After two weeks of the doldrums of summer (all due respect to the World Cup), everything starts to hit the fan with NFL training camps opening and perhaps the most pivotal week of the season for your Houston Astros.
As of the time this was written, the Astros sat two games back in both the division and the Wild Card race. GM Dana Brown, who could be trading for his job this week, was emphatic in saying the Astros would be buyers at the trade deadline next Monday. And, if that weren’t enough, the next two series are in Anaheim against the Angels and Arlington against the Rangers, both division rivals (though that might be a stretch for the woeful Angels).
It’s a huge week for a team that has scratched and clawed its way back to mediocrity while still struggling to find any real level of consistency at the plate or on the mound. They aren’t alone. The top eight teams in the American League are separated by nine games total. If you take the Yankees out of that equation, the remaining eight teams are just five total games apart heading into August.
Astros at Angels
Coming off five wins in six tries against the fading Marlins and still surprising White Sox, the Astros have to take care of business in La-La Land against an Angels team that sits at the bottom of the AL. While the Astros have, at times, played down to the level of their opponents, this is not the time. They had some very good wins over the last week and the last thing they want to do is spoil a chance to keep the pressure on the Mariners and Rangers, both just barely ahead of them in the AL West standings.
Rangers at Astros
Talk about a back and forth series. The Astros tore up the Rangers at home and then got it handed to them in Arlington. Now, the teams are back in Houston in what will be the final series of the year between the two division rivals. Depending on the outcome of the two teams’ series this week, the winner of the Silver Boot could take control of the division at a critical time. Just as importantly, the success or failure of this week is likely to impact the trade deadline, maybe for both teams.
Trade Deadline
Even though it could be argued that moving a quality player to bolster youth and depth might be the right way to go, it is clear the Astros believe a weak American League is ripe for the picking if they can just generate some offense. Brown will be looking for a good bat in the outfield, preferably a lefty, but they will take either. The outfield has been awful all season at the plate. Cam Smith, who has 13 homers, is still struggling with consistency and no one else has taken up the slack.
Don’t expect a bunch of young prospects to get dealt, however. The Astros have some surpluses in a few areas that could lead to solid deals. Moves are likely to come from the 40-man roster. Players like AJ Blubaugh, Bryan Abreu, Jake Meyers, Ronel Blanco and others who have played at the major league level this season will no doubt be considered.
