One season after they dominated the Yankees, including a sweep in the American League Championship Series, the Astros wasted an opportunity to remain one-half game behind the Rangers in their race to win the American League West Division.
While the Rangers were sweeping the White Sox and providing Max Scherzer with his first victory since being acquired from the Mets, the Astros never led at Yankee Stadium and lost 4-3 in the first of a four-game series.
The Yankees poured water on the Astros to cool off their excitement after an extraordinary Tuesday when they brought back Justin Verlander in a trade with the Mets and watched Framber Valdez pitch the best game of his career, a no-hitter in which he had one walk and faced the minimum number of 27 batters.
Verlander will start his first game on Saturday afternoon. If all goes according to plan, Jose Urquidy will pitch for the first time in more than three months a day later. Dusty Baker desperately needs for them to pitch the way they’re capable.
The Astros needed to defeat the Yankees to remain one-half game behind the Rangers, who used the White Sox as a punching bag to elevate their record to 63-46. The Astros dropped to 62-48.
In 2022, the Yankees proved to be tomato cans for the Astros. Including the playoffs, the Astros compiled a 9-2 record against the Yankees. Cristian Javier was a beast, going 3-0. He started a combined no-hitter at Yankee Stadium and defeated them in the playoffs, also in the Bronx. In 17.1 innings, he allowed three hits and one earned run. He struck out 21 and walked eight.
But there’s little resemblance between the Javier of 2022 and 2023. When they needed him the most Thursday night, Javier produced another disappointing performance. He surrendered three runs in the first inning, including back-to-back home runs by Giancarlo Stanton and Billy McKinney. In another erratic outing, Javier failed to last five innings. He departed with two outs in the fifth, allowing four hits and three runs. He issued three walks and struck out four.
Javier has been so bad he hasn’t won a game in more than two months. Going into Thursday night’s game, his earned run average over his previous eight starts was 7.04. He didn’t get saddled with the loss. That dubious distinction went to Kendall Graveman, reacquired from the White Sox to bolster an overworked and inconsistent bullpen.
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Perhaps the Astros will rebound and win the next three from the Yankees. It’s not out of the question. They have the second-best road record in the AL. They’re 31-23 (.574) away from Minute Maid Park, and recent history shows they’re not intimidated at Yankee Stadium. They should be confident based on last season.
In the dog days of August when competition for division titles and playoff spots heat up, the Astros can’t afford to suffer a losing streak and lose ground to the Rangers, the best hitting team in baseball.
This is a difficult seven-game road trip. After they’re finished with the Yankees, the Astros visit Baltimore, where the Orioles have the best record in the AL. Their 67-42 (.615) record is second in MLB behind the Braves’ 69-37 (.651). Through 110 games last season, the Astros were 70-40 (.636).
After playing at New York and Baltimore, the Astros will play 10 of 13 at Minute Maid Park.
Perhaps the addition of Verlander will ignite the Astros. In his first interview with media since the trade, he sounded excited to return to the Astros. He won two of his three Cy Young Awards and helped them win two World Series, including last season when they defeated the Phillies in six games.
Valdez certainly caught Verlander fever with his masterpiece against the Guardians. Javier didn’t. Fans will find out Friday night if Hunter Brown is on board the Verlander train. He’s coming off an impressive performance, but after a fast start, it’s been a roller-coaster season for Brown, who has a 7-7 record and 4.12 ERA.
No matter how disappointing the Yankees have been this season, the Astros need to leave the Bronx with a split, at worst. Then it’s on to Camden Yards against the Orioles. That series could be a playoff preview featuring teams that could decide who represents the American League in the World Series.
(John McClain can be heard Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday on Sports Radio 610 and before every practice during training camp on Texans Radio. He also writes three columns a week and does two Houtopia Football Podcasts for SportsRadio610.com.)
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