Astros: Myles Straw has 1.000 OBP in comeback win

The Houston Astros rally back late in Wednesday’s ball game, after a few soft contact hits filled the bases and led to four runs in the bottom of the eighth. While now up 3-0 in the series against the Seattle Mariners, it is worth noting how well Myles Straw played.

While George Springer was making his 2021 debut with the team up north, his replacement did his job of getting on base. In four plate appearances, Springer stranded three base runner without reaching base. Straw was the total opposite, as he went two-for-two with a walk, a hit by pitch, an RBI and a run.

Myles Straw should be turning his season around.

While being two completely different players in today’s game, Straw is starting to come around to his major league job. The right-hander mostly hits in the eighth spot to provide more at bats to players like Jose Altuve, Michael Brantley and Alex Bregman at the beginning of the order because these three have higher chances of reaching base.

Straw still holds a regressed stat line this season, as the right-hander is hitting .228/.303/.278 in 79 at bats thus far. The centerfielder is slightly hitting above his clips in 2022, but as a team of needed progression, don’t count out Astros’ hitters just yet.

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It was like yesterday, when many fans were calling the season lost in comment sections, and although that is not everyone, this team will make noise this season. For anyone worrying about standings as well, the Astros stand in second place; 1.5 games back of the Oakland A’s. Houston was in last place this time last week.

As more hits were backed in the bottom of the order, the Astros are showing more depth. While the first three hitters went for a combined 0-for-13, the rest of the lineup totaled a 8-for-19 boxscore. All in all, the bats attacked late in a game that wasn’t going their way, as a coffee stainless Zack Greinke was pulled after a tough four innings of work.

The Astros have won their second consecutive series of the homestand and will close out their four game set with the Mariners at 1:10 p.m. on Thursday. Luis Garcia will get the nod, as Kent Emanuel will be rested for bullpen and possible starter work against the left-handed lineup of the Tampa Bay Rays this weekend. Houston bats will matchup against left-hander Yusei Kikuchi.

While the team is hit with the tough news of Yordan Alvarez going to the injured list for undisclosed health and safety reasons, they recalled first baseman Taylor Jones to fill his void. In pitching news, Andre Scrubb is expected to make his 2021 debut on the coming road trip, while Enoli Paredes is still waining a week to 10 days due to a setback.