The Houston Astros are celebrating a milestone in their 2023 campaign. For the first time this season, the team has achieved a .500 record, standing at 40-40 after a crucial win against the Colorado Rockies. Their 6-1 victory on Wednesday marked the completion of a two-game sweep and extended their winning streak to an impressive seven games.
The Astros' journey to this point has been anything but straightforward. Starting the season with a discouraging 0-4 record and languishing at 7-19 by April 25, the team found itself in an early hole. However, the month of June proved to be a turning point. Entering June with a 25-33 record, the Astros have since won 15 of their last 22 games, a fact that underscores their resilience and fighting spirit.
Wednesday's game saw Spencer Arrighetti take center stage with a dominant performance on the mound. Arrighetti held the Rockies scoreless across seven innings and struck out a career-high 10 batters, showcasing the potential that the Astros will need as they face a challenging second half of the season.
However, the victory is bittersweet against a backdrop of injuries that have plagued the team. Right-handed pitcher J.P. France is set to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. France struggled earlier this season, posting a 7.46 ERA in five starts before being demoted to Triple-A. This represented a sharp decline from his performance last year when he recorded a 3.83 ERA over 136 1/3 innings.
The Astros' pitching staff has been hard-hit this season. Injuries to Cristian Javier and José Urquidy, both sidelined due to Tommy John surgery earlier this month, have further depleted a rotation already missing Justin Verlander, who is out with a neck issue with no clear timetable for his return. Speaking to the media, GM Dana Brown reflected on the situation: "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, 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."
Despite these setbacks, the Astros' rotation has managed a 4.26 ERA this year, placing them 18th in baseball. This represents significant progress given that, for much of the season, the Astros have languished among the bottom five teams in ERA. Manager Joe Espada provided further context earlier this week when he mentioned that Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. are still working their way back from last year's elbow surgeries, hinting at the strategic patience the team must exercise moving forward.
The road ahead will test this resilience even further as the Astros face a grueling 10-game road trip following an off-day on Thursday. Their itinerary includes a series against the New York Mets, followed by a four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays, and culminating in a three-game set with the Minnesota Twins. Each game will be critical as the team aims to close the 4.5-game gap that separates them from the division lead.
The Astros' comeback story this season has been nothing short of remarkable. From a 7-19 record in late April to achieving a .500 standing and reigniting their playoff hopes, the team has demonstrated a blend of grit and determination. As they embark on this crucial road trip, the eyes of the baseball world will be watching to see if they can maintain their momentum and make a serious push towards the postseason.