Astros in Fantasy: Best and Worst Performances — Week 23

Which Houston Astros players had the biggest positive and negative impacts in fantasy baseball in Week 23?

To say it was an up-and-down week for the Astros would be an understatement. They started off strong against Seattle, then flamed out spectacularly against lowly Oakland. Pitching and hitting both were to blame against the A’s, but this week was not without its strong performances.

Many fantasy leagues are now into their playoffs, so if your team is still alive, you may want to pay special attention to how your players are faring here down the stretch.

Best Hitter: Josh Reddick

Just call him Red-Hot Reddick, because he’s been on fire this month. He posted a .438 average this week with a homer and seven RBIs. Reddick is challenging Jose Altuve right now as the hottest hitter on the team, which says all you need to know. He should be in fantasy lineups daily.

Best Pitcher: Justin Verlander

Not bad for first impressions. Verlander tossed six strong innings in his debut on Tuesday, allowing just one run while striking out seven. With the team’s pitching woes (especially in the bullpen), Verlander’s importance cannot be overstated. He’s been pitching well in the second half, so start him if you have him.

Worst Hitter: Carlos Correa

Correa simply hasn’t been himself since coming off the DL. He hit just .167 this week without driving in a single run. He did post a two-hit game on Sunday, so perhaps he’s getting close. The Astros desperately need him to contribute, and so do fantasy owners. Keep an eye on him.

Next: Astros are tied for AL supremacy

Worst Pitcher: Collin McHugh

McHugh lasted only three innings against the A’s, giving up three runs on four hits. Thanks to a fingernail issue, he will miss his next scheduled start. For now, he should be benched in all fantasy lineups. Hopefully he will be able to return to his old self the following week.

***Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference***