Astros Yuli Gurriel and Alex Bregman return to form this October

The Houston Astros have been getting some good help from Yuli Gurriel and Alex Bregman in the MLB playoffs

Last October Yuli Gurriel and Alex Bregman both struggled at the plate for different reasons and so far this October, both are back in form.

Gurriel was seen to be an aging first basemen and many question if he still could compete at 38 this season, especially after last October’s one home run performance. Gurriel did not have a stellar season this year, hitting .242 with eight home runs.

This resulted in the lowest slugging percentage of his career at .360, yet this year he has hits in four of the five games so far this postseason, including two home runs, resulting in a slash line of .409/.409/.682. Gurriel has tied his single postseason high with two home runs, and could have his best of his career if his hot streak continues.

Bregman is another story altogether, as last postseason he was coming off injury and wasn’t fully recovered in the postseason. This season Bregman went off hitting .259 with 23 home runs and 93 RBI. He has been uncanny this postseason hitting two home runs and driving in six in five games while slashing .313/.375/.636.

Even though many pitchers now try and avoid Yordan Alvarez, they need to be aware that Alex Bregman has put them on notice that he is back.

All this renewed production by La Piña and Bregman, joined by the emergence of a few other new faces, in both Chas McCormick and Jeremy Peña, opponents need to be aware.

Now if Jose Altuve can get off the schneid, opposing pitchers are looking at tough at bats from number one through six in the lineup with seven and eight contributing as well on occasion. Alex Bregman’s Thursday night three run home run into the Crawford Boxes gave the Astros the lead and the ultimate deciding runs to bring their series lead to two games to none.

"It Has Been a Year of Quiet Redemption for Alex Bregman"