Power outage continues as Astros await reinforcements

CHICAGO -- Through the first 39 games of the season, the Astros haven’t played up to their standards, especially offensively. Part of it is due to injuries, and the other part is due to performance on the field.

In the Astros’ 3-1 loss to the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on Saturday evening, Houston’s offense couldn’t do much against Dylan Cease and scored either one or no runs for the sixth time over its last 15 games.

“We’re treading water,” manager Dusty Baker said. “We just have to keep on fighting.”

The Astros didn’t have many opportunities offensively to push runs across on Saturday. They had eight hits -- all singles -- and were 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

Their best chance came early on in the first inning when they loaded the bases with two outs. But Jeremy Peña grounded out to end the frame. Outside of that opportunity, Houston’s bats were quiet. The Astros scored on an RBI infield single from Mauricio Dubón in the seventh to tie the game, but they went silent after that.

“We had chances to get to Cease early because if you don’t get him early, then he gets tougher as the game goes on,” Baker said. “They had more chances than we had.”

That lack of offense has been felt by the Astros in the early parts of the season.

Houston has scored just six-plus runs twice over its last 15 games and ranks toward the bottom of the league in many categories during that span.

Since April 26, here’s how the Astros ranked offensively entering Saturday’s game:

Batting average: .207 (29th)
Home runs: 10 (29th)
Runs scored: 45 (29th)
OBP: .269 (30th)
SLG: .321 (29th)

After Saturday’s loss, Houston now ranks last in the Majors with 46 runs scored and tied for last with the Guardians with 10 homers during that span. Despite the rough stretch, the Astros aren’t panicking.

“I feel like we’re coming along,” Peña said. “I feel like we’ve been playing better baseball."

Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker have been consistent at the top of the lineup for the Astros. Tucker is hitting .263 with six homers and 25 RBIs, while Alvarez has a team-leading nine homers and 35 RBIs.

Peña -- who logged three hits in Saturday’s loss -- has also been solid offensively in 2023. He’s batting .333 on this current nine-game road trip and has 21 RBIs on the year.

Houston, though, hasn’t got much production elsewhere on its roster. The Astros are hitting .238 and rank 25th with 34 home runs on the year. Last season, they finished fourth with 214 homers.

“Yeah, you always expect more, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to get it,” Baker said. “It’s the person in the uniform, not the uniform. It’s not like you put on the uniform and all of a sudden turn into Superman. It doesn’t happen like that. I can’t come down on these guys because these guys are trying the best that they can do with the ability that they have.”

The Astros also know their roster isn’t at full strength yet.

Jose Altuve, who is rehabbing after a right thumb fracture, made his second straight start at Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday and is nearing a return at the end of May. Altuve’s presence at the leadoff spot will be much needed for this offense. He hit 39 doubles, 28 home runs and stole 18 bases last season.

“That’s gonna help a lot,” Baker said. “Dubón has been doing a great job. But Altuve is an All-Star. He’s Altuve. So we just gotta hold on until reinforcements get here.”

Michael Brantley suffered a setback on his surgically repaired right shoulder and remains without a timetable. But when he returns, he’ll add another big bat to the lineup.

Same thing with Chas McCormick. He’s played in just one game since April 15 but was batting .275 with nine RBIs in 11 games before his injury. The outfielder is expected back in the lineup Sunday after nursing a sore back.

“Of course,” Peña said. “Michael Brantley, Chas, Altuve, those guys are big-time not just on the field but in the clubhouse, and we’re excited for those guys to come back.”

The Astros haven’t been producing much offensively, and that continued in Saturday’s loss. But with the star power at the top and reinforcements on the way, they remain confident as a group.

“I feel like we’ll be good,” Peña said.