ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 13: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros looks on after the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 13, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
4 Astros to blame after Houston crashes out of postseason in shocking sweep.
2. Framber Valdez
The Astros knew they’d have their work cut out for them against Tarik Skubal in Game 1. But Houston had its own horse on the mound in Valdez, who’s sure to get some down-ballot Cy Young support at the end of the season.
Just one problem, though: While Skubal pitched up to his billing, Valdez very much didn’t, allowing three runs and lasting just 4.1 innings. And like with Tucker, this is becoming something of a pattern: Valdez was dreadful last postseason too, with a 9.00 ERA across his three starts. Again, these are the guys who are supposed to be carrying the Astros into a new era of contention; it doesn’t bode well that they don’t seem comfortable when the lights are brightest.
1. Joe Espada
In the end, there’s not much to be done when your stars don’t play like stars. But Espada shouldn’t get off scot-free here either: His management of the bullpen in these two games was puzzling, to put it kindly, from using Hader while down three in Game 1 (meaning he’d be pitching on back-to-back days if needed in Game 2) to calling on the aging Pressly, rather than the clearly superior Bryan Abreu, to start the eighth inning in Wednesday’s loss.
While A.J. Hinch was mixing and matching like a madman from the other dugout, Espada seemed stuck in a rut, unable to adapt to a plan other than what he’d done all season long.
