Paige: Eighteen runs. Eighteen. Last night wasn't just a loss, it was a wake-up call. But here's the thing, Astros fans: we're still in first place, and tonight we start a brand new series against the A's. Can Houston flush that disaster and get back on track? That's what we're breaking down right now.
Craig: Yeah, Paige, that was ugly. Zach Neto went 5-for-6 with seven RBI and the Angels put up their most runs in three years. But the sun came up, we're still leading the AL West, and the A's come to town riding a four-game losing streak. There's a lot to unpack.
Paige: Welcome back to Beatline, the home for Houston Astros talk. I'm Paige, joined as always by the sharpest baseball mind we know, Craig. And today we've got a packed show for you.
Craig: Hey everybody, glad to be here. Let's get into it.
Paige: Here's what's on tap. First, we're breaking down the series against the A's and the pitching matchups. Then we're looking at the hitters who need to step up and the bullpen concerns after last night's meltdown. And we'll wrap with our keys to the series and a bold prediction you won't want to miss.
Craig: Let's do it. First up, who's on the mound for this one?
Paige: Alright Craig, set the table for us. The A's are in town, they're 49-79, fifth in the AL West, and they're on a four-game skid. What do we know about the pitching probables for this series?
Craig: Well, we don't have official probables yet, but we can look at the rotations. For the Astros, you'd expect Hunter Brown to get the ball at some point, and maybe Ethan Pecko after his impressive debut on Wednesday. He struck out four in his MLB debut and the bullpen threw five-plus shutout innings. That was a bright spot.
Paige: Ethan Pecko, that name is going to be big. But let's talk about the A's. They're not a good team, but they always seem to play us tough. What's the scouting report?
Craig: They're young, they're hungry, and they've got nothing to lose. Their record is bad, but they have some pieces that can hurt you. We've got to respect them, especially after what happened last night. You can't take anyone lightly in this division.
Paige: Speaking of last night, the Angels just destroyed us. Neto had a career night. How do you flush that and get ready for a new series?
Craig: You flush it by getting back to fundamentals. Pitching, defense, timely hitting. The good news is we're still in first place. The bad news is the AL West is tight, and we can't afford many more nights like that. It's about mindset.
Paige: And the A's are on a losing streak, so they're desperate. That can be dangerous. But we're at home, and we need to protect our house. What's the key to winning this series?
Craig: I think it's starting pitching. We need a quality start to settle everyone down. If our starter can give us six or seven strong innings, that sets the tone. The bullpen is a little banged up, so we need length from the rotation.
Paige: Good point. Let's keep that in mind as we move to our next segment. Stick with us, because we're about to dive into the hitters and the bullpen questions.
Paige: Craig, let's talk about the offense. Yordan Alvarez, Jose Altuve, Christian Walker — these guys need to produce. What are you seeing?
Craig: Yordan is Yordan, he's a force. Altuve is still the heart of this lineup. But we need more consistency from the bottom half. Last night, we scored three runs. That's not going to cut it. We need guys like Isaac Paredes and Cam Smith to step up.
Paige: Cam Smith, the rookie. He's been getting some playing time. How's he looking?
Craig: He's got talent, no doubt. He's seeing the ball well, but he's still learning. The key is plate discipline. If he can lay off the bad pitches, he can be a difference-maker. And we need that pop in the middle of the lineup.
Paige: Now, the bullpen. Last night was a mess, but earlier in the week they were dominant. What's the concern there?
Craig: The bullpen is taxed, and we have some injuries. Craig Burrows is on the 15-day IL, and that hurts. But Bryan Abreu, Josh Hader, those guys are still reliable. The problem is the innings in between. We need someone to step up as that bridge guy.
Paige: And the injury list is long. Jeremy Pena is day-to-day, that's a concern. Carlos Correa is on the 60-day IL. What's the latest there?
Craig: Correa is a big loss, but we've been dealing with it. Pena's day-to-day status is something to watch. If he can't go, Nick Allen will fill in. But we need that defense up the middle, especially against a team that likes to run.
Paige: Yeah, the A's are athletic. They can steal bases. So we need our catchers to be sharp. Yainer Diaz and Christian Vazquez, both capable. Vazquez hit a homer the other night, by the way.
Craig: Exactly. Vazquez has been solid behind the plate, and that homer was a big one. But we need the whole staff to keep runners in check. If we can control the running game, we take away a big part of their offense.
Paige: So, the bullpen is a question mark, the lineup needs to produce, and we have injuries. But we're still in first place. Let's talk about what we need to do to win this series. That's next.
Paige: Craig, give me your keys to this series against the A's.
Craig: First, we need quality starts. Our rotation has to keep us in the game. Second, we need to score early. Put pressure on their young pitchers. And third, we need to play clean defense. No giving them extra outs.
Paige: Clean defense. After last night, that's a big one. We made some errors that cost us. What about the offense specifically? Who needs to step up?
Craig: Yordan is going to get his, but we need Altuve to get on base and create havoc. And I'd like to see Christian Walker drive in some runs. He's been a little quiet. If he gets going, this lineup is dangerous.
Paige: Now, you mentioned the bullpen. Any specific guys you're watching?
Craig: I want to see Bryan Abreu and Josh Hader back to their dominant selves. But also watch for guys like Bryan King and Bennett Sousa. They might get high-leverage innings. They need to step up with Burrows out.
Paige: Alright, time for a bold prediction. What you got, Craig?
Craig: I'll say this: the Astros bounce back and win the series, two games to one. And I think Yordan Alvarez hits a big home run in the series. He's due.
Paige: I like that. I'll go even bolder: the Astros sweep the A's. And I think we see Ethan Pecko get another start and he deals. This kid is special.
Craig: Bold, I like it. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. One game at a time. First, we need to take care of business tonight.
Paige: That's all for today's episode, folks. We've got a big series ahead, and we'll be back tomorrow to break it all down. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review Beatline, and share this episode with your fellow Astros fans.
Craig: And as always, let's go Astros! We'll see you at the ballpark.
Paige: Go Stros!