For anyone with chores on Saturday, take out the trash early. The Houston Astros (41-34) and Los Angeles Dodgers (41-33) are set to bang on Saturday night as they continue their weekend series. Dodger Stadium is hosting, and there won't be a shortage of cameras catching every angle. The first pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. EDT and FOX will have the broadcast as they did for their infamous 2017 World Series battle. These two dugouts will do whatever it takes for a win right now, as they are both barely clinging to playoff spots. Let's see the lengths they're willing to go.
There isn't a club in the majors with a lower ERA than the Houston Astros. The bullpen is impressive, with top 10 marks in ERA, FIP, and WAR. However, the starting rotation is how the Astros won it all last season, and they've also been stellar in 2023. Unfortunately, injuries have taken their toll, thrusting Ronel Blanco into the rotation temporarily. As a starter this season, he's thrown 17.0 innings. In that time, he's allowed 17 hits, nine walks, five homers, and nine earned runs. His road ERA is 6.30, mostly due to one disastrous relief appearance in April.
He can play defense too.#VoteJulks ?? https://t.co/iW4MI75nC6 x @CapitalOne pic.twitter.com/2zKaOQuTGA
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 21, 2023
Injuries bit the batting order too, with Yordan Alvarez joining Michael Brantley on the shelf. They've managed some explosive games in Alvarez's absence, but this offense hasn't been consistent. Houston has a subpar walk rate and OBP, but nothing is terrible about the lineup. Sometimes they have it, and sometimes they don't. One thing that helps them is putting pressure on defenses, thanks to a strikeout rate that's seventh in the league. Teams still have to earn outs, even if the Astros aren't scoring as much as most would expect.