Jose Altuve's homer and a Framber Valdez gem led the Astros to a 2-0 win over the Cubs on June 30. Josh Hader sets a franchise save record. Recap inside!
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a classic Houston Astros victory on Monday night. A timely blast from a franchise icon, a dominant performance from the ace, and a lights-out bullpen to seal the deal. Jose Altuve's two-run homer in the fifth was all the offense Houston needed as Framber Valdez and the bullpen blanked the Chicago Cubs 2-0, extending the Astros' remarkable unbeaten series streak to 11.
Josh Hader has set a new Astros franchise record with his 23rd consecutive save to start the season.
The game was a tense pitcher's duel until the bottom of the fifth when Jose Altuve, who had been searching for power, broke a 34 at-bat streak without an extra-base hit by launching his 13th home run of the season. That was all Framber Valdez needed. The lefty was masterful over six shutout innings, scattering five hits and striking out six. The bullpen was equally impressive, with Bryan Abreu striking out four over two high-leverage innings before handing the ball to Josh Hader, who calmly locked down his franchise-record 23rd save.
Monday's crisp, efficient win was a welcome sight after a rocky weekend. Lance McCullers Jr. struggled mightily in his return from the injured list on Saturday, getting tagged for eight runs and three homers in just 3.1 innings, inflating his season ERA to 6.61. While his other six starts have yielded a tidy 2.79 ERA, his inconsistency remains a concern. The lone bright spot in that loss was Isaac Paredes, who swatted his team-leading 17th home run. Paredes continues to be the team's primary run-producer, now with 46 RBIs on the season.
The Astros' sustained success, including their run of eight straight playoff appearances, is a testament to their player development. As senior director Jacob Buffa noted, the organization excels at finding and maximizing talent from late draft rounds and international signings. This 'Astros Way' is on full display with the recent youth movement, as outfielders Cam Smith and Jacob Melton have seamlessly transitioned to full-time MLB roles. While the system is still considered weak overall, promising arms like Miguel Ullola and Bryce Mayer are emerging as future rotation options, proving the talent pipeline is far from dry.
With veteran stars delivering in the clutch, an ace dealing on the mound, a record-setting closer, and a continuous pipeline of young talent, the Astros are proving their formula for success is as potent as ever. Despite a hiccup from McCullers, the team's resilience and ability to win in different ways keeps them on a clear path toward a ninth straight postseason appearance. The rest of the league is on notice: Houston is built for the long haul.
