2026 Astros Spring Training Thread

Especially if goes yard when he makes solid contact.

 

I'm excited about the potential speed this team could have with Pena, Cam, Cole, and Matthews.

League ranking in SB
2022 = 16th
2023 = 18th
2024 = 21st
2025 = 25th

I haven't looked but I think overall baserunning has fallen as well.

This team could have a big baserunning advantage if they decide to be aggressive.

 

Injuries have really opened up the competition for the bullpen.

Position players are a bit more set.

Diaz, Salazar (unless another C is brought in), the 5 infielders, Yordan, and Meyers are on the roster unless they get hurt. That leaves 4 spots.

The way I see it

3 come from: Cam, Loperfido, Cole, Dezenzo, and Trammell

1 comes from Matthews or Allen.

I think the competition for AAA vs release is also interesting.

 

Boxscore says McCullers pitched a clean inning.

 

He got up to almost 95 mph on his sinker and he threw strikes. Let's hope he doesn't have any soreness tomorrow.

 

Very promising. He consistently was 93-95 mph.

 

McCullers only threw 8 pitches but they were all fastballs and curveballs. Sinker was 94, 4S was 93. He can be effective with that velo. It would be so awesome if he could have a good year.

 

i know it's just spring training but i think we might be in for another doo doo offense season

 

Let’s go LMJ. It is odd he is at this velo in spring training, especially in his first start. Either he has ramped up early thinking go big or go home bc he wasn’t gonna make the rotation pitching like he did last year, or his arm is stronger and will progress to even higher velo.

If it is the former, then I respect that for him and the organization. It is his last stand and he is gonna leave it all on the field. If his arm blows up, so be it. I respect that he is going for it rather than just collecting paychecks. I do believe he really wants to pitch and help the Astros.

If it is the latter, holy crap his arm is feeling good and we are going to see 96-97 FB.

 

If you go yard it's super hard to steal a base.

 

all 4 of his stolen bases were on walks.

 

That does not change the fact that it's super hard to steal a base when you hit a dinger.

But I get what you are saying.
Just some levity

 

Germany Schaefer hit a HR and slid into every base...so there's that

 

Would be an unexpected, amazing and welcomed surprise. Apparently, he's gonna pitch out of the stretch and made some other tweaks in his delivery.

 

He’s a keeper.

 

Sounds like a reliever to me