Top Hitters/Pitchers of the Week (7) (5/6-5/12)

Hitters of the Week (7) (5/6-5/12)

1 – Kyle Tucker (23 PA, Min 13 PA, 10 Qualified)

• To say Tucker had a great week might be an understatement. Out of 11 categories, Tucker finished at or above the 95th percentile (of all hitters this week with at least 13 PA) in 8 of them, finishing in the 100th percentile in ISO and xISO. Gave the Astros 5 RBI on 4 Home Runs, all of which gave the Astros at least 9.8% in WPA, came while the game was either tied or within 2 runs. So it would only make sense that he had the 10th most Net Impact (WPA) for hitters this week, claiming 5 of the 8 best plays (by WPA) of the week.

2 – Jeremy Pena (25 PA, Min 13 PA, 10 Qualified)

• Jeremy Pena’s wOBA on the Week of 0.478 is in the 91st Percentile of qualified wOBAs this week. He had 2 crucial RBI in 2 days between 5/9 and 5/10, giving the Astros the lead in 1, and extending a 1-Run lead in the other. Though, this was another week of Pena having some (or multiple!) crucial negative play(s). That is to say, he had a great (89th Percentile) Context Neutral WPA (WPA/LI). He still ends the week with a 148 wRC+ on the season, 21st in the Majors.

3 – Mauricio Dubon (17 PA, MIn 13 PA, 10 Qualified)

• This decision for 3 was tough. Meyers, Yordan, and even Loperfido had a case for it, as out of that group of 4, all of them did great in or lead a category. I settled on Dubon, though. A statistical highlight is Batting Average, as his .438 BA was in the 96th Percentile for the week. A part (along with the other four left) of the Astros being 3rd in BA over the week. His WPA and wOBA ranked 3rd in the total group of 10 Astros, as well as being in the 70th and 81st Percentiles respectively. Overall, his 0.303 BA is still 21st in the Majors, and as we know (because it’s brought up every time he has a RISP PA), a top 10 BA with RISP (0.440, 6th)

Pitchers of the Week (7) (5/6-5/12)

Starters –

1 – Framber Valdez

• Giving up only 2 Runs in 7 Innings Friday in Detroit, Framber Valdez claims the #1 SP spot in this week's players of the week. The start featured Valdez fanning 4, giving the Astros 9.2% in WPA, exiting with a 1-2 deficit that the Astros would eventually make up in a 5-2 win. He ends the week with a season ERA of 3.64, and the lowest Fly Ball% in the Majors.

2 – Justin Verlander

• Verlander showed out in his start on Sunday the 12th. Pitching 7 Innings of shutout ball, with only 5 guys allowed on base on 2 Hits, 2 Walks, and 1 HBP. This start brought him down to a 3.38 ERA, 2nd among SP on the season, and 3rd among Astros Pitchers with at least 20 IP. His pitching, worth 39.6% WPA and a 79 Game Score, helped power the Astros to a 9-3 victory in Detroit to close out the week. Unfortunately though, this came 5 days after a poor start in the Bronx, in which he let 7 men past home plate in 5 Innings, and such is keeping him from being #1.

Honorable Highlight: Ronel Blanco – 1 GS, 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 54 GameScore.

Relievers –

1 – Josh Hader

• Of Hader’s 5 Saves on the 2024 Season, 2 of them came within the last week, in back to back evenings on the 9th and 10th. Came out for the 4 out Save on the 9th, and converted. He went 3/1 in K/BB, letting another runner on through a hit. With his FIP sitting at a 2.90, this should be the start of a Hader that we expected when he was signed in January.

2 – Bryan Abreu

• Abreu came in to pitch on the days that Hader got his Saves, the 9th and the 10th. Was able to get Holds while posting a 6/0 K/BB, with no Hits allowed. On the season, he is currently posting a 3.11 SIERA.

Honorable Highlight: Hunter Brown – Good 5 Inning outing on Saturday following Javier’s poor start, Striking Out 7 while letting 6 on, including a Home Run, of which his 1 ER was allowed on.