September 1, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz (21 years outdated) and reduction pitcher Kaleb Ort (63 years outdated) Celebrating after the sport in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Royals at Minute Maid Park. Obligatory Credit score: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports activities As September begins and the Houston Astros seem like hitting their stride once more, the concept of a postseason turns into extra distinguished amongst their gamers and coaches.
The Cincinnati Reds are coping with a slew of accidents to pitchers and attempting to hold on till the top of the season.
The 2 golf equipment will meet in Cincinnati on Monday evening for the primary recreation of a three-game sequence.
With a recent four-game sweep of the visiting Kansas Metropolis Royals, the Astros (75-62) improved to a season-high 13 video games over .500 and their finest within the majors since April 27 68 wins and 43 losses.
“I stated at some point we had been all going to be on the identical web page, and that is what’s occurring now,” Alvarez stated.
Astros supervisor Joe Espada stated: “This can be a superb Royals workforce. They have been taking part in properly. We went to Kansas Metropolis (in April) and we did not play our greatest, However that is why you play 162. We’re getting nearer to our objectives, we’re taking part in with a distinct depth and focus and we have confirmed that on this sequence.
The Astros now flip their consideration to the Reds (65-73), who ended a three-game dropping streak with a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in 11 innings on Sunday.
Jonathan India bounced again after being picked off on a catcher’s throw to second base within the first inning, going 3-for-4, scoring the tying run on a slider and hitting one from second base within the tenth. Baserunner.
“I all the time say baseball is a dropping recreation,” India stated. “We’ve to discover ways to take care of it. We’ve new experiences. We’ve to get by it, however we have now to complete sturdy. We’ve to win this month and maintain our heads excessive.”
The Reds not too long ago bought Houston’s quantity. In 2023, the Reds swept the Astros in a three-game sequence in Houston. In 2019, the Reds took all three video games from the Astros in Cincinnati. The Astros gained two of three video games in Houston in 2016, however earlier than that, Cincinnati gained all three in 2013.
This season, the 2 groups are heading in very completely different instructions. Whereas Houston is in first place within the American League West and chasing its seventh division title in eight years, the Reds have misplaced 5 of seven of 10 residence video games and misplaced in 11 8 video games.
The Astros ended August with a workforce ERA of two.51 and an opponent batting common of .185, each of which led the majors.
Houston is scheduled to start out right-hander Justin Verlander (3-4, 4.16 ERA) on Monday. The 41-year-old will make his thirteenth begin of the season and his third since he was sidelined for greater than a month resulting from neck ache.
Verlander is 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in two begins, together with permitting seven hits and 4 runs in 5 innings in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
In three profession video games in opposition to Cincinnati, Verlander is 1-1 with a 3.15 ERA.
The Reds will counter with rookie right-hander Julian Aguiar (1-0, 6.43 ERA) making his fourth begin. Aguiar allowed six runs, three homers and 10 hits in 4 innings on Thursday, however the Reds finally defeated the Oakland Athletics 10-9.
Aguiar has by no means confronted the Astros in his profession.
–Scene-level media
