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Houston Astros: It’s time for the mid-season awards

By Brett Chancey

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 10: Jose Altuve #27 of Houston Astros rests his hat and glove in the dugout before the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on April 10, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 10: Jose Altuve #27 of Houston Astros rests his hat and glove in the dugout before the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on April 10, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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Astros - Miley
HOUSTON, TEXAS – MAY 09: Wade Miley #20 of the Houston Astros strikes out Joey Gallo #13 of the Texas Rangers in the second inning was his 1000th career strike out at Minute Maid Park on May 09, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

STARTING PITCHER HONORABLE MENTIONS

WADE MILEY:  IP 101.2, W-L 7-4, ERA 3.28, 86 SO, 33 BB, 4.34 FIP, 7.6 SO/9

Wade Miley in my mind has done just as much, if not more, to garner consideration for this award. He doesn’t have 100+ SO at this point, he may not have as many wins as Justin Verlander, and he is the 3rd starter in the rotation. Let me make the case of why I had him in a neck and neck race with both Cole and Verlander.

In his first nine starts this season, Miley had allowed three runs or fewer a streak that none of the best big name pitchers were able to accomplish. He has only allowed more than three runs twice this season (4 in each of those games).

He has also given the Astros 11 quality starts out of his 18 total starts of the season. Say what you will about the Southpaw, but he is defiantly a big part of this teams success. To top it off, his latest start in Denver, he only gave up one run while striking out six Rockies, hitters.

Astros - Verlander
OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 01: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros pitches against the Oakland Athletics in the bottm of the first inning of a Major League Baseball game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on June 1, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

JUSTIN VERLANDER: IP 119.2, W-L 10-3, ERA 2.86, 147 SO, 26 BB, 4.00 FIP, 11.1 SO9

Many would say, “Give this award to Justin Verlander”, and there are some definite reasons to do so. But as I mentioned, just because this article doesn’t award it to Verlander doesn’t mean he isn’t also deserving.

Justin Verlander started out the year winning eight of his first twelve starts and has somewhat slowed down that pace this past month. The month of June wasn’t horrible for the flame-throwing Ace, but it also wasn’t as stellar as the previous month. In May alone, Verlander went 5-1, so what has happened as of late with JV?

He has surrendered two or more long balls in four of those starts in June, and that was also coupled with a season-long, seven-game losing streak, where the offense wasn’t helping either. Justin Verlander is still one of the favorites when it comes to the Cy Young award, but his struggles lately took him out of the running for me.

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