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2025 MLB All-Star Game: Building the Best Astros Lineup
2025 MLB All-Star Game: Building the Best Astros Lineup

Fox Sports

time10-07-2025

  • Sport
  • Fox Sports

2025 MLB All-Star Game: Building the Best Astros Lineup

Though the Houston Astros' recent success has been marred by controversy, their record speaks for itself: two World Series titles, four Fall Classic appearances and an eight-year stretch of consecutive postseason berths, all in a span of 12 years. Add that to a rich history with the Killer Bs and the Astrodome, and Houston suddenly has one of the more interesting all-time lineups in baseball. Manager: AJ Hinch It might not seem like AJ Hinch was Houston's manager for very long, but that's a matter of perspective: just one manager — Bill Virdon — has stuck around the Astros for longer than Hinch's five years, and he's also the only one with more career wins. Hinch, though, has the 2017 World Series and 2019 pennant to his credit, and is second in wins (481) with 40 additional postseason victories to Virdon's 10. Hinch's .594 regular season winning percentage is also best in Houston history, just ahead of his replacement — and fellow World Series champion — Dusty Baker's .586 showing. Starting pitcher: Roy Oswalt Roy Oswalt never won a Cy Young, but it wasn't for lack of trying. He finished in the top five on five separate occasions while with the Astros, and in 2006 even led the NL in ERA (2.98) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.4), but it wasn't enough to leapfrog Brandon Webb's monster campaign. And in 2007, when he did surpass the competition and led the majors in pitcher wins above replacement, he somehow received zero Cy Young votes. If not for injuries, Oswalt would be a Hall of Famer: as is, he still dominates Houston's all-time leaderboards. Reliever/closer: Billy Wagner There are 86 pitchers in Cooperstown. Of those, nine were relievers. Billy Wagner is one of the nine. Standing 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, you'd never have known as much if you just looked at the stats. When Wagner struck out 14.4 batters per nine in 1997 as a 25-year-old, the league average rate was 6.7 — the next two seasons, Wagner struck out hitters at an even higher rate. Wagner could still sling it late in his career, too: at 38, with the Braves, he punched out 13.5 per nine with a 1.43 ERA in 71 games. Catcher: Brad Ausmus Brad Ausmus becoming a manager after his playing career was one of those things that seemed inevitable: he was a tremendous defensive catcher with a mind for pitch calling, and for way more seasons than it did not, that helped to carry his bat. Ausmus would make multiple stops with the Astros, stopping in between 1997-1998 and then again from 2001 through 2008. While his bat hovered around average for backstops in his best years with Houston, his work behind the plate kept him employed year after year. Given the quality of the pitching staff, that checks out. 1B: Jeff Bagwell The 1994 strike interrupted many things, but one of them was what could have ended up as one of the all-time great offensive seasons. Bagwell, who won that year's NL MVP, hit .368/.451/.750 with 39 home runs. That slugging percentage led both leagues, and ranks 11th all-time among MLB players: the list is basically various Barry Bonds and Babe Ruth seasons, then Lou Gehrig, Rogers Hornsby, Mark McGwire's 1998, and Bagwell. He'd hit 449 homers in his career, despite significant shoulder injuries and arthritis that plagued his mid-30s, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017. 2B: Craig Biggio Craig Biggio was a catcher and outfielder, but second base is where he was at his best. He played for 20 years, all with the Astros, and compiled 3,060 hits — the most in Astros' history — to go with 1,160 walks and 414 steals. Biggio's 291 home runs put him third, behind Jeff Bagwell and Lance Berkman, while he's first in doubles (668) and total bases (4,711). While underrated in his career for years, Biggio stuck around long enough to see that change, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017 alongside longtime teammate Bagwell. 3B: Alex Bregman Alex Bregman was selected second-overall by the Astros in the 2015 draft; in 2016, he debuted in the majors and put up a 2-win season in just 49 games. He spent nine years with the Astros, including both of their World Series-winning seasons of 2017 and 2022, in which he hit a combined three home runs (and 19 total in the postseason). He left as a free agent after the 2024 season, but not before mashing 191 home runs and 265 doubles while hitting .272/.366/.483, with nearly 40 wins above replacement. Bregman is still just 31, too. SS: Carlos Correa The Astros picked Carlos Correa with the first-overall selection in the 2012 draft, when he was all of 17 years old. He'd debut three years later as a 20-year-old who looked like nothing quite so young: Correa won the AL Rookie of the Year in just 99 games, as he slugged .512 and had 45 extra-base hits, including 22 home runs, all while playing excellent defense at shortstop. Correa never got that much better than that, but he didn't have to: seven years of being that dude — and the 2017 championship — was enough to be the Astros' all-time shortstop. OF: Lance Berkman Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, and Derek Bell made up the "Killer Bs", but the grouping didn't truly hit its stride until Bell — who was fine, but no Bagwell nor Biggio by any means — was swapped out for Lance Berkman. As Biggio and Bagwell began to show their age in ways big and small, Berkman stepped in and mashed. He followed up a rookie season where he slugged .561 by crushing 84 extra-base hits, made five All-Star teams, and received MVP votes in six seasons. He's first among Astros in on-base percentage (.410), fourth in offensive WAR and second in homers. OF: Jose Cruz Jose Cruz — father of Jose Cruz Jr. — joined the Astros in 1975, and stuck there for 13 years. He made multiple All-Star teams, won a pair of Silver Sluggers, and received MVP votes in five of those 13 seasons, all in his 30s. They were the best years of his career, too: Cruz was solid with the Cardinals in his 20s, but something unlocked in Houston, and he went on to end up fourth in wins above replacement among position players, behind only Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, and Jose Altuve. That's some company to keep. OF: Cesar Cedeno Cesar Cedeno wasn't with Houston from the beginning of their time in MLB, but it still took 10 seasons before he made the postseason for the first time — which was also the organization's first time. In 1980, the Astros won the NL West, and Cedeno played a significant role in that. He hit .309/.389/.465 with 50 extra-base hits in 137 games, racking up a five-win season despite not even playing all of it. Cedeno wrapped his Astros' career hitting .289/.351/.454, and was, at the time, their top-ranked player by WAR. He's still fifth 44 years later. DH: Jose Altuve Jose Altuve has been an excellent second baseman, but the Astros had a Hall of Fame one who debuted two years before Altuve was even born. He's been a more than worthy successor to Craig Biggio, however: Altuve has won three batting titles, including two where he led the majors in batting average, was named AL MVP in 2017 when the Astros finally won a World Series on the strength of a .346/.410/.547 season with an AL-leading 204 hits — his fourth-consecutive year leading in the stat. And now he sits second in hits among Astros, behind only Biggio. Honorable Mentions: Dallas Keuchel (starting pitcher) Nolan Ryan (starting pitcher) Larry Dierker (starting pitcher) Dave Smith (reliever/closer) Alan Ashby (catcher) Bob Watson (1B) Jose Altuve (2B) Ken Caminiti (3B) George Springer (OF) Hunter Pence (OF) Terry Puhl (OF) Jimmy Wynn (OF) Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

Despite Juan Soto's snub for NL squad, the Mets insist 'he's an All-Star for us'
Despite Juan Soto's snub for NL squad, the Mets insist 'he's an All-Star for us'

NBC Sports

time09-07-2025

  • Sport
  • NBC Sports

Despite Juan Soto's snub for NL squad, the Mets insist 'he's an All-Star for us'

Trysta Krick and Vaughn Dalzell examine the betting favorites to win the American League Rookie of the Year award, discussing why Houston Astros' Cam Smith is a "clear bet" at +150 odds. BALTIMORE — The New York Mets consider Juan Soto to be a bona fide All-Star, despite the snub he received from those who selected the National League squad for the Midsummer Classic on July 15. Soto, in his first year with the Mets, has performed well enough to earn the respect of his manager and teammates. In their opinion, he's deserving of a place in the All-Star Game next week in Atlanta. 'He's an All-Star for us,' manager Carlos Mendoza said Tuesday night after the Mets beat Baltimore 7-6. 'It's frustrating, but I'm hoping in the next couple of days we hear something and he makes it.' Soto drove in the winning run with a sharp single on the first pitch of the 10th inning. That capped a night in which he went 3 for 5 to raise his batting average to .269 with 21 homers and 52 RBIs. Soto has walked 72 times, by far the most in the majors, but he can also lash out at a pitcher when necessary. 'He's got a pretty good understanding of what the pitchers are trying to do to him,' Mendoza said. 'There is his awareness of the game, he's going to see pitchers. There are times when he's going to be aggressive. Tonight was one of those nights. First pitch in the 10th, he's attacking.' Soto made the All-Star team as a member of the Nationals, Padres and Yankees each year since 2021. The streak appears to be over. But his teammates believe he deserves to go. 'What he done all year is just incredible, and the results are good enough,' Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes said. 'The consistency he's showed up with, at the at-bats he's taken, is more than an All-Star. He's one of the best in the game and a big part of our lineup.' Soto seems rather philosophical about the snub. 'Sometimes you're gonna make it and sometimes you don't,' he told reporters after Sunday's loss to the Yankees. 'It's just part of baseball.'

Dodgers' pitchers get torched during historic lopsided loss to hated Astros
Dodgers' pitchers get torched during historic lopsided loss to hated Astros

Los Angeles Times

time05-07-2025

  • Sport
  • Los Angeles Times

Dodgers' pitchers get torched during historic lopsided loss to hated Astros

They are two long-time Dodger villains, hated for two vastly different reasons. As the last remaining position player from the Houston Astros' trash-can-banging, and (in the eyes of most Dodgers fans) World Series-stealing 2017 championship team, Jose Altuve always receives a rude welcome from the fans at Chavez Ravine. As one of the most productive visiting players in Dodger Stadium history, Christian Walker often shuts them up. In the Houston Astros' 18-1 Independence Day rout on Friday, both added another tortured chapter to the Dodgers' history against the team. Altuve went three-for-three with a double, two home runs, two walks and five RBIs. Walker went four-for-five with one long ball and four RBIs. On a day starting pitcher Ben Casparius once again struggled (giving up six runs in three innings), reliever Noah Davis gave up 10 runs in the sixth inning alone (the most the Dodgers had surrendered in one inning since 1999), and most of a sold-out crowd stuck around for every painful minute (waiting in somber silence for a postgame fireworks show), that was plenty to lift the surging Astros to most lopsided defeat the Dodgers have ever suffered at Dodger Stadium. Six weeks ago, the retooled Astros were one game above .500 and 3 ½ games out of first place in the American League West; seemingly missing the other 2017 stars who have departed the franchise since their sign-stealing scandal came to light five years ago. But now, they have won 27 of their last 37, own the second-best record in the AL, and are suddenly looking like unlikely title contenders; even after turning over almost the entirety of the roster from that infamous 2017 season. 'Certainly, there's been some history with our organizations,' manager Dave Roberts said pregame when asked if any lingering feelings remained from the Astros' sign-stealing scandal. 'But if you look at it in reality, most of those guys are gone. So it certainly doesn't have any bearing on this series this weekend.' Instead, in their most lopsided loss of the season, the Dodgers had bigger concerns to worry about Friday, with Altuve and Walker at the top of the list. Altuve received his typical reception from the Dodgers faithful, serenaded with booming boos and loud chants of 'cheater' during each of his at-bats. However, he followed Isaac Paredes' leadoff homer in the first with a double off the wall. He took Casparius deep for a two-run home run on a curveball in the third. He added an exclamation point with a three-run homer in the Astros' 10-run sixth — the most runs the Dodgers (56-33) had allowed in one inning since Fernando Tatis' historic two grand slam inning in April 1999 with the St. Louis Cardinals. Walker was every bit as dangerous. A 34-year-old slugger who dominated the Dodgers (and, most confoundingly, Clayton Kershaw in particular) during an eight-year career with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Walker was already emerging from an early-season slump in his first year with the Astros (53-25) entering this weekend's series. Then, back in the friendly confines of Dodger Stadium, he orchestrated a monster performance of his own from the five-spot of the Houston order. In his first at-bat, Walker plated Altuve with a single the other way. Then, two batters after Altuve's big fly in the third, Casparius left a fastball down the middle that Walker whacked for his 28th career home run against the Dodgers — and 20th at Dodger Stadium. Only nine other players have hit that many home runs as visitors at the ballpark during their careers, a list that includes Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Mike Schmidt and Willie Stargell, as well as Barry Bonds. Walker also made a contribution in the sixth-inning onslaught. After Davis gave up one run on two singles and two walks, the recently called-up right-hander plunked Walker with the bases loaded to force in another score, losing his grip on an 0-and-2 sweeper that left him visibly rattled on the mound. Sensing Davis' frustration, Roberts came to the bump for a motivational pep-talk; eliciting memories of the mid-game hug he delivered to journeyman reliever Yohan Ramirez last season in Cincinnati. This time, however, the mound visit had little effect. In the next at-bat, Davis threw a hanging sweeper that Victor Caratini belted for a grand slam. What was already a laugher became a full-fledged Fourth of July disaster.

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