Astros May Review

Record: 22-7 (38-16) 11 games up

Average: Carlos Correa (.386)

Doubles: Jose Altuve (9)

Triples: Jose Altuve (2)

Home Runs: Carlos Correa and Marwin Gonzalez (7)

Runs Batted In: Carlos Correa (26)

Stolen Bases: Jake Marisnick (5)

Walks: Carlos Correa (14)

Strikeouts: George Springer (29)

On Base Percentage: Marwin Gonzalez (.461)

Slugging Percentage: Marwin Gonzalez (.737)

On Base Plus Slugging: Marwin Gonzalez (1.198)

Wins: Lance McCullers (4)

Losses: Joe Musgrove and Chris Devenski (2)

Earned Run Average: Lance McCullers (0.99)

Saves: Ken Giles (8)

Innings Pitched: Lance McCullers (36.1)

Hits: Mike Fiers (36)

Earned Runs: Mike Fiers (18)

Home Runs: Mike Fiers (10)

Walks: Charlie Morton (15)

Strikeouts: Lance McCullers (37)

Walks Plus Hits Per Inning Pitched: Lance McCullers (0.853)

What a month!  I said I would be happy with 17 wins, and they got 22!  It is even more remarkable when you factor in that three of the seven losses came against the Indians.  They have finished the month on a seven-game winning streak, scoring 40 runs in the three game set in Minnesota (which I would have attended had I not been in Israel).

In some ways, it’s more of the same for the success.  Incredible depth, strong pitching and timely hitting.  Marwin Gonzalez hit four home runs in three games against the Rangers, including a huge grand slam in the bottom of the 8^th while the team was down 3-5.  Alex Bregman finally heated up.  After no home runs in the first month, he hits six in May including three games in a row to end the month.  George Springer went almost a month (4/18-5/14) without a home run, then exploded for four in the last five games.  Meanwhile, Carlos Correa turned in a huge month to greatly improve his year.

On the pitching side, Mike Fiers looked like he was done, and had been sent to the bullpen until Charlie Morton had to unexpectedly go on the DL.  In his “emergency” start, Fiers finally pitched a solid game.  Dallas Keuchel had to miss a start, but continued his dominance, while Lance McCullers has proven to be the next ace.  The bullpen has been mostly shutdown, though Chris Devenski hit a bit of a speed bump, except Luke Gregerson who is easily the worst arm in the pen.

In the end, if the Astros keep this up, 100 wins should be a slam dunk.

June outlook:  A lot of division games in June, including six against the Rangers, seven against the A’s, and three against the Angels and Mariners.  This month could either see the division pull the Astros back down, or they could pull away.  I could see about a 17-10 record.

Overall Grade: A+