Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Astros Need Offensive Punch, Not Starting Pitching at Deadline
The Houston Astros lead all of Major League Baseball in team pitching with a 3.29 ERA.
Despite that impressive peformance, all anyone can talk about is the Astros trading for a starting pitcher.
The Astros also sit third in MLB in team strikeouts (606) and sixth in team WHIP (1.23).
Pitching isn’t the problem in Houston.
The problem is offensive production, or lack thereof.
What the Astros really need in order to grab the American League West lead and garner control of the division is an offensive punch, something that has been lacking this season.
Offensively, the Astros sit 17th in the league in team batting average (.247), a number that needs to greatly improve between now and the hunt for October.
Houston is also way down at 16th in team home runs (71) and 15th in team RBI (279).
Those numbers must also improve if this team expects to make any sort of noise this year.
Should the Astros pursue players that could provide that offensive punch prior to the trade deadline?
Or should they stick with what they’ve got, which is a very talented team filled with young players who have show sparks of greatness both offensively and defensively?
One thing is certain: starting pitching isn’t the problem for this Astros team.
Young pitchers have stepped in with poise and have helped fill the void left by numerous setbacks.
Houston still has a legitimate chance of repeating as World Series Champs, but these guys have got to start producing at the plate.
They’ve got the ability to do so, as proven time and time again, but the time starts now.
The Astros currently sit 5.0 games behind the first-place Texas Rangers in the AL West, and unfortunately they’ve missed some key opportunities to gain some ground by dropping four straight.
This team has the talent to win.
It starts at the plate.
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