The Houston Astros find themselves struggling, having dropped to a 7-14 record recently. Key contributors from earlier in the season, such as Cam Smith, Brandon Walter, and Colton Gordon, had kept the team competitive, allowing them to maintain a 3.5-game lead in the AL West for some time. However, as the season progresses, the pressure of competition is becoming increasingly evident, particularly for rookie Smith, who is currently in the midst of a challenging slump with just six hits in his last 62 at-bats.
Smith appears to have hit a wall, which is understandable for a young player navigating a demanding MLB schedule after only having played 98 games last year. Gordon is also facing challenges as he approaches a career-high in innings pitched, on track to surpass his previous totals from the last two seasons. After an impressive 2.14 ERA in June, his performance has dipped, highlighted by a difficult outing against the Red Sox that saw him allow six earned runs.
Despite the struggles of some players, the Astros lineup has had moments of promise. However, inconsistency in converting hits into runs persists, as demonstrated in their latest game where they left multiple runners in scoring positions and failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
Looking ahead, the Astros aim to avoid a sweep in their upcoming game against the Chicago White Sox, with Framber Valdez taking the mound against Lucas Giolito. Meanwhile, the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners are still in pursuit, with Texas winning their last game to close the gap in the standings.
The Astros’ resilience will be tested in the coming days, and players like Smith will need to make adjustments to recapture their earlier form. With a tight AL West race, there remains hope for the team to rally and regain their competitive edge as the season progresses.