%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: Francis Martes and David Paulino have things to fix
The Astros are looking to make deals.
As a first-place team in the American League West that is destined for a deep run in October. The Houston Astros are looking for any way to improve upon the roster they currently have. Whether it is depth to the bullpen or another ace-like starter for the rotation, the Astros have the prospects to make a major deal happen before the month of July is over.
Last night's @TalkingStros on @SportsTalk790. #Astros https://t.co/ST3NgqQdLp
— Talking Stros Podcast (@TalkingStros) June 26, 2017
When Astros fans talk about David Paulino and Francis Martes, it is usually in the context of a trade rumor or a potential deal. It is easy to forget that both young right-handers are making a difference for a playoff-bound team at the major league level. Whether or not they will be in an Astros uniform by the end of July, here is a look at how they have done so far this season.
Martes’ control issues
As the No. 1 prospect in the Astros farm system, Martes had extremely high expectations coming into his major league debut despite struggling at Triple-A Fresno this season. Coming into his debut, he had a 5.29 ERA with a 2.10 WHIP through eight starts with the Grizzlies.
The strikeouts were still there, with 38 strikeouts in 32.1 innings of work, but control was a huge issue. He gave up more walks than strikeouts in his Triple-A stint, averaging 7.79 walks per nine innings of work.
That issue of control did not stay in California when he was called up to the big leagues. Through four appearances, Martes has thrown 11 walks in 16.1 innings of work, walking batters 14.7 percent of the time.
AJ Hinch was getting after Francis Martes. You rarely see that at the big league level.#Astros
— Robert Flores (@RoFlo) June 25, 2017
Fixable?
However, control can be fixed. What makes Martes a top prospect is the raw swing-and-miss stuff he throws. With a fastball that averages 95.6 mph and a mid-eighties slider, he is already fooling hitters. Striking out opposing batters 21.3 percent of the time, Martes has 16 strikeouts in his 16.1 innings of work. Also, with a batting average against of .254, he has shown that opposing hitters have a difficult time of hitting against him.
More from Climbing Tal's Hill
- Just how much better is the Houston Astros playoff rotation than the rest?
- Houston Astros: A Lineup Change to Spark Offense
- Astros prospect Hunter Brown throws 6 shutout innings in debut
- Always faithful Astros World Series champion Josh Reddick defends the title
- Michael Conforto declines Astros’ 2-year, $30 million offer
Martes’ last start against the Seattle Mariners is a perfect picture of his struggles early on. Lasting only two innings, he gave up two earned runs on only two hits while walking four and striking out three. The problem through two was his high pitch count. When Astros manager A.J. Hinch pulled Martes to begin the third inning, he was already at 63 pitches, throwing strikes only 54 percent of the time.
Overall, Martes’ major league stats do not look great. He has a 5.51 ERA with a 1.59 WHIP through four appearances, three of which were starts. However, the electric fastball/slider combination and high strikeout potential put his control problems on the backburner.
Paulino’s home run issues
In his second stint with the major league club, Paulino has shown an increased level of comfort at the major league level this season. After throwing three walks in seven big league innings last season, he is attacking hitters more with only seven walks in 29 innings. That also has increased his strikeout rate, striking out 26.6 percent of batters faced.
However, with that said, his comfort inside the strike zone has hurt him this season. With a walk percentage only at 5.5 percent, Paulino is allowing hitters to hit .300 against him this season, giving up 36 hits so far this season.
In six starts this season, David Paulino has allowed seven home runs.
— Christian Boutwell (@byCBoutwell) June 29, 2017
Fixable?
As a fly ball pitcher, the amount of contact Paulino is giving up is a major problem, especially in a home ballpark like Minute Maid Park. For example, in his last start against the Oakland A’s, Paulino gave up a career-high seven earned runs on seven hits and four walks in four innings of work. Of those seven hits, four of them left the yard, including two home runs by A’s slugger Khris Davis.
Take away his start against the A’s and Paulino has done much better with the home run numbers. Before this start, he had only given up four home runs in 25 innings of work. However, when you combine a low-to-mid-nineties fastball with a flyball percentage of 50.6 percent, bad things are likely to happen. So far this season, Paulino has a fly ball-to-home run percentage of 19 percent.
Next: Astros potential trade targets are pitching better lately
Paulino has the stuff to be a very good pitcher in this league. However, while he keeps continuously throwing hittable pitches in the strike zone, he will continue to get hit very hard.
***Stats from Baseball-Reference***