Astros at Toronto, July 1-4

Monday, July 01 2024 @ 01:25 PM EDT

Contributed by: Magpie

It doesn't get easier.

Say good bye to the Yankees, and say hello to the hottest team in the major leagues.

Four weeks ago, after the games of 2 June, the Astros were eight games under (26-34). Only three AL teams (Oakland, the Angels, the White Sox) had worse records. The very next day, their best hitter, right fielder Kyle Tucker fouled a ball off his right shin and had to leave the game. He hasn't played since. But the Astros won that day, and in Tucker's absence, they've been winning ever since. Yesterday's win over the Mets lifted them above .500 for the first time all season (which they began by losing their first four games.)

Alex Bregman, after scuffling for the first two months (.219/.280/.372), is hitting again (.310/.367/.450 this month.)

Jose Altuve was great in April but lousy in May. He's been great again in June. He's still making excellent progress on the long road to 3,000 hits although it now looks like Freddie Freeman will get there first.

And Yordan Alvarez, as we all know, is a mighty, mighty man. He's been especially mighty in Tucker's absence, hitting .349/.430/.709 in June.

We've got a pair of mid-week afternoon games in this set, thanks to a couple of national holidays.

Matchups

Mon 1 July - Brown (5-5, 4.37) vs Rodriguez (0-2, 5.94)
Tue 2 July - Arrighetti (4-6, 5.68) vs Berrios (7-6, 3.38)
Wed 3 July - Blanco (8-3, 2.49) vs Kikuchi (4-8, 4.18)
Thu 4 July - Valdez (6-5, 4.11) v Bassitt (7-6, 3.24)

187 comments



https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20240630202522771