Written By: Joe Zollo
Two teams in a rebuilding stage battle it out in the ides of March. The Astros are coming off of a third-place finish in their division in 2016 while Atlanta posted the second-worst record in baseball. Half-way through the 2017 spring training season, the Astros have posted a 4-8-2 record while the Braves have posted a 4-11-1 record.
These records reflect poorly on the Astros but also show that they are deep into rebuilding. The Astros have an ace in Dallas Keuchel as well as a solid middle infield with a big bat DH in Carlos Beltran. Beltran hit 29 home runs in the 2016 season. Moreover, in just eight at-bats this spring training, he has hit two home runs.
Even though their roster is very good on paper, one big reason that Houston has failed to consistently make the playoffs is because of the division they play in. The Texas Rangers have consistently been a good team, and the Mariners have now been brought to life in Seattle.
Switch gears to Atlanta, and it is a whole different story. The Braves play in a division with two powerhouse teams in the Mets and Nationals so even making the wildcard spot in the NL would be a stretch. The Braves had received 2B Brandon Phillips in free agency, and he is the bright spot on this team. Phillips will put butts in seats and give you consistency in the field and also at the plate.
Looking ahead to the matchup Friday, the Astros will be splitting their squad and will not be at full strength. Both teams are looking for their fifth win of spring training and are hoping that this will be a turning point at the midway point through spring training. The game will be held at the new Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, which is home to both Houston and the Washington Nationals.
These records reflect poorly on the Astros but also show that they are deep into rebuilding. The Astros have an ace in Dallas Keuchel as well as a solid middle infield with a big bat DH in Carlos Beltran. Beltran hit 29 home runs in the 2016 season. Moreover, in just eight at-bats this spring training, he has hit two home runs.
Even though their roster is very good on paper, one big reason that Houston has failed to consistently make the playoffs is because of the division they play in. The Texas Rangers have consistently been a good team, and the Mariners have now been brought to life in Seattle.
Switch gears to Atlanta, and it is a whole different story. The Braves play in a division with two powerhouse teams in the Mets and Nationals so even making the wildcard spot in the NL would be a stretch. The Braves had received 2B Brandon Phillips in free agency, and he is the bright spot on this team. Phillips will put butts in seats and give you consistency in the field and also at the plate.
Looking ahead to the matchup Friday, the Astros will be splitting their squad and will not be at full strength. Both teams are looking for their fifth win of spring training and are hoping that this will be a turning point at the midway point through spring training. The game will be held at the new Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, which is home to both Houston and the Washington Nationals.