Verlander Tells Houston Astros to 'Show Up' After Loss

The Houston Astros lost their second straight game to the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night. It was also the second straight night the Texas Rangers chipped at their lead in the American League West.

The Astros have gone from being 2.5 games up in the division to one game up, as the Rangers have paired the Astros’ two straight losses with two straight wins over the Toronto Blue Jays. The Rangers were three games back and in third place at the start of the week.

Houston has already lost the three-game series with the worst team in the American League West. And an Astros veteran stood up and said something to the team after Tuesday’s loss.

Justin Verlander — who started Tuesday’s game and took the loss — spoke to the team in a closed-door clubhouse meeting before media were allowed in, per The Athletic.

This isn’t the first time a veteran has spoken to the Astros in a closed-door clubhouse meeting. In fact, it’s the third time in three weeks. Catcher Martín Maldonado did so after the Seattle Mariners swept the Astros. Other veterans did the same after the New York Yankees swept the Astros.

What did Verlander say? According to outfielder Chas McCormick, it’s time for the Astros to “show up.”

“Verlander talked to us after the game today, and we just have to come out and show up,” McCormick said. “We can’t just come out to these games and think it’s going to be a cakewalk because it’s not. We’re getting our butts whipped. You have to give credit to them, they’re playing really well. Every team is good in this league, especially this time of year.”

The Astros entered the week with a great opportunity in front of them. Houston had a three-game series with the Athletics, which wraps up on Wednesday, followed by a three-game road trip to Kansas City. Those two teams have the two worst records in the American League.

This week represents a chance for the Astros to trim their magic number to win the West — now at 17 — before a three-game series against AL East-leading Baltimore next week.

Now, the Astros are one loss and one Rangers win away from a tie. But, the Astros have responded each time a veteran has spoken up.

After Maldonado’s speech, the Astros won two straight over Boston on the road.

After the Yankees sweep, the Astros swept the Rangers and took over first place.

Maybe a veteran just needed to say something. Maybe, as Verlander said, the Astros need to “come out and show up.”