BALTIMORE – The Astros carry an air of seasoned confidence, and justifiably so; they have certainly been through it all.

Having reached seven consecutive AL Championship Series and won two World Series titles during that stretch, the Houston Astros have earned a level of trust that their extensive experience will pay off as the lengthy 162-game season unfolds.

As summer transitions into fall, the Astros find themselves in a strong position: boasting a record of 70-60, a 4 ½-game advantage in the AL West, and nearly a 90% chance of securing a playoff spot, fueled by a remarkable turnaround marked by a 63-41 record that prompted their closest rival to make a managerial change.

However, it’s clear that the Astros have felt the pressure, too.

Early in rookie manager Joe Espada’s journey, they faced a rough 7-19 start in the season, placing them at the bottom of the division and trailing by 6 ½ games—an uncomfortable gap that widened to 10 games by June 18. The team’s confident statements about turning the season around masked an urgency previously unseen in recent years.

“We absolutely were aware of the situation,” veteran pitcher Justin Verlander stated to YSL News Sports. “We understood the need for change. We held team meetings and emphasized that it’s time to turn this around. We need to play with the urgency of a playoff team. Let’s push ourselves and make something happen.”

“That’s exactly what this team did.”

Since that dismal start, no team has performed better than Houston. They’ve navigated through numerous injuries to their pitching staff, dealt with the release of a struggling veteran player, and allowed younger pitchers to gain valuable experience, eventually leading to their success on the mound.

By July 19, Houston had surpassed the struggling Seattle Mariners, formally leaving them behind by August 12. As they approach the season’s final stretch, confidence is high, while Seattle finds itself in turmoil, having just appointed a new manager.

The Astros’ consistent success?

“The culture of winning is critical here. We take immense pride in maintaining it,” commented Espada, who was promoted after serving as the Astros’ bench coach for six years and replacing Dusty Baker. “This attitude helps us navigate through difficult stretches early in the season.”

“Our players understand the importance of unity and perseverance.”

Moreover, they’ve learned to adapt and improvise.

‘An Amazing Job of Reinventing Himself’

Challenges kept piling up: Verlander dealt with shoulder pain at the start of spring training and struggled with a neck issue, limiting him to just 11 starts. Injured right-handers Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis Garcia couldn’t make it back this season.

Key playoff contributors Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy underwent Tommy John surgery, and promising right-hander J.P. France required shoulder surgery.

Other teams faced similar struggles with injuries, including those in Los Angeles, Baltimore, and Tampa Bay, but the key to success lies in how a team responds to adversity.

For nine starts, however, Hunter Brown wasn’t up to the challenge.

The 25-year-old right-hander, in his second full season, was part of the problem rather than the solution, accumulating a 7.71 ERA and managing only one start of six innings or more throughout his first nine outings. Following a disappointing rookie season, where he posted a 6.57 ERA in a dozen second-half starts, expectations were high for him to step up.

After assessing his performance, Brown decided to make adjustments—turning to his teammates for advice.

He learned from the coaching staff about statistics that boosted his confidence, indicating that he suffered from some bad luck. Yet, after allowing a .839 OPS against opposing right-handed hitters last season, he sought insight from veteran hitters within the team.

In particular, he reached out to hitters like Jose Altuve, Mauricio Dubón, and Alex Bregman.

“I asked them how they would approach hitting me as right-handed batters,” Brown recalls. “They suggested, ‘Oh, it’s easy; just sit on pitches away.’ I thought, ‘Okay, I need to make some adjustments and start throwing the two-seam fastball a bit more often.’”

“Since making that change, my results have improved significantly compared to the first month. I shifted my mindset and began utilizing the two-seamer frequently.”

Since then, Brown has transformed into a markedly different pitcher, changing his strategy from primarily using his four-seam fastball and curveball to incorporating the sinker, cutter, and changeup into his repertoire. His lowest moment came on April 9, when he recorded only two outs while surrendering nine runs to the Kansas City Royals.

He used his four-seamer 40% of the time, his curveball 23%, and his cutter only 8%.

In his latest performance on August 17, he delivered a remarkable seven-inning game against the Chicago White Sox, allowing just one run. During that game, his four-seam pitch usage fell to 25%, while he mixed in his cutter, sinker, and changeup for a total of 62%.

Since June 1, no pitcher has performed better than Brown, boasting a record of 10-2 and an impressive 2.33 ERA.

“He has done an amazing job of transforming his game,” Verlander comments. “The moment he made that change, he really excelled. It’s a classic saying – allow the hitters to show you how to adjust.”

Rookie Spencer Arrighetti has also made progress, overcoming a tough start when rushed into the rotation due to injuries in April. He has since stabilized and has completed at least six innings in seven of his past ten starts, striking out 36 batters across 24 ⅔ innings.

Veteran pitcher Framber Valdez boasts a 2.73 ERA since June 1, paralleling Brown’s success. Verlander has returned to the lineup, and the Astros have excelled in Yusei Kikuchi’s first four starts after joining the team at the trade deadline. The Astros, who previously struggled, now lead the majors with a rotation ERA of 2.72 this month and possess a formidable pitching lineup.

“Their growth has come with maturity, aided by our veterans,” Espada says about the rise of Brown and Arrighetti. “The season is long, and it’s challenging for us as a coaching staff to be patient and support them through this journey.”

“All of these players are making significant progress.”

Adjustments Made

The team has also benefited from some strategic changes.

Following their victory in the 2022 World Series, General Manager James Click was let go by owner Jim Crane. This left the front office without direction until Dana Brown was hired as the new GM in January 2023.

During that interim period, Crane and his team made key signings, including veteran first baseman Jose Abreu on a three-year, $58.5 million contract and reliever Rafael Montero on a three-year, $34.5 million deal.

However, by the end of April, Abreu’s performance had drastically declined, leading to his assignment to the minors and subsequent release in June, leaving nearly $31 million on his contract. Montero was also designated for assignment on July 31, but he will continue to be paid through 2025 as well.

Abreu’s position has largely been filled by veteran Jonathan Singleton, who has posted a 93 adjusted OPS, along with less than ideal defense. In comparison, Abreu recorded an adjusted OPS of just 3 and accumulated minus-1.6 Wins Above Replacement in 120 plate appearances. On the bright side, Singleton demonstrates an impressive chase rate at 22.5% and consistently puts together strong at-bats.

Other areas of the team have improved as well. Closer Josh Hader, signed to a $95 million contract this winter, has achieved a club-record 28 consecutive saves after a shaky start with an 8.38 ERA in their initial 7-19 record. Third baseman Alex Bregman had a slow start, not hitting a home run until the 29^th game of the season, but has since hit 21 with an OPS of .842 in the second half and .966 in August. All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker, who has been sidelined since June, sent Espada a lengthy text detailing his baseball activities as he hopes to recover from an ongoing shin injury in time for the playoffs.

This week marks their return to Philadelphia for the first time since Javier’s historic World Series no-hitter, setting the stage for a potential second championship in eight years. This visit comes during a tough stretch where they will play 17 of 20 games against probable playoff contenders, including Baltimore, Philadelphia, Kansas City, and Arizona.

The final home series will be against Seattle, which could be significant or just a formality, but will certainly hold some importance. This is quite a turnaround from just four months ago, a time that tested even the most experienced players.

“This is why the 162-game season is a true reflection of the caliber of a team,” Verlander, 41, expressed, already considering his return to full form for 2025.

“Such ups and downs don’t last forever. It’s reassuring to have a solid foundation.”