Jason Alexander and the Sugar Land Express
Called up after Lance McCullers Jr hit the IL, Alexander gave Houston six efficient innings built on sinkers, sequencing, and soft contact, another quiet result from the Astros pitching machine.
6 IP | 5 H | 2 ER | 1 BB | 4 K | 95 pitches
Earlier this season, Jason Alexander gave up twelve earned in six innings for the Sacramento A’s. Houston claimed him off waivers on May 18 in a move that seemed “whatever.” Then Lance McCullers got hurt again in the weight room—doing G-d knows what—and a spot on the starting rotation opened up…again. And Alexander was the emergency starter last night in West Sacramento.
Alexander executed. He lived arm-side with the sinker, got early outs, and avoided hard contact. No pitch overwhelmed, but each had a purpose. He moved quickly, stayed ahead, and didn’t let innings spiral. It was exactly the kind of outing the Astros designed for this role.
It’s the same script they always run. Pull a guy from Sugar Land, lean on sequencing, and trust the contact profile. These aren’t bullpen games. This is what the Astros do, with the Josh Miller and Bill Murphy carwash turning arms into clean innings.1
Usually, the offence wastes it (sorry, Brendan Walters).
With an outing that included Cam Smith going 4-for-5 with two homers and three runs knocked in, the game was over early.
Pitch Mix and Use
Sinker (41) — 91–92
Changeup (31) — 80–82
Sweeper (16) — 76–78
Four-seam (7) — topped at 93.7
Sinker-heavy. He pounded it arm side to both lefties and righties, often early in counts. Changeup came in slower with more vertical separation and was effective off the same tunnel. The sweeper was slow, wide, and used selectively. Four-seam showed up late in at bats to change eye levels, but he didn’t rely on it.
Sequencing and Tempo
Sinker first. Changeup second. If they adjusted, he’d mix in the sweeper or throw a fastball up. He didn’t need to work deep into counts. He worked quickly, stayed in rhythm, and never looked like he was chasing anything.
Contact and Profile
9 groundouts
3 popups
0 barrels
3 hard-hit balls
Most of the contact stayed on the ground or died in the air. It wasn’t weak because of movement. It was weak because he stayed out of the middle and didn’t overextend.
Movement
Sinker held plane with some late arm-side run. Changeup dropped under it. The two pitches played off each other well. The sweeper was distinct enough in speed and shape to disrupt timing. Fastball had average ride but worked as a show-me pitch.
Final Read
McCullers got hurt again, doing G-d knows what. Spencer Arrighetti is still recovering from whatever that thumb injury was supposed to be. The ghosts of Luis Garcia and Christian Javier still hang around the roster.
“The history of the Astros, dudes just do it,” Josh Hader said after Sunday’s game. “This organisation finds a way to do it.”
As the deadline creeps closer, the Astros are once again reaching for depth and somehow pulling off another Houdini act. It’s has to make fans of other American League teams say:
Last season, Brian argued that Miller and Murphy were the Astros’ MVPS. There’s a strong case for them to win it again this year.