HOUSTON – We have hit the summer break in Major League Baseball and while players and coaches get a few days of R & R, the mindset is clearly on the second half of the season and which teams will make a run.
The Astros season has certainly been a roller coaster ride beginning the year losing 19 of their first 26 games and by early June Houston was still struggling and staring at a 12-24 record and a 10 game deficit in the AL West race behind the Seattle Mariners. The Astros have been riddled with injuries across the board that have certainly caused some sleepless nights for GM Dana Brown and Manager Joe Espada.
Jose Altuve skipping All-Star Game to rest bruised hand
Pitchers have dropped like flies with names like Cristian Javier, Jose Urquidy and J.P. France coming to mind. Then there has been the current setback, a neck issue, that Justin Verlander is dealing with . Meanwhile, setbacks have slowed Lance McCullers Jr. and his timetable is unknown. Luis Garcia was recently making big progress but experienced a setback as well and has been pulled from his rehab assignment .
Kyle Tucker, out over a month now, is still coming back slowly from a shin contusion. No official word yet on his return and if he will be ready or not for the Seattle series that opens the second half.
State of the Astros though remains strong and Sportsradio 610′s Brandon Scott joined KPRC 2 Sports Director Randy McIlvoy to talk all things related to the club which stands currently at 50-46.