03-24-2024 MLB Preview - Flipbook - Page 26
MLB ’24 AL WEST PREVIEW HOUSTON ASTROS
Sunday, March 24, 2024 26
2023: 90-72, first place, lost to Texas in AL Championship Series | Manager: Joe Espada (first season) | Opening Day: March 28 vs. New York Yankees
OVERVIEW
ONE TO WATCH
DH/LF Yordan Alvarez
(.293, 31 HRs, 97 RBIs,
.990 OPS)
TOP HITTERS
2B Jose Altuve (.311, 28, 57), RF Kyle Tucker (.284, 29,
AL-leading 112, 30 SBs, .886 OPS), 3B Alex Bregman
(.262, 25, 98), 1B José Abreu (.234, 18, 90).
PROJECTED ROTATION
RH Justin Verlander (13-8, 3.22 ERA, 144 Ks for Mets
and Astros), LH Framber Valdez (12-11, 3.45, 200 Ks,
2 CGs, including no-hitter), RH Cristian Javier (10-5,
4.56), RH José Urquidy (3-3, 5.29), RH J.P. France (11-6,
3.83) or RH Hunter Brown (11-13, 5.09).
KEY RELIEVERS
LH Josh Hader (2-3, 1.28 ERA, 33/38 saves for Padres),
RH Ryan Pressly (4-5, 3.58, 31 saves), RH Bryan Abreu
(3-2, 1.75 in 72 games), RH Rafael Montero (3-3, 5.08),
RH Seth Martinez (2-3, 5.23).
OUTLOOK
After coming within one win of reaching their third
straight World Series last season, the Astros are again
one of the top contenders to reach the Fall Classic in
2024. They’ve got the 41-year-old Verlander back after
he returned in a trade with the Mets last July. The threetime Cy Young Award winner will start the season on the
injured list with shoulder inflammation, but the Astros
expect it to be a short stint before he’s back to lead a
rotation that also features Valdez and Javier. The lineup
remains largely intact from last season, with Yordan
Alvarez leading the group and Tucker, Altuve, Bregman
and Abreu also providing power. Gone is Michael Brantley, the veteran left fielder who was limited to 15 games
because of injury in 2023 before retiring this offseason.
Chas McCormick can play left when Alvarez is the DH,
with Jake Meyers in center. With Martín Maldonado
gone to the White Sox, Yanier Diaz should add punch to
the offense by taking over as Houston’s everyday catcher after a stellar rookie season.
— Associated Press
CARMEN MANDATO/
GETTY
HE’S HERE
LHP Josh Hader (left), RHP Dylan Coleman, RHP Oliver Ortega, C Victor Caratini.
HE’S OUTTA HERE
Manager Dusty Baker, LF Michael Brantley, C Martín Maldonado, RHP Héctor Neris, RHP Ryne Stanek, RHP Phil Maton.
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