The Houston Astros opened a series against the Miami Marlins on Monday with little room left for another misstep. Houston came in at 47-54 after being swept by the Baltimore Orioles, while the Marlins arrived having lost six straight games.
That is why Marlins Vs Astros drew attention today: it was not just another midseason series, but a chance for the Astros to steady themselves after a rough stretch and keep even a slim division race within reach. Houston was four games behind the first-place Texas Rangers in the American League West, which meant the margin was still live, if not comfortable.
Ronel Blanco was scheduled to start Monday for the Houston Astros, and Janson Junk was lined up for the Miami Marlins. Blanco entered with a 0-0 record and a 0.00 ERA, while Junk was listed at 4-5 with a 4.57 ERA. Those numbers gave the matchup a clean edge on paper, but they also underlined how much the Astros were leaning on a starter still without a decision to help stop the skid.
The larger problem around Houston was bigger than one series. The club was being measured against a standard that pointed toward postseason competitiveness, yet it arrived in this matchup sitting well below.500 and coming off a sweep. In a league where a few wins can change the shape of a race, that left Houston needing more than a split to change the conversation.
Tatsuya Imai was listed as the Astros' Tuesday starter with a 5-4 record and a 6.06 ERA, which gave Houston an immediate chance to reset the week after Monday's opener. If the Astros are going to make this series matter, it starts with keeping the losing from carrying over one more day.
