%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201055.1%20200%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%201055.1%20200%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cstyle%20type%3D%22text%2Fcss%22%3E%0A%09.st0%7Bfill%3A%23231F20%3B%7D%0A%09.st1%7Bfill%3A%230E203C%3B%7D%0A%09.st2%7Bfill%3A%23EC4324%3B%7D%0A%09.st3%7Bfill%3A%23FFFFFF%3B%7D%0A%3C%2Fstyle%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Template%22%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Layer_2%22%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st3%22%20d%3D%22M58.3%2C200.3h82.4c12.4%2C0%2C21.7-1.5%2C28-4.5c20.2-9.6%2C30.2-26.1%2C30.2-49.3c0-3.2-0.2-9.3-0.6-18.3h-65.1v14.9%0A%09%09c-0.9%2C3.9-3.4%2C5.8-7.5%2C5.8H73.2c-5%2C0-7.5-2.5-7.5-7.5V59.2c0-5%2C2.5-7.5%2C7.5-7.5h52.5c5%2C0%2C7.5%2C2.1%2C7.5%2C6.4v10.8h65.7V55.7%0A%09%09c0-16.3-3.8-28.3-11.4-36.1c-8.8-12.9-24.7-19.3-47.4-19.3H58.9C47%2C0.3%2C38%2C1.7%2C32%2C4.3c-21.3%2C9-32%2C26.1-32%2C51.4v88%0A%09%09c0%2C16.5%2C3.6%2C28.7%2C10.9%2C36.6C20.1%2C193.7%2C35.9%2C200.3%2C58.3%2C200.3z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st3%22%20points%3D%22596.6%2C64%20596.6%2C0.8%20400.1%2C0.8%20400.1%2C64%20442.7%2C64%20442.7%2C51.3%20466.1%2C51.3%20466.1%2C148.1%20442.1%2C148.1%20%0A%09%09442.1%2C199.9%20554.8%2C199.9%20554.8%2C148.1%20531.5%2C148.1%20531.5%2C51.4%20554.8%2C51.4%20554.8%2C64%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st3%22%20points%3D%22942.4%2C148.5%20942.4%2C200.2%201055.1%2C200.2%201055.1%2C148.5%201031.8%2C148.5%201031.8%2C51.2%201055.1%2C51.2%201055.1%2C0.8%20%0A%09%09943.1%2C0.8%20943.1%2C51.3%20966.3%2C51.3%20966.3%2C80%20888.9%2C80%20888.9%2C51.3%20912.6%2C51.3%20912.6%2C0.5%20800.1%2C0.8%20800.1%2C51.4%20823.5%2C51.4%20823.5%2C148.6%20%0A%09%09800.1%2C148.6%20800.1%2C200.1%20912.6%2C200.1%20912.6%2C148.6%20888.9%2C148.6%20888.9%2C116.4%20966.3%2C116.4%20966.3%2C148.5%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st2%22%20points%3D%22315.5%2C83.9%20299.6%2C34.9%20283.7%2C83.9%20232.2%2C83.9%20273.9%2C114.1%20258%2C163.1%20299.6%2C132.8%20341.3%2C163.1%20%0A%09%09325.4%2C114.1%20367%2C83.9%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st2%22%20points%3D%22715.6%2C83.9%20699.7%2C34.9%20683.8%2C83.9%20632.3%2C83.9%20674%2C114.1%20658%2C163.1%20699.7%2C132.8%20741.3%2C163.1%20%0A%09%09725.4%2C114.1%20767.1%2C83.9%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
Astros: Top Performers Thus Far in 2017
If you haven’t heard, the Astros are performing quite well to start the season. Like each team, there are a handful of players that have truly stood out.
A five-game winning streak and an overall record of 9-4 is a nice place to be in early April. Sure, it isn’t quite as nice as winning in September and October, but it still means something.
Anyway, the Astros can thank this strong start to multiple players. Between timely hits, strong pitching and good luck, Houston is having one of its best starts ever. But who are these players exactly?
Top Performer #1: Dallas Keuchel
I won’t bore with you the details about Keuchel’s struggles last season. The injured shoulder, decreased velocity and a raised strike zone were detrimental factors from one degree to another. Keuchel was just simply not the same bearded pitcher that garnered our admiration.
Anyway, that is old news. Or as old as three strong starts could possibly make it. And Keuchel has looked the part of the “ace” that Houston apparently needed all offseason long.
2017 Statistics: 21.0 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 15 SO, .113 BABIP, 73.1% GB%, 0.86 ERA, 3.60 FIP
You must remember that this is a relatively small sample size. For example, Keuchel’s BABIP will not remain this low all season long. Marco Estrada of the Toronto Blue Jays maintained a .234 BABIP, which was the lowest in baseball last season. Keuchel, in 2015, had a .265 BABIP. And his 3.60 FIP means we could see some regression relatively soon.
Take that with a grain of salt, though, as Keuchel has resembled the pitcher that won the 2015 AL Cy Young. That season he had a 2.91 FIP to go with a 2.48 ERA. Keuchel’s start to this season could be the norm for him. At least for this year.
Top Performer #2: George Springer
Yes, the Astros talented outfielder has hit somewhat of a cold streak as of late. Since April 10th, Springer has slashed .208/.240/.458 in his past 25 plate appearances before last night’s victory against the Angels. Two of his team-leading six home runs have come in this stretch, which has contributed to the .250 ISO. But his BABIP has remain low in the meantime.
Regardless of the low BABIP and on-base percentage, Springer has made his mark on the Astros with home runs. Specifically as the leadoff man. His production early in the game has helped set up the Astros for success. Whether the team took advantaged of that or not is another subject matter. But his contributions at least improve the team’s chance of winning. Heck, the Astros likely wouldn’t be 9-4 after last night if it wasn’t for his heroics in the first or last inning of a game. And don’t forget that Springer even made a little history while he raking with the bat.
That escalated quickly.
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) April 9, 2017
George Springer is the FIRST player in @MLB history to hit 3 leadoff homers in his team’s first 7 games. pic.twitter.com/gFneyErapO
Going forward it will be interesting to see how Springer progresses over the course of the season. While a hot streak like the one we just witnessed is a rare occasion for any ballplayer, he has the toolset to do some incredible baseball feats in between.
Top Performer #3: Chris Devenski
Bold hot take alert: the Devenski trade from 2012 will go down as one of the best Astros trades of the latest millennium. Or, to be more modest, the past twenty years.
Sure, this optimism of mine is be a byproduct of being bullish on Devenski’s first few appearances in April. How could you blame me, or anyone else, though? Don’t forget that he opened his season by pitching four innings on two separate occasions while striking out seven batters each time. How about his next two appearances in which he pitched a combined three innings while striking out seven batters? Or the fact that his 0.82 ERA, which is terrific by the way, is eclipsed by his 0.57 FIP. Basically this means Devenski has pitched better when you give him the league average on balls in play.
Next: Astros in Fantasy: Best and Worst Performances - Week Two
Simply put, Devenski has been of the Astros best pitchers this season. He has arguably been one of the best pitchers in baseball as well. Now, there is no telling how long this will last as all pitchers eventually run into some issues during a full season. But I am letting the good times roll with Devenski.
**Statistics courtesy of Fangraphs**