Heading in different directions, Astros, Reds begin series

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Reds hope to turn things around against division leaders

The Houston Astros and Cincinnati Reds are heading in opposite directions as they begin a three-game series at Great American Ball Park on Tuesday.

The Astros (31-17) are one of the hottest teams in baseball, having won 10 of their last 12 games. They lead the AL West by 5.5 games and are tied for the best record in the American League.

The Reds (19-32), on the other hand, are one of the worst teams in baseball. They have lost 10 of their last 13 games and are last in the NL Central.

The Reds will be looking to turn things around against the Astros, but it will be a tough task. The Astros have one of the best offenses in baseball, led by Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, and Alex Bregman.

The Reds will need to find a way to slow down the Astros' offense and generate some runs of their own. They will also need to play better defense, as they have committed 40 errors this season, which is tied for the most in the NL.

The series between the Astros and Reds begins on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. ET.

## Astros' offense has been clicking lately

The Astros' offense has been one of the best in baseball this season, led by Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, and Alex Bregman.

Altuve is hitting .333 with 4 home runs and 20 RBIs.

Alvarez is hitting .316 with 10 home runs and 32 RBIs.

Bregman is hitting .306 with 9 home runs and 28 RBIs.

The Astros also have a deep lineup, with Kyle Tucker, Jeremy Pena, Mauricio Dubon, and Trey Mancini all hitting over .290 this season.

## Reds' offense has struggled

The Reds' offense has struggled this season, ranking near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories.

Joey Votto is hitting .229 with 7 home runs and 33 RBIs.

Kyle Farmer is hitting .270 with 5 home runs and 25 RBIs.

Brandon Drury is hitting .266 with 6 home runs and 22 RBIs.

The Reds will need to find a way to generate more offense if they want to compete with the Astros.

## Astros' pitching staff has been solid

The Astros' pitching staff has been solid this season, led by Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, and Cristian Javier.

Verlander is 6-1 with a 2.87 ERA.

Valdez is 5-2 with a 3.14 ERA.

Javier is 4-2 with a 3.34 ERA.

The Astros' bullpen has also been solid, with Ryne Stanek, Rafael Montero, and Hector Neris all posting ERAs under 3.00.

## Reds' pitching staff has struggled

The Reds' pitching staff has struggled this season, ranking near the bottom of the league in most pitching categories.

Hunter Greene is 3-6 with a 6.00 ERA.

Luis Castillo is 3-4 with a 5.89 ERA.

Graham Ashcraft is 3-4 with a 5.20 ERA.

The Reds' bullpen has also been a problem, with Art Warren, Alexis Diaz, and Tejay Antone all posting ERAs over 5.00.

## Astros are favored to win the series

The Astros are favored to win the series against the Reds, who have the worst record in the NL Central.

The Astros have a better offense, pitching staff, and defense than the Reds.

The Reds will need to play their best baseball to have a chance to win the series.