The Astros Need Pitching Help
The Houston Astros are in desperate need of some pitching assistance. After a disappointing start to the season, the team’s lack of depth in their pitching rotation has become glaringly obvious. With injuries and underperformance plaguing their current roster, the Astros are struggling to keep up with their competitors.
In their recent games, the Astros have been relying heavily on their bullpen to carry the load. While their relievers have been doing their best, it’s not a sustainable solution for the long term. The team needs reliable starting pitchers who can go deep into games and give their bullpen a break.
One of the main issues for the Astros is the absence of their ace, Justin Verlander. The veteran pitcher has been out since the beginning of the season with a forearm strain and is not expected to return until later in the year. Without Verlander, the Astros lack a true leader in their rotation and are missing his dominant presence on the mound.
In addition to Verlander’s absence, the Astros have also been dealing with injuries to other key pitchers such as Jose Urquidy and Austin Pruitt. This has forced the team to rely on inexperienced and unproven pitchers, which
The Houston Astros Make a Move for a Familiar Face in the Bullpen
The Houston Astros have been on a roll this season, currently holding the second-best record in the American League. Despite a slow start, they have managed to take a commanding five-game lead in the AL West over the Seattle Mariners. With the trade deadline approaching, General Manager Dana Brown has stated that the team will be focusing on acquiring bats, but there are other areas that could use some work.
One of those areas is the bullpen, which has been performing at an elite level. However, with the recent loss of Shawn Dubin to a forearm strain, adding another arm to the mix wouldn’t hurt. In fact, Brendan Strieker of FanSided has proposed the idea of the Astros trading for St. Louis Cardinals reliever and former Astro Phil Maton.
According to Strieker, Maton would be a perfect fit for the Astros as a middle-relief pitcher who can also handle the later innings when needed. He has a history of success with the team, having been a part of their World Series run in 2022 and the following year in 2023. With the Astros in need of a reliable bullpen arm, a reunion with Maton seems like the perfect opportunity.
Maton, who is currently 1-3 with a 2.41 ERA in 39 appearances, has recorded two saves with the Cardinals this year. He was their lone free agent signing last offseason, joining the team on a one-year, $2 million contract. However, with St. Louis likely to sell in the coming days, it is highly likely that Maton will be on the trading block as a pitcher on an expiring contract.
The Astros previously acquired Maton from the Cleveland Indians in 2021 and he was with the team through the 2023 season. He then spent 2024 with the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Mets. While the Astros already have a strong bullpen, adding one more arm in the form of Maton could only strengthen their chances of returning to the World Series for the first time since 2022.
It remains to be seen if the Astros will make an offer for the veteran reliever, but it is possible that it could cost them a notable prospect or two. However, if it means securing a reliable arm for their bullpen, it could be a worthwhile investment for the team. Stay tuned for more updates on the Astros’ potential trade moves as the deadline approaches.
