Are the new look Houston Astros for real?

Glass Half Full: Why the Astros can keep this up

Many forecast improvement for the Astros this year, but few thought of Houston as true playoff contenders. Here are some reasons the hot start may not be a mirage:

1. Dallas Keuchel is the real deal

Dallas Keuchel, Houston’s breakout star from last year, came out on Opening Day and immediately proved he was no fluke, outdueling defending Cy Young winner Corey Kluber in a pitcher’s duel. He hasn’t slowed down since, giving up just three runs in 37 innings and being arguably the biggest reason the Astros are in first place right now.

Unlike some other hot starts around the league, this is one that’s here to stay. Maybe batters won’t continue to hit .130 against him, as they have so far this year, but Keuchel has demonstrated a knack for limiting hard contact, and his pitches have improved with each passing year. He needs to cut down on the walks (he has 11 so far), but Houston may have found its unexpected ace.

2. The lineup hasn’t reached its full potential

Taking a quick look at Houston’s lineup, we can see plenty of regulars who haven’t started hitting as well as they can yet. Chris Carter and Evan Gattis haven’t hit at all, and while George Springer has, he hasn’t looked like the slugger many projected him as. We can predict some improvement from this trio, as well as catcher Jason Castro, which would really help Houston as the season goes on and some hot starting players begin to fade.

3. The young players will keep improving

We haven’t seen the peaks of players like Keuchel, Collin McHugh, Castro, or Springer yet, and if they come this summer, this could become a scary team for opponents. Houston’s collection of young players could soon be joined by former number one overall pick Carlos Correa, a shortstop with as high of a ceiling as anyone in the game. It should be fun to watch these young players develop together, and if any of them start to peak earlier than expected, watch out.

4. The bullpen is strong

One of the biggest problems for the Astros of recent years was a consistently terrible bullpen. It’s not the most important thing for a young, rebuilding team, but when the bullpen is constantly turning 6-3 deficits into 11-3 blowouts, it becomes demoralizing for a young club.

That won’t be the case this year. Over the winter, Houston brought in veteran relievers like Pat Neshek and Luke Gregerson, who have brought a consistency to the bullpen that has been lacking for years. Houston’s players (and coaches) can finally feel confident that their leads will last.

Next: Glass Half Empty