Houston Astros Spring Training Preview
The Houston Astros won their first World Series Title in franchise history last season against the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games. The Astros feel like they are ready to repeat after winning 101 games in 2017 and no team in the MLB has repeated since the New York Yankees, when they won three in a row from 1998-2000.
What was so amazing about the Astros winning the World Series Title last season was that Sports Illustrated Writer Ben Reiter, predicted this would happen back in 2014. The Houston Astros drafted well when they were bad and that is why they were able to become the team they are today.
George Springer was the World Series MVP during the 2017 World Series and was drafted in 2011 by the Astros. Jose Altuve was also drafted in 2011 and he won the American League MVP last season. Alec Bregman was drafted in 2015 and Carlos Correa was drafted in 2012. They were the core players in the lineup that got it done for the Astros last season.
A big reason why the won the World Series was because of Lance McCullers Jr. and Charlie Morton. Even though they had Dallas Keuchel and traded for Justin Verlander, the Astros need the third and fourth starters to come through because I questioned their integrity.
Houston upgraded the starting rotation this offseason by trading for Gerrit Cole from the Pittsburgh Penguins. He will most likely by the third starter after Dallas Keuchel and Justin Verlander. McCullers Jr. and Morton will likely round out the rotation. Collin McHugh could be used as a spot starter or a mid-reliever.
The bullpen will be a question mark once again for the Astros this season. Ken Giles had 34 saves as the closer last year, but he had a rough time in the postseason with an ERA of 11.74, despite recording two saves.
Manager A.J. Hinch needs to have this team ready to go out of the gate and not have a World Series hangover. When they made it to the playoffs in 2015, they had a bad start in 2016 and that is what the Astros don't want to go through again.
Projected Starters: (C) Brian McCann (1B) Yuli Gurriel (2B) Jose Altuve (SS) Carlos Correa (3B) Alex Bregman (LF) Marwin Gonzales (CF) George Springer (RF) Josh Reddick (DH) Evan Gattis
Possible Key Backups (IF) Tyler White, (OF) Derek Fisher, (IF/OF) Tony Kemp, and (IF) A.J. Davis
Gurriel will be suspended for the first five games of the regular season because of his racist gesture in the dugout during the World Series in reference to Yu Darvish. The Houston Astros are the favorites to win the American League West again this season and they have a great chance of repeating this season.
