Fansided

MLB playoffs 2016: 3 reasons the Astros make it

By Joshua Sadlock

Jun 27, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) celebrates with his team after the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The Houston Astros won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 27, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) celebrates with his team after the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The Houston Astros won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 4, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Alex Bregman (2) in action during the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Astros defeat the Rangers 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 4, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Alex Bregman (2) in action during the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Astros defeat the Rangers 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

The kids are alright

The Astros are still one of the youngest teams in the league, with an average batter age of 26.6 and an average pitcher age of 29.0. The core of this team is still coming together as the rebuilding process wraps itself up. Down the stretch, some of the younger or more inexperienced players on the team have stepped up their game.

Alex Bregman, one of the game’s top prospects at the start of the year, has been raking over the past month. Bregman, the 22-year-old third baseman, got off to a rough start after being called up, but has batted over .300 and slugged over .600 over his past 30 games.

Bregman has been sharing time at third base with a player who is not exactly a youngster, but is a rookie nonetheless. Yulieski Gurriel is 32, but this is his first season since leaving Cuba. In 28 games, he has provided depth behind Bregman and has helped take some pressure off the younger rookie.

Carlos Correa has not lived up to the massive hype generated during his rookie season, but his sophomore campaign has still been fruitful. He is batting close to .300 in the second half after struggling before the break. The power numbers have taken a step back this year for the young shortstop, but he did show last fall that he is more than capable of handling a big moment.

One of the more problematic areas for the Astros this year has been the starting rotation, and the losses of Lance McCullers and Dallas Keuchel should have torpedoed this team’s chance to make the playoffs. With the injuries piling up, the Astros have had to turn to unlikely sources like Joe Musgrove and Brad Peacock to eat up innings, and both have done well in the early going. If these two unheralded pitchers can hang on and make two more effective starts each, the Astros should be sitting pretty.

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