win.