The Houston Astros have lifted off.
On Saturday, the Astros improved to 40-30, their first time 10 video games above .500 this season, with a 3-2 walk-off win towards the Minnesota Twins.
Rookie Cam Smith remained sizzling as he drove within the successful run, hitting a two-out single within the backside of the ninth.
Over Smith’s final 25 video games coming into Saturday, the 2024 first-round choose, acquired within the commerce that despatched outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs, has a .294/.341/.388 slash line with 25 hits and 11 runs batted in in 91 plate appearances.
His uptick in manufacturing has coincided with an general enchancment from Houston batters. The Astros had been the league’s hottest hitting workforce since Might 24, coming into Saturday, rating first in workforce batting common (.275). (h/t FanGraphs)
Solely the New York Mets had a greater successful share (.789) than Houston (.722) during that span.
Saturday’s win was the Astros’ fourth consecutive and 14th of their final 19 video games after falling to 26-25.
Houston is discovering its stride and may very well be exhausting to derail. Astros batters are in rhythm, and the pitching workers has been dominant of late.
Since June 1, Astros pitchers have an MLB-low 2.30 earned run common (ERA) and rank first in strikeouts per 9 innings (11.11).
Beginning pitcher Hunter Brown continued his sensational season towards the Twins on Saturday, permitting two earned runs and three hits with 12 strikeouts in seven innings. This season, he has a 1.88 ERA.
After seeing their streak of seven consecutive ALCS appearances snapped final season and stars Alex Bregman and Tucker exit, the Astros entered 2025 with extra query marks than that they had in years.
By 70 video games, any concern Houston could have had about its outlook seems unfounded. It is nonetheless among the many AL’s greatest groups. Due to Smith’s walk-off hit, it is also the most popular.
