Star Performer of the Week (June 25 – July 1)

The Astros finished the week getting swept in a three-game series in Chicago by the lowly Cubs, scoring only two runs. For that reason, no one who played in the series is eligible for this week’s Star Performer Award. The rest of the week wasn’t much better either. The Astros managed to split a four-game series at home against another last-place team, the Padres. A 2-5 week against two of the lousiest teams in baseball suggests that the Astros are stumbling into the All-Star break.

It was pretty much a one-horse race this week, with the offense being practically non-existent. But I will go ahead and give Jose Altuve honorable mention for being named to the All-Star team. Besides, if Altuve hadn’t missed the first six games this week with a hamstring injury things may have turned out differently for the Astros.

Lucas Harrell is this week’s honoree as the Astros Star Performer. Harrell pitched a complete game shutout against the Padres on Wednesday, managing to pick up his seventh victory of the year even though the Astros scored only one run in the game. Harrell scattered six hits and walked four while striking out seven in the first complete game of his big league career. Harrell grew up a little bit in this game, working out of a bases loaded jam in the ninth to finish out the gem.

Congratulations to Lucas Harrell for his first complete game shutout. And congratulations to Jose Altuve for making the National League All-Star team.