<\/p>\n
Astros fans sounded the alarm on social media after the team dropped a series to the Texas Rangers on Sunday. But they have no reason to panic. As Astros writer Michael Schwab has pointed out, Houston (8-9) has started the past four seasons with the same record, but the end results were impressive. \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
In 2020, Houston lost in the ALCS to the Rays. In 2021, it lost in the World Series to the Braves, and last year the Astros beat the Phillies in the World Series.<\/p>\n
The 2023 sample size is small, but the Astros — who beat Toronto, 9-2, on Monday — aren’t far off from last season’s offensive rankings. In runs per game (5.06) and team batting average (.251), Houston ranks 10th<\/a> and 13th<\/a>, respectively. The Astros ranked ninth (4.51) and 13th (.247) in those categories in 2022.<\/p>\n The pitching has been solid to begin the season as well. Houston is fifth<\/a> in the American League in ERA at 3.40. The Astros were second (2.90) in 2022, behind only the Dodgers.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n After star second baseman Jos\u00e9 Altuve suffered a fractured thumb in the World Baseball Classic, some wondered how the infield would hold up defensively. Through 17 games, Houston is tied for 11th with two other teams in errors per game (.41). Once the slick-fielding Altuve returns, the overall defense should improve.<\/p>\n Earlier this month, Astros manager Dusty Baker said he expected the team to improve as the season continued.<\/p>\n “Before we get so critical, we got to realize how inexperienced at the big-league level some of these guys are,\u201d he said, per the Houston Chronicle<\/a>. \u201cWe\u2019ve lost a couple of these games by inches, we\u2019ve been in every game.” <\/p>\n