Why next 8 games are big for Astros

Plus: Decision time on Meyers

June 22, 2022 Hello! Welcome to another edition of the Astros Beat newsletter.   Considering the Astros began play Wednesday with a 10-game lead in the American League West over the Rangers, it's probably not fair to say any stretch of games is crucial. The Astros are storming towards their fifth AL West title in the last six years with no other team in the division over .500.   Because the division is weaker than had been expected coming into the season, the Astros' schedule so far hasn't been as difficult as others, but that's changing this week. Beginning Tuesday, the Astros began a nine-game stretch against the Mets and the Yankees -- the best teams in baseball based on their records. The Yankees (50-18) are the class of AL, while the Mets (45-25) have the best record in the NL. At 42-25, the Astros have the third-best record in baseball behind both New York clubs.    "We're going to have to have our best games, but they've also got to play us," Astros manager Dusty Baker said.   Houston started its tough stretch on the right foot with an 8-2 win over the Mets on Tuesday. After playing the Mets again on Wednesday at Minute Maid Park, the Astros will open a weeklong stay in the Big Apple on Thursday with four games against the Yankees in the Bronx before shifting to Queens next Tuesday and Wednesday to face the Mets. The Yankees then play a single makeup game on June 30 in Houston.   "I think it's always fun to compete against the best," Astros third baseman Alex Bregman said. "I think everybody looks forward to playing against the best and competing against the best. Of course, everyone is going to be really excited."   These games won't make or break Houston's season, but they should provide a clearer picture of where they stand and perhaps what they need to do at the Trade Deadline to beat the Yankees in October. Entering Tuesday, the Astros had played the fewest games in Major League Baseball against teams with currently a winning record, going 8-7 against the Blue Jays (2-4), Red Sox (1-2), Twins (3-0) and Guardians (2-1).   The Yankees lost in Toronto on Sunday, ending a nine-game winning streak, before splitting the first two games of a three-game road set against the Rays. They've gone 44-12 since April 22, lead the Major Leagues in OPS (.768) and ERA (2.88) and are on pace to break the MLB record for single-season wins (116).   "We want to show them how good we are," Baker said. "They are amongst both league's elite, in the same city. Shoot, they haven't been that in a while, since both of them were good at the same time. … They're good teams. They do pose a problem for us in as much as they've got a lot of left-handed hitters and without a lefty or two in [in our] bullpen. The Mets have three or four switch-hitters and three or four left-hand hitters. The Yankees always carry left-handers because of that short porch at Yankee Stadium. We have to play well. We have to score and keep scoring." ON THE FARM • C/1B Luke Berryhill, the Astros' Minor League Player of the Year in 2021, had his 51-game on-base streak for Double-A Corpus Christi extended on Tuesday by taking a walk. He's approaching the club record of 55 set by Jorge Cortes in 2006. Berryhill, the Astros' No. 25 prospect, has reached base in 55 of 56 games in which he's had a plate appearance and is slashing .338/.421/.523 in June.   • C/1B Yanier Diaz was promoted to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday after slashing .316/.367/.504 in 267 plate appearances at Double-A Corpus Christi. Díaz was acquired along with reliever Phil Maton by the Astros in exchange for Myles Straw last year. It's the first Triple-A stint for Diaz, who batted .316 with 37 runs, 13 doubles, three triples, nine home runs and 48 RBIs in 57 games for the Hooks to start the year.   • Right-hander Edinson Batista, 20, has allowed one earned run in his last 23 innings after throwing six scoreless innings Sunday against Kannapolis. He's 3-2 with a 2.58 ERA in 11 games (four starts) with 54 strikeouts and 22 walks in 45 1/3 innings. Batista was signed as an undrafted free agent on March 2, 2019. DECISION TIME ON MEYERS Astros center fielder Jake Meyers' 20-game rehab window ends Wednesday, which means the Astros must either add him to the Major League roster and option him to Triple-A Sugar Land, which is where he has been playing while on his rehab assignment. Baker said general manager James Click was in Sugar Land on Monday to check up on Meyers.   "James is there trying to figure out is he ready, is he not ready?" Baker said. "Personally, I like guys to be over-ready versus under-ready. We'll try to make that decision shortly."   Meyers is slashing .205/.280/.295 with one double and one homer through 44 at-bats (12 games) while returning from labrum surgery. You probably remember Meyers injured his shoulder in last year's American League Division Series and hasn't played for the big club since.   Meyers made his Major League debut last year after Myles Straw was traded to the Guardians and split time in center field with Chas McCormick. This year, McCormick and Jose Siri have been sharing center field with mixed results. Meyers' return means either McCormick or Siri will lose their spot. McCormick (.680 OPS) has outplayed Siri (.559), but Baker values Siri's speed and elite defense.   "I've tried to play them equally and tried to play what I need. If I need more speed and defense, I'm playing Siri, depending on who's pitching," Baker said. "They're both better than they have played." TRIVIA   J.J. Matijevic on Sunday became the first Astros player since Yordan Alvarez in 2019 to hit a home run for his first Major League hit. Who is the last Astros player to hit a home run in his first Major League at-bat?   A.) Charlton Jimerson B.) David Matranga C.) Nolan Ryan D.) Mark Saccomanno THIS WEEK IN ASTROS HISTORY   June 24, 1994   Jeff Bagwell became the first Astros player in more than 20 years to slug two home runs in an inning when he took Brian Barnes and Rudy Seanez of the Dodgers deep in a nine-run sixth inning.   Bagwell hit a solo homer to left field off Barnes and later in the inning hit a line-drive, three-run shot over the right-field wall. He was the first Astros player to homer twice in an inning since Lee May on April 29, 1974. No other Astros player has done it since Bagwell 28 years ago. DUSTY QUOTE OF THE WEEK   "Oh, man, that's like having Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey -- one of the big boys in there in the heart of the lineup. That's big danger." -- Baker on designated hitter/left fielder Yordan Alvarez returning to the lineup Tuesday after missing a game with a hand injury TRIVIA ANSWER   D.) Mark Saccomanno   Called up to the Major Leagues on Sept. 8, 2008, Saccomanno hit a solo home run on the first pitch he saw against the Pirates' Ian Snell. That was the only home run in Saccomanno's big-league career, which spanned 10 at-bats in 10 games. His only other big-league hit was a double. Matranga and Jimerson also homered in their first Major League at-bats, but Saccomanno's is the most recent. FORWARDED FROM A FRIEND? SUBSCRIBE NOW   To subscribe to Astros Beat, visit this page and mark "Astros Beat" from our newsletter list. Make sure you're following the Astros or that they're checked as your favorite team. Contact:   Brian.Mctaggart@mlb.com  View Online   © 2022 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. MLB trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball. Visit MLB.com. Any other marks used herein are trademarks of their respective owners. Please review our Privacy Policy. 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