Hunter Brown dazzles
Hunter Brown is ready!
It took him only 55 pitches to go four scoreless innings, allowing two hits, no walks, with six strikeouts.
Unfortunately, another arm, one the Astros are depending on to replace Ryan Pressly, Tayler Scott, threw batting practice today, allowing a grand slam after surrendering two hits. He was surprising last year, but was he a one-season wonder? Who pitches in front of Bryan Abreu and Josh Hader, both of whom had scoreless innings today, remains a wide-open competition.
One surprise entrant in the bullpen sweepstakes is 33-year-old lefty Steven Okert. He struck out the side today and in seven innings pitched this Spring has not allowed a hit with 10 Ks. Is this another amazing Astros pitcher reclamation project in the making?
Many ostensible OD starters are still waiting to get untracked in the Spring. Jose Altuve saw lots of action in left field and did get one hit, but his Spring BA is .167. Yordan Alvarez was hitless and his BA sits at .150. Yainer Diaz was o-fer and is batting .107. Likewise for Chas McCormick, hitting .125.
On the other hand, Brendan Rodgers had an RBI double, and Zach Dezenzo was 2-3 and definitely making a strong bid for the 26-man OD roster. Mauricio Dubon was 2-2 as well.
Most of the Astros’ runs came in the seventh inning thanks to the aforementioned Rodgers double and a two run, two-out double by Altuve down the third base line.
The Astros go against the Nationals tomorrow at 12:05 CT.