It's the defending champs, come to our house.
The Astros are cruising along, playing very close to .600 ball, despite the fact that they're having a bit of trouble scoring runs. By their own standards anyway.
They decided it was time to move on from Yuli Gurriel at first base - last year, Lourdes' older brother hit .242/.288/.360, and he turrns 39 next week. Time to get younger. But not too much younger. The Astros moved on by signing Jose Abreu from the White Sox. Abreu, of course, is a callow youth of 36. And it hasn't gone well. Abreu has been quite a bit worse than the 2022 version of Gurriel, who meanwhile has been having something of a bounce back season in Miami.
And of course Jose Altuve was injured in the World Baseball Classic and missed the first 43 games of the season.
But no team in the AL gives up fewer runs. Justin Verlander, like Gerrit Cole before him, leaves as a free agent? No problem. We've still got two ace starters, in Framber Valdez and Cristian Javier. Three rotation starters - Lance McCullers, Jose Urquidy, and Luis Garcia - go on the IL? Also no problem. We've got lots and lots of arms, and Brandon Bielak and J.P. France have done just fine. The bullpen hasn't been quite as airtight and perfect as last year's - Rafael Montero has been very hittable, and Ryne Stanek is making Alek Manoah look like a control artiste - but the other half dozen fellows have been just fine. Or better.
And Dusty Baker is the one who manages this crew
He's older than the game itself, he's seen a thing or two
But that toothpick in his mouth
What the hell is that about?
It makes a fellow proud to be an Astro
Yes, the mighty Astros. You might say that this is a test! It's not, but if you've got to take it, you might as well pass it.
Matchups
Mon 5 June - Bielak (2-2, 3.19) vs Manoah (1-6, 5.46)
Tue 6 June - Brown (5-2, 3.61) vs Gausman (4-3, 2.76)
Wed 7 June - Blanco (1-0, 4.15) vs Bassitt (6-4, 3.41)
Thu 8 June - Valdez (6-4, 2.16) vs Berrios (5-4, 3.66)