Astros have one last set of lineup changes they must make to save the season

The Houston Astros re-took first place in the AL West on July 31. Today they are a game out of the division lead, one game behind the Texas Rangers and they are three games behind the Chicago White Sox for the third and final Wild Card spot. Their dreams of taking the two seed have all but died, as they are now four games behind the AL Central leading Cleveland Guardians.

They have lost 11 of 19 in the month of September, only scoring more than 4 runs on 4 occasions. They have scored 3 runs or less a whopping 12 times. The offense has been dragging badly. As much as the bullpen has been failing in September, they haven't exactly had much room to work with either.

The Astros have continued to roll out lineups with the likes of Daulton Varsho and Christian Walker hitting somewhere between the 4 and 6 spots far too often, with awful results.

There are too many automatic outs in this lineup, and despite the fact that the complaints in the first half of the season were the constantly changing lineups, as the lineups have steadied, they've gotten worse production.

It's time Houston makes some significant changes to the lineup before they have no more games to fill a lineup out for.

The Astros season is currently 6 games. They need to play for these 6 games only. Here is the lineup I am proposing and each players stats in September:

3B - Isaac Paredes (.286 AVG .378 OBP .950 OPS) Paredes ability to get on base is important here, as the Astros desperately need to get runners on base in front of Yordan Alvarez and Jeremy Pena has been slumping for the better part of seven months. Paredes has hit 14 of his 22 HR at home, but his OBP has remained even regardless of where the Astros play.

LF - Yordan Alvarez (.278/.409/.928) Still the straw that stirs the drink. There isn't enough depth to prevent him from being walked in key situations, but there is nothing that can be done about that. His teammates will have to do their best to help carry their share of the load. In 23 games as a LF, Yordan is hitting a ridiculous .383 with a 1.268 OPS. Historically he has hit better when playing the field as well. The outfield offense has been beyond pitiful. This change needs to happen if the Astros want to save their season. Put the MVP frontrunner in the best position to succeed.

C - Yainer Diaz (.357/.390/.961) Yainer has been raking in September, though he had hit well since June. With 3 HR and 3 doubles this month, he is hitting for power and average in September. Yainer needs to start every game behind the dish until either the Astros clinch or are eliminated. No one else in the lineup who will hit behind him is producing anything close to his level in the month of September.

SS - Jeremy Pena (.233/.263/.688) Pena has slumped for the better part of 7 weeks, can a move down the order with opportunity to drive in runs help shake him? Maybe. The reality is he is the best remaining hitter on the team even while mired in a killer slump. If he gets hot, he can be a serious game changer. Imagine if his HR team against KC happened with people on base? The three guys in front of him are all getting on base this month.

DH - Jose Altuve (.257/.284/.712) Maybe Father Time has finally come for the franchise icon. However, in 7 games this year at DH, Altuve has a .922 OPS. I know that is a small sample size, but it's buoyed by the fact that last season Altuve put up his best numbers as a DH over 49 games at the position (.816 OPS, 2nd most common position). If there is a way to squeeze whatever is left out of the bat of the Short King, this seems like the way to do it.

1B - Joey Loperfido (.300/.364/.684 at Triple-A) Loperfido has long deserved a chance to return to the lineup at the MLB level, especially considering the recycled players he has been constantly passed over for (that are either not producing or have been recycled off the roster). Loperfido is hitting for average and getting on base, even if the power hasn't been there. He's not had any reps at 1B this season, but he has had experience at the position before, and his athleticism certainly helps him defensively. Christian Walker has been unplayable this month (.155 AVG .210 OBP .417 OPS) and while his defense has been solid (4 Outs Above Average), it cannot justify being an automatic out. Whether Walker is playing through injury, or simply another victim of Father Time, this is a change that has to be made.

CF - Zach Cole (.262 AVG, .297 OBP, .861 OPS at Triple-A) Cole's overall numbers this season at Triple- A are hideous, but that isn't what matters right now. What matters is what is he doing RIGHT NOW, and that is where there is clear improvement. Cole is still a very capable defender and has a big arm. Daulton Varsho has been a total bust (.172/.200/.528) and again, the team can not afford to have anymore automatic outs. A call up now could have a rejuvenating impact on Cole, who impressed late last season with his power. It is a risk, but it is a risk based on the best possible odds for success in whom the team can play at that position. Cole was considered someone the team was very high on at this point last season. His improved play makes him a better risk than Varsho.

2B - Nick Allen (.303/.351/.776 in August, 2x9 in September) Despite having a very strong August, Nick Allen has been banished to the bench in the month of September, with only 9 AB. He has primarily been a defensive replacement late in games. While fans have lamented the deal that brought Allen to Houston all year, he has performed far better than could be expected at the plate. His .271 AVG this season is 51 points higher than his career average. He is a massive defensive upgrade over Altuve. Defense up the middle matters, and with Allen and Pena, the Astros have that covered too.

RF - Taylor Trammell (.205/.311/.696) Of all the regular outfielders that we have seen recently for the Astros, Trammell's performance is by far the best. Varsho, Wade and Smith all have OPS under .600 this month. While the changes that Trammell made to his swing that were so successful for him early in the year appear to have vanished, he still draws walks and gets on base over 30% of the time, which none of the other competitors for this spot are doing this month. It's all about right now, and right now, trammell is the best of the bunch.

It's essentially 6 games for their lives. No longer can early season success (Walker), traded player status (Varsho) or "we liked this guy in the offseason" (Wade) be reasons for players to be in the lineup. It's solely about who is playing the best right now. This is how it works.

Do the Astros have the guts to make needed changes, or will they keep the status quo?

Do what you always do, get what you always got. It will get them home in October again if they continue the same old, same old.

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