Abreu's recent performance is encouraging. Lots of very hard bit balls as of late. Hopefully this is a trend and he's getting hot right when we need him to. That'll make up for all of this year's bad performance.

What's insane to me is that if Dusty were to deploy the LINEUP OF DEATH in the playoffs....we have the best offense in baseball IMHO....if our players play to their potential. The weakest hitter in our lineup would be a hot Jeremy Pena....

Pitching will be the bigger question mark, but we have enough talent to go all the way again in 2023.

Astros return "home" Friday to dreaded Minute Maid Park

AggieDub25 said:

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Altuve is on completely different planet playing slow pitch softball compared to everyone else in the league. Dude is absolutely incredible. He's the generational talent that the media will look back and realize they missed out on.

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Yeah but "buzzers and trash cans"

They will NEVER give 27 the credit he deserves

Ciboag96 said:

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Astros return "home" Friday to dreaded Minute Maid Park

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At least our last two series are on the road?

linkdude said:

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The Houston Astros are the first team in MLB history to record 50 hits and 16 home runs in a 3-game series.

— MLB Metrics (@MLBMetrics) September 7, 2023

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Just think if Dusty had used the right lineup!

Stros need to be ready this weekend, Padres have plenty of offensive talent and pitching. Celebrate tonight, rest up tomorrow, and back at it on Friday

This ball was hit 113.3 MPH, which is the hardest hit ball since 2021 by Jose Abreu.

That would put him in the 75th percentile in max exit velo this season.

Meaning, Jose Abreu still has ability to hit a ball very, very hard. pic.twitter.com/VvLX6FkZ7j

— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) September 7, 2023

Run differential going into Monday's game

Texas: +168
Houston: +93

Run differential at the end of Wednesday's game

Texas +139
Houston +122

texasaggie2015 said:

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This ball was hit 113.3 MPH, which is the hardest hit ball since 2021 by Jose Abreu.

That would put him in the 75th percentile in max exit velo this season.

Meaning, Jose Abreu still has ability to hit a ball very, very hard. pic.twitter.com/VvLX6FkZ7j

— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) September 7, 2023

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He had 4 hard hit balls tonight, the least of which was 102 mph

Can't wait to add a 3rd

Narrator: Justin Verlander would be "on" through seven innings…

BadAggie said:

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JV's last 5 starts, hopefully he'll be on and ready to put that last start behind him.

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I know this won't be a popular opinion but I kind of feel bad for the Rangers for whatever they had to give up for Scherzer. He's flamed out in the last two post-seasons and looks like he's starting a month early this year. Karma for trading for a known cheater?

Makes me wonder if they asked about JV first and he told them nah

4 Altuve
6 Peña
5 Bregman
DH Alvarez
9 Tucker
3 Abreu
7 Brantley
2 Diaz
8 McCormick

There's various permutations of the lineup of death that make sense. Playoff Peña warrants batting early. As does Abreu at 6 if he is able to progress upward to his career mean. With this group it's gonna feel like some guys are too low.

redline248 said:

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Makes me wonder if they asked about JV first and he told them nah

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Seems apparent.

McInnis said:

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I know this won't be a popular opinion but I kind of feel bad for the Rangers for whatever they had to give up for Scherzer. He's flamed out in the last two post-seasons and looks like he's starting a month early this year. Karma for trading for a known cheater?

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They gave up Acuna's younger brother.

No that couldn't come back to haunt them.

Padres may be slightly short-handed for this series.

Choi just fractured his ankle
Gary Sanchez got hit on the wrist by a pitch and broke it
Darvish is shut down
Musgrove is out
Cronenworth is on the IL also with a fractured wrist

Rangers fans settling down after a long day of being swept by the Astros: pic.twitter.com/X9JRfcQWLu

— ROGUE HOU SPORTS LLC (@RogueHouSports) September 7, 2023

This guy knew long ago what was up

I'm just here for the Clanton defenestration

16 homeruns this series and the crazy part is… none of them came from Tucker, Pena or Bregman

They think any Astros fan posting in their tread should be banned… um that's not the way it works. Trolling is one thing but just typing out 16 to correct a precious post isn't trolling. If opposing fans could post on threads then PlanoAg would have been banned ages ago haha

The fact they think think it happens for "validation" is hilarious. I mean we have won 4 pennants in 6 years and just kicked the **** out of you, I don't need a ranger fan to tell me good job lol talk about DFW small dick energy

Something's GOT to be wrong with the pitchcoms - just LOOK how bad our guys got rocked. MUST be cHeAtInG

/fartlington

Good morning to everyone but Arlington, #StraightUpTX fans and the poverty baseball franchise known as the Texas @Rangers that embarrasses the name of our great state. I have never seen a three-game dismantling like that in my life. #Ready2Reign🤘🏼🔥#ad @CramCrew @UVCPOWERSPORTS pic.twitter.com/KKf5BIO9oR

— Adam Clanton (@adamclanton) September 7, 2023