The Astros of Houston, who are no longer in unique possession of first place in the American League West, fall into a series of three games against the Braves who begins on Friday in Atlanta.
Houston held a four-game advance on Seattle Mariners after beat the New York 8-7 Yankees on September 3.
Since then, the Astros (79-68) have been 2-5, and the Mariners have won a share of first place Thursday evening with a victory of 7-6 and 12 rounds on the Los Angeles Angels.
The astros were alone at the top of the division since August 13. They have not been out of first place since June 1.
Houston fell 6-0 in the decisive match of a three game set in Toronto on Thursday, while the right-hander of Blue Jays, Kevin Gausman, launched a two strikers.
“We have to find more consistency in our game game games,” said Astros Joe Espada manager. “We saw very good at-basics (Wednesday), the day before, I thought we put strikes and putting people on the basis. And then it becomes really difficult for us to do it three or four matches in a row. We need more of our offense to contribute.”
The Astros have lost eight of their last 12, and they have been looking for their first serial victory since August 26 to 28 against the Logly Colorado Rockies.
Adding to Houston’s difficulties is the fact that Espada had not announced a launcher leaving for the opening of the series in Atlanta. Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez are lined up to start for Astros on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
The brave, meanwhile, try to embrace the role of spoiler.
Atlanta (65-81) has approached its first loss campaign since 2017, the last time the team missed the playoffs. During a year in the grip of injuries that saw the club place each of the five start -up launchers of the season on the injured list at some point, whispering of manager Brian Snitker at the end of the season arose.
The Braves were a pre-season favorite to win the East National League and face the World Series, but now the 69-year-old skipper will have to decide whether the last weeks of the season will be his last.
“I think of a lot,” said Snitker, who won his 800th managerial victory in a 4-1 victory against Chicago Cubs on Monday. “Honestly, I don’t know where I’m going to finish and what a decision I’m going to take. I always have the impression that there are unfinished business. … I don’t want to look back in a year and regret things. I want to make sure to know where I’m going.”
The Braves have lost four of their last five games, leaving them 2-4 on their nine game house. A rare light point was Hurston Waldrep, 23 years old (4-0, 1.33 ERA), which should make its eighth appearance and the seventh start of the season on Friday.
Waldrep, which was called out of necessity in August, has granted more than one race the last time for the first time as a greatagist. He made five rounds, which gave two points on two strokes in a decision without a decision against the navy. The brave lost 10-2.
He will face astros for the first time.
– field level media
