Stock up, Stock down by 10 video games

Astros followers have gone from doom and gloom after two video games to euphoria following the subsequent 5, and again to doom and gloom after an odd sequence in West Sacramento that noticed the ace of their employees land on the IL. Still, they’re 6-4 by 10 video games—adequate for first place within the AL West, powered by a scorching lineup regardless of some shaky pitching.

Let’s play a sport of Stock Up, Stock Down primarily based on what we’ve seen up to now.

Alvarez has been one of the best hitter in baseball up to now this season. After hitting a homer Sunday in West Sacramento, Yordan Alvarez is slashing .400/.578/.900. He leads the league in on-base share and slugging share, and he’s tied with Jose Altuve for the league lead in walks. His 1.478 OPS will not be solely one of the best 10-game begin of his profession, it’s additionally one of the best 10-game begin in Astros historical past. Just as essential because the numbers is that he’s been in a position to play in all 10 video games.

Because he missed a lot time final season and carried out effectively under his commonplace when wholesome, it’s simple to neglect simply how a lot Alvarez, when firing on all cylinders, can carry a complete lineup. He’s not going to complete the season with a 316 OPS+, however this model of him is the form of ceiling-raiser the Astros want after shedding Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman following the 2024 season.

Jose Altuve’s swing choices

Last season, Jose Altuve swung at 38.3% of the pitches he noticed exterior the strike zone, his highest chase fee since his rookie season in 2011. That quantity is right down to 19.3% by the primary 10 video games this season. He hasn’t completed a season with a chase fee under 30% since 2012.

Altuve’s persistence has additionally proven up on pitches contained in the strike zone, the place his swing fee has dropped to 50.7% from a profession common of 65.7%. It’s uncommon to see an awesome participant make such a drastic change, however the outcomes converse for themselves: Altuve is slashing .354/.523/.594, and his 12 walks are almost double his seven strikeouts.

Walker’s disappointing first season with the Houston Astros stemmed largely from an terrible first 50 video games, throughout which he posted an OPS under .600. From that time on, he slashed .258/.313/.465. His last 104 video games have been extra according to his manufacturing in Arizona, however nonetheless fell wanting expectations given the value tag. Walker’s manufacturing has been by the roof up to now this season.

Walker has a 1.053 OPS by 10 video games this season, his finest begin over that span since turning into an on a regular basis participant seven years in the past. He’s additionally placing out much less and strolling extra, already compiling 0.5 bWAR after posting simply 0.2 for the whole 2025 season.

Abreu has appeared in 4 video games and hasn’t appeared good in any of them. He’s been scored on in every outing, marking the primary time he’s allowed an earned run in 4 straight appearances, and three of the 16 batters he’s confronted have taken him deep. He’s thrown 72 pitches and recorded simply eight outs.

He’s nonetheless among the many league leaders in swinging strikes and strikeouts, however his fastball velocity is right down to 95 mph from 97.3 mph final season. Opponents are averaging 103 mph in exit velocity towards him, and his chase fee has almost been reduce in half to 17%, per Baseball Savant, among the many worst in baseball.

While Josh Hader’s return, presumably earlier than the tip of the month, will take among the ninth-inning strain off Abreu, the Houston Astros want the 28-year-old, who’s scheduled to hit free company after the season, to return to his dominant type. They don’t have anybody else along with his capability to overlook bats.

Looking again, the Houston Astros ought to have stored Victor Caratini and traded Yainer Diaz whereas his worth was greater. At this fee, Diaz may very well be a non-tender candidate this winter.

Diaz completed 2023 with an .846 OPS, however that quantity dropped to .766 and .701 over the previous two seasons. Through his first eight video games of 2026, he has a .570 OPS.

Diaz has improved his chase fee from 44.3% to 38.6%, however that also ranks within the backside 20% of the league. His different metrics have plummeted, most notably his hard-hit fee (down from 42.2% to 21.4%) and common exit velocity (down from 89.9 mph to 84.4 mph).

Lance McCullers Jr. praised Diaz’s work behind the plate after his robust begin towards the Red Sox final week, however the metrics recommend Diaz has been one in all baseball’s worst catchers over the previous two seasons.