Astros Are 3-8 in Their Last 11 Games and Houston Is Running Out of Time to Stop the Bleeding

The Houston Astros desperately need Thursday's doubleheader at Camden Yards to be a turning point. After Wednesday's game got postponed due to weather, both teams have played just one game since Sunday, which Baltimore won 5-3 on Tuesday night. For an Astros squad sitting 3-8 over their last 11 games, that's not the momentum you want heading into a two-game slate.

Can Brice Matthews Be the Spark Houston Needs?

Outfielder Brice Matthews showed some life in Tuesday's loss, collecting three hits including a home run. Manager Joe Espada is banking on him to carry that energy forward. "I feel like I could do that each and every night, but baseball, it's not going to go your way each and every night," Matthews said after the game.

Espada sees real potential here. "I keep saying, when he finds barrel to ball, he's exciting to watch," the manager said. "He's a very explosive player. He can change outcomes of the game when he learns to be more consistent making contact." With injuries stacking up across the roster, Matthews becoming a consistent threat could be exactly what this team needs to stop the slide.

Isaac Paredes and Baltimore's Hot Bats

Third baseman Isaac Paredes went 0-for-4 on Tuesday, but he had hits in six of his previous seven games. Espada isn't worried. "Sometimes it takes a little bit of time," he said. "He's starting to heat up, and he knows he can do damage and he's doing some damage."

Baltimore's catcher Adley Rutschman, on the other hand, is swinging a legitimate hot bat. Since returning from the injury list, he's had multiple hits in three of five games with 10 RBIs. Manager Craig Albernaz credited his adjustability. "With Adley, it's just taking his hits," Albernaz said. "Staying on the off-speed, driving it the other way. It just shows his adjustability in the box."

The Pitching Matchup Shapes the Day

Baltimore will counter with right-handers Chris Bassitt (1-2, 6.75 ERA) and Brandon Young (2-0, 2.53 ERA). Young is making his third big-league appearance of the season. He's faced Houston twice before with wildly different results: he threw eight shutout innings in mid-August but got tagged for seven runs in 5 1/3 innings less than a week later.

Houston counters with Peter Lambert (1-1, 3.27 ERA) and Lance McCullers Jr. (1-2, 6.75 ERA). McCullers has been brutal in April, going 0-4 in his four starts, though he only earned decisions in the last two outings when he lasted five innings each time. Espada believes a tweak could unlock him. "I think for Lance, it's being ahead," Espada said. "Once he's ahead, he can expand and he can set the tone. But if you're behind in the count, it can be really hard to execute and get people out." Historically, McCullers owns Baltimore, posting a 3-0 record with a 3.34 ERA across six starts and 35 innings in his career against the Orioles.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.