Smoke’s rising in Houston. Are the Astros loading up for a lefty power move? As the July 31 trade deadline approaches, the Houston Astros are sharing hints of their strategy.
General manager Dana Brown has identified and is currently focusing on one of the most critical gaps in their lineup to balance their team and sustain their American League West lead.
Astros GM Dana Brown Shared What the Lineup Needs Most Right Now
On the Astros’ pregame radio show on Sunday, Brown laid bare the team’s top priority. “It’s no secret it would be good to get a left-handed bat,” he said on 790 AM, “there’s no doubt about that. That’s the big thing for us.”
The Astros’ lineup has leaned heavily on right-handed hitters this season, with just 171 plate appearances from left-handed batters, the fewest in the majors. That imbalance has allowed opponents to exploit Houston’s weakness by leaning on right-handed pitching.
The absence of Yordan Alvarez, sidelined since May 2 with a right-hand fracture, has only widened the gap. As the team’s most impactful left-handed bat, Alvarez’s uncertain return timeline is becoming an increasingly serious concern for the club.
On the team’s pregame radio show, Astros GM Dana Brown said “it’s no secret, it’d be good to get a left-handed bat. No doubt about that. That’s the big thing for us. We’re having discussions about other things, but the one big issue for us, it’d be nice to get a left-handed bat.”
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) June 22, 2025
Brown noted only that he could resume swinging “in the near future.” Without him, switch-hitter Victor Caratini and call-up Jacob Melton, who played just 11 games before an ankle injury, have been the primary left-handed contributors. Bench players like Cooper Hummel, Luis Guillorme, and César Salazar offer some offensive ability.
However, despite the imbalance, Houston’s offense is still very capable, featuring a major-league-best .811 OPS against left-handed pitching. Nevertheless their struggles against right-handers highlight the need for a left-handed bat to diversify their attack.
Brown’s comments suggest that they are actively engaged in trade talks, but there may be some payroll constraints. Still, with the Astros 11 games above .500 and five games ahead in the AL West, they have room to manage.
Though Brown expressed confidence in their current state, pitching, too, could be a focus in the future. Lance McCullers Jr., recovering from a foot sprain, and Spencer Arrighetti, healing from a thumb fracture, are nearing their recovery. J.P. France, Cristian Javier, and Luis Garcia, all post-surgery, are progressing, with France and Javier already facing live hitters.
The Astros’ need for offensive balance was evident in Saturday’s 9-1 loss to the Angels. Houston managed just one run against José Soriano, who struck out 10 over 6 2/3 innings.
Christian Walker’s RBI single scored Jose Altuve, but the Astros’ right-heavy lineup couldn’t solve Soriano or capitalize against rookie Brandon Walter, who allowed seven runs.