Can Houston Astros Catch Rangers For AL West Lead?

The Houston Astros are a talented team. They won the 2022 World Series.

But in 2023, the Astros trail the Texas Rangers by 3.5 games in the American League West.

The Rangers have been a revelation to nearly everyone. Their record, run differential, offense, rotation ERA, the list goes on... is at the top of every ranking.

Texas appears to be very much the real deal.

So, how can Houston close the gap and win the division?

For starters, well, the starters have to get healthy. Getting Jose Urquidy back on the mound is a big step towards the Astros finding more success. It's one thing to rely on J.P. France and Brandon Bielak while running out a six-man rotation, it's another to have a bona fide middle-of-the-rotation Big League starter take the mound.

Sticking with the starting pitchers for a moment, Lance McCullers Jr. must get healthy. He recently suffered another setback and his timetable for return is murky.

If he can no longer be counted on to contribute to the team, and it's trending that way, then Houston must make a trade for a starter at the MLB trade deadline. It's as simple as that.

Next step is to address the offense.

Currently, the Astros are below average in batting average, slugging, OPS and run creation.

The good news is that third baseman Alex Bregman looks to be heating up. Second baseman Jose Altuve is back. And everyone but Jose Abreu is playing serviceable baseball.

Abreu's production, or lack thereof, is playing a massive role in dragging the offensive unit down. Sure, he hit that one home run on May 28, but he is still slashing .214/.276/.264 with a 51 OPS+ (MLB average is 100).

That is abysmal. Even worse, the Astros have $58.5 million tied up in the first baseman. That's what happens when a team navigates much of the offseason without having a general manager in place.

Abreu's contract is too bloated to move. The team will need to try and get him on track and you can't option him to the minors to do so.

In order for the Astros to catch Texas in the division, they will have to figure out their Abreu issue. Perhaps a trade for a rental first baseman like C.J. Cron at the deadline could help in the interim.

That then allows the team to try and reset Abreu this offseason.

Either way, Abreu is currently dead weight.

Outside of getting healthy, addressing the rotation and finding a working solution to their Abreu problem, Houston must continue to play like they are playing now.

They have won seven of their last 10. They are swinging the ball well. And when June 30 rolls around to start the four-game series with the Rangers, they must take full advantage of the opportunity.

It's doable, this is a very talented team.

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