MLB teams often look for a star pitcher or a productive, controllable slugger to build around.
Then, there are lucky teams like the Houston Astros that can say they have both.
More than luck itself, it speaks of Houston’s ability to manage assets and develop talent in the last few years.
Ever since winning that 2017 World Series, they have remained extremely competitive, in large part because of their star power.
Justin Verlander, at 39 years old, is leading the Astros rotation after missing the last year while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.
Not only has he been the Astros’ unquestioned ace, but he has been one of the best hurlers in the American League and is a firm candidate for the Cy Young award.
On the other hand, we have slugger Yordan Alvarez, who has blossomed into a top-five hitter in baseball in 2022.
“Yordan Alvarez of the @astros has a 1.033 OPS and is on pace to reach 40 HR. Justin Verlander has a 1.85 ERA and is on pace to reach 20 wins. No team in MLB history has had a batter with 40+ HR and a 1.000+ OPS and a pitcher with 20+ wins and a sub-2.00 ERA in the same season,” Stats by STATS tweeted.
Yordan Alvarez of the @astros has a 1.033 OPS and is on pace to reach 40 HR.
Justin Verlander has a 1.85 ERA and is on pace to reach 20 wins.
No team in MLB history has had a batter with 40+ HR and a 1.000+ OPS and a pitcher with 20+ wins and a sub-2.00 ERA in the same season.
— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) August 12, 2022
Verlander And Alvarez Are Carrying The Astros
You can say with confidence that the Astros are being carried by Alvarez and Verlander.
The former is slashing .295/.401/.633 and is third in the majors with 31 round-trippers.
He is one of just a couple of hitters with an OPS of 1.000 or more.
Verlander, meanwhile, has an incredibly impressive 1.85 ERA in 136 frames.
The workload is incredibly impressive, since Verlander didn’t pitch in 2021 while rehabbing from his surgery.
As long as those two are healthy, the Astros will have a great chance of repeating as AL champions.
