Astros Week 4: Players Heating Up and Cooling Down

The Houston Astros are in the spotlight as we dive into the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down, highlighting the players who are thriving and those who are struggling.

3 Up

Christian Vazquez is making waves despite limited playing time, boasting an impressive .375 batting average and an outstanding 1.132 OPS over 32 at-bats. With two home runs and ten RBIs to his name, Vazquez has not only been a force at the plate but has also showcased his defensive prowess by throwing out four would-be base stealers. As Yainer Diaz grapples with his own struggles—currently the lowest WAR among starting catchers—Vazquez’s contributions have been crucial for the Astros. His leadership in the clubhouse further solidifies his role as a key player, as he continues to push for more playing time.

Yordan Alvarez, the MLB home run leader, has also made a significant impact this week, homering in three consecutive games. His offensive WAR stands at an astonishing 1.7, a remarkable feat just 24 games into the season. A healthy Alvarez is a major reason the Astros believe they can contend this season without major roster changes. Entering yesterday’s game, he led the American League in WAR (1.6), RBIs (21), extra-base hits (17), and total bases (64), while ranking second in slugging percentage (.790), on-base percentage (.471), and OPS (1.261). His explosive performance this season has been nothing short of spectacular.

3 Down

On the flip side, Bryan Abreu’s struggles have raised eyebrows, as he continues to underperform despite being a top-tier pitcher in recent years. With an 0-2 record, a staggering 14.73 ERA, and a 3.00 WHIP, questions abound regarding his drop in velocity. While some attribute it to mechanics, the lack of velocity on his slider raises concerns. Abreu has struggled with command this season, and the Astros are still placing him in high-leverage situations, which is risky given his current form. There’s growing worry that an underlying injury could be affecting his performance, echoing the situation faced by Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz before his surgery.

Yainer Diaz is also facing a challenging start, with a batting average of just .194 and a troubling .491 OPS. His issues seem rooted in poor pitch selection, leading to groundouts that should be avoided. With only one home run and two doubles to show for his efforts, his slugging percentage has plummeted to .269, well below his career average of .446. Although slow starts are not new for Diaz, the team’s overall struggles have magnified his performance, and his reluctance to improve his pitch selection is both frustrating and perplexing. He currently holds the lowest WAR among starting catchers and has yet to throw out a base stealer this season, a stark contrast to his previous three years of above-average performance in that area.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.