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Things could have gone better for the Astros offense in the first series of the season. The Astros struck out 38 times and posted a
Astros are batting . 096 through 3 games, lowest BA by team through 3 games in MLB's modern era (since 1900) (via @eliassports)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 10, 2015
With 36 strikeouts in 3 games the Astros are on pace for 1,944 strikeouts, or 409 more than the current MLB record, which they set in 2013.
— CJ Nitkowski (@CJNitkowski) April 9, 2015
Evan Gattis is the 1st player in Astros history to strike out 4 times in consecutive games
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) April 9, 2015
Astros have struck out 36 times through three games. When they set strikeout record in '13, they had 43 strikeouts through three games.
— Brian McTaggart ⚾️ (@brianmctaggart) April 9, 2015
Even if #Astros manage a hit, these up-to-the-minute numbers for their offense aren't good: 37 strikeouts, 11 walks, 24 innings.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) April 9, 2015
There is no way to sugarcoat these stats, they're bad. Bad in a historic way. But there was some good that came out of the Opening Series this season.
- The Astros won their third-straight Opening Day.
- Jed Lowrie, George Springer, and Jose Altuve combined to go 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts.
- Dallas Keuchel and Scott Feldman combined to allow just one run through 13.2 innings, striking out nine in the process.
- The bullpen has allowed just two runs through 9.1 innings of work. Samuel Deduno was strong in his first turn has the Astros long man, striking out four in four innings of one run baseball.
- Luke Gregerson is one-for-one in save opportunities.
My point is not to ignore the strikeouts and the poor start to the offense, but to put them into the context that this is only three games. Sure, if the problem continues throughout April than the team can hit the panic button. Until then, just enjoy the fact that baseball is back.