Astros' struggles vs. last-place teams continue in loss to KC

KANSAS CITY -- The Astros are chasing their sixth American League West title in the past seven seasons, but one unforeseen obstacle has stepped into their path in September: last-place teams.

Houston still leads the division by a half-game, but the Astros began their three-game trip to Kansas City with a 4-2 loss Friday night at Kauffman Stadium. Those in the clubhouse insist on the importance of every game, but instead of building their division lead against clubs well below .500, the Astros have struggled.

The Royals were the latest example. The Astros began the month by getting swept at home by the Yankees, who entered the series in last place at 65-69. And a week after a critical three-game sweep of Texas, the Astros lost two of three to the A’s (46-101). Now, Houston finds itself needing to win the final two to take the series from Kansas City (47-101).

• Games remaining (14): at KC (2), vs. BAL (3), vs. KC (3), at SEA (3), at AZ (3)
• Standings update: The Astros (83-65) lead the American League West by a half-game over the Rangers (82-65) and one and a half games over the Mariners (81-66). The Astros hold the season tiebreaker against the Rangers, but not the Mariners.
• Magic number to clinch AL West: 15

Houston’s lead in the AL West dwindled from 2 1/2 games to a half-game in the past five days, with Texas’ loss Friday keeping the Astros atop the standings. The Astros are 1-6 against last-place clubs in September.

“These clubs can beat you too,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “They’re big [league] players. Yeah, [these games] are missed opportunities, but these [teams], they get up for us. Everyone gets up for us. We have to get even further up to them because we have five more games with them, and five more big games.”

The defending champs got a solid start from Cristian Javier, but the home run ball once again put a dent in an otherwise solid outing. Javier has allowed a career-worst 25 homers this season, and his 1.54 HR/9 rate is the highest of his career for any season that he has thrown 100+ innings.

Javier has given up 16 homers in his past 76 2/3 innings, and needs to continue to improve if he wants to earn a starting spot in the rotation should the Astros make the postseason.

“We couldn’t keep the ball in the yard,” Baker said. “Lately, that’s been Javier’s problem and our problem too. They’re doing to us what we usually do to other people. The last series as well. We just have to find a way to keep that ball in the ballpark.”

But it wasn’t like Javier was missing his spots against the Royals. The homer to Bobby Witt Jr. in the fifth inning was a 93.6 mph fastball on the inside edge of the plate. Outside of the two homers, Javier allowed just three singles across five innings.

“Felt very good,” Javier said. “Tried to say as focused as possible, as positive as possible and tried to attack the strike zone. To me, [Witt] made a great adjustment to that pitch.”

The two long balls put Houston in a hole it has found itself in frequently in the past week. For the third time in their past four games, the Astros have failed to score more than two runs. The result? Three losses to the two teams with the worst records in the Majors.

“They feel like the A’s, the two games they beat us, they played really good,” Jose Altuve said. “And the Royals hit three homers today and pitched good. Sometimes you have to tip the hat and realize they played better than you.”

The Astros struck out five times against Angel Zerpa and nine times total Friday, which included five strikeouts looking.

José Abreu had a chance with two runners on in the sixth, but was called out on a changeup low in the zone. Houston left seven on base and Alex Bregman grounded into two double plays, halting any offensive momentum.

“You hate facing guys you haven’t seen before because the nod goes to them, but we had opportunities. The big play was the called third strike on Abreu,” Baker said. “That looked like a ball and would have been bases loaded, one out. It was a questionable call right there.”

The Astros’ next test won’t come any easier, either. Cole Ragans, the AL Pitcher of the Month in August, will look to lead the Royals to a series win. Houston will try to avoid a third series loss in less than three weeks to a last-place club, or its lead in the AL West will be in jeopardy.

“I wish we can win every single game, but this is baseball,” Altuve said. “Sometimes the other team plays better than you. I know we got to come back tomorrow and get some momentum and start winning.”