Inside the Astros

Houston Astros Must Get Back On Track Against Guardians

The Houston Astros have lost four games in a row and must take advantage of the Cleveland Guardians over the weekend.

Kade Kistner

David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
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The Houston Astros have lost four games in a row. Things are not yet dire, but the tide must change.

Despite losing to the Cleveland Guardians on Friday in a 14-inning heartbreaker, the Astros still have a chance to take the series. 

On paper, they are heavily favored to do so.

Houston's pitching staff leads the league in ERA (3.29) and sit 13th in run creation with 292.

Those numbers matchup well to Cleveland who sits in 27th in run creation, near the bottom of the league. Their pitching staff boasts an ERA of 3.76. Also quite impressive.

Still, the Astros sit five game back of the Texas Rangers in the American League West and hold only a slim lead for the final Wild Card spot.

Sure, it's mid-June, but standings watch is in full force. Especially as the MLB trade deadline starts to creep nearer. 

Taking the series from the Guardians, who sit with a 30-33 record, would be a good start in getting back in the win column and creating a winning streak going into what will be an easier stretch next week against two sub-.500 ball clubs. 

With each loss tacked onto the losing streak, the situation does start to become more dire. Losing Yordan Alvarez doesn't help matters either. 

Still, there is plenty of talent on this team to right the ship quickly, something that has become almost a necessity starting with Saturday's game.

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Kade Kistner
KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Phillies. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.

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