After being swept by the Cardinals, the Houston Astros kick off their series against the Cleveland Guardians in their first game back on the road.
The last time the Astros hit the road, they managed just one win and returned home on an eight-game losing streak. After getting back to Houston, there were brief signs of improvement, but the momentum quickly faded.
The Guardians enter this series with a record of 13-10, while the Astros sit at 8-15.
Can Houston break through its road struggles? Here’s a look at today’s lineup and what to expect:
Starting Pitcher:
Spencer Arrighetti (RHP)
1-0, 1.50 ERA, 10 SO
Houston Astros Lineup:
Carlos Correa (R) – SS
Yordan Álvarez (L) – DH
José Altuve (R) – 2B
Christian Walker (R) – 1B
Isaac Paredes (R) – 3B
Taylor Trammell (L) – CF
Yainer Díaz (R) – C
Dustin Harris (L) – RF
Brice Matthews (R) – LF
After the Astros’ recent pitching struggles, Spencer Arrighetti is back on the mound following a dominant season debut at home, looking to build on that strong start and provide some stability to the rotation. It was exactly the kind of performance Houston had been hoping to see, and he now gets the opportunity to carry that momentum into his road start.
As for the lineup, Houston will feature Yordan Álvarez in the designated hitter role, batting second in the order. Álvarez has been solid at the plate this season and is tied for the Major League lead with 10 home runs. He has hit a home run for the last three consecutive games. Houston will hope he can stay hot at the plate and keep producing at a high level for the Astros.
Dustin Harris, playing right field, will be making his debut with the Houston Astros. The 26-year-old outfielder was drafted in the 11th round of the 2019 MLB Draft and has previously played for the Rangers and the White Sox. Harris is not a headline name, but he is a depth addition teams often make in search of value, and tonight he will get his first opportunity to carve out a role with his new club at the Major League level.
If the Astros want to avoid another slow start on the road, they’ll need a strong outing from Spencer Arrighetti and early production from the top of the lineup. Houston will be looking to set the tone quickly and avoid falling into another early series deficit on the road.