The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Brian McTaggart: Depth Of Pitching Is Our Biggest Concern

Episode Date: August 8, 2025

Brian McTaggart: Depth Of Pitching Is Our Biggest Concern

All right, so let's get back to Brian McTagher with us here on the show. So Brian, look, the Astros did not do well in Boston. That seriously hurt them. The two out of three in Miami was good. Unfortunately, the White Sox did the Astros no favors. This is as tight as it's been, and it's not about what happened this week. It's basically been what the Astros have been for a better part of a month now. What are we seeing in your eyes from the Astros in the last month that we did not see,

maybe in the previous month when they were playing all those first place teams and being them on a regular basis? Well, I think the injuries just cut up with them. I mean, you know, Pena was out for a good stretch of that. Myers has been out for a good stretch of that. You know, they're slowly starting to get, you know, their starters back. But, you know, I just think they lost their horses. I mean, ever since sweeping the Dodgers in L.A., they're 9 and 16. And, yeah, the Mariners now are right on their heels.

So, but the lineup looked a lot better in Miami. I mean, Sanchez is going to make a big difference. Kray is going to make a big difference. Pena being back is going to make a big difference. And, you know, now they've got a chance to get Javier back soon. So I think they've weathered the worst of the storm, but the Mariners aren't going anywhere. So they're going to have to fend them off here for the next six weeks. So do you think it's a case of, I don't know, is it just getting guys back and expecting

too much right away. Like, for instance, everybody thinks, Brian, when and if Yordon comes back, this offense is going to be prolific. This is a guy that hasn't swung a bat in a regular season game since May. Unfortunately, you want to temper expectations, but at the same time, Brian,

you're in the middle of a pennant race, I know about 50 games left that go in the year. The time for experimenting is largely over here. Yeah, you're right. I mean, is he going to come back and what are you going to get out of him? I mean, Pena has come back and look, you know, look pretty good at the play, but he didn't miss as nearly the amount of games as Jordan has, and he wasn't dealing with a hand injury.

But again, you'd rather have him in the lineup and see what he can do than not. And he just, you know, he strikes the fear of God and opposing pitchers. So, but, you know, I think offensively they're going to be fine. I mean, Sanchez looks like he can really make a difference hitting the ball hard. The lineup is just deeper. You just don't have like that bottom three where you're like, maybe these are automatic out. You just don't have that anymore. And with Yordon and talking about him coming back, what did you make of all the comments about him

in the injury, it needs surgery, but they can't get surgery there? Does it sound like maybe he does need an off-season procedure, but they don't want to miss him for the season, so he's going to try to heal up and try to play through the pain? What did you make of all that? Because just asking, how close to 100% do you guess that Yordon can be physically? Boy, it's hard to know. I mean, we were told the hand, the broken bone, he'll, I think about a month ago, we're in Colorado, and then the inflammation came out and he got a shot.

And so the fact that we're still, you know, where he's at and taking batting practice is, you know, pretty troublesome. I mean, he's had hand injuries before. So I don't know if there's anything they can do surgery-wise. I mean, I think they probably would have done it by now because this is just dragged on for so long. So who knows? I mean, I guess we'll find out at some point he's going to go and play in a AAA game or whatever,

and maybe he can get back. But it's hard to count on him being in the lineup at this point when he's just been out for so long. Ryan McTagher with us here on the radio program. Isaac Peretti's not going to have the surgery. We're going to have that injection if you already had. So what was your thought about that? And realistically, is that just a player going, you know what? I don't want to go under the knife.

I want to do whatever I can. And if he comes back at all, that would be considered gravy, right? In some respects? I think you're totally right. I mean, look, they put him on the 60-day aisle the other day, which would take him to, I don't know the exact day, but somewhere around September 15th, 16th. So even if he comes back, you're talking on the last 10 games of the regular season.

I think it's a really, really long shot. I mean, all we heard for a couple weeks was, you know, a severe injury, an injury is going to, you know, there were reports he was going to be out for the year. But yeah, I think it's sort of a Hail Mary on Eastock's part to try to get back to this lineup. And hey, if it works great, if not, you know, they went out and got Carlos Correa to play third base,

and so they should be set there. But I just wonder if he doesn't get back, if they'll go ahead and have the surgery and, you know, will that take him out in the next year as well? But I guess hats off for Eastok to try to rehab this thing getting back on the field. You mentioned Carlos Corray. Just your evaluation of the three moves, obviously, a very short sample size,

but the guys that the Astros are at at the deadline and how you feel, not only how they've played, but how they've been used. Yeah, you know, Sanchez hitting up in the lineup play mostly left field. I mean, he certainly hits the ball hard. He gives you that threat from the left side that you needed, a little more balance at the top of the lineup, which they didn't have. He seems to be a super likable guy, I think, that's fit in pretty well so far. And Correa is Correa.

I mean, it came back in like he never left. He's sitting there with, you know, Jose Altuvae to his side. Marvin Gonzalez was in the clubhouse in Florida. It was like everyone, the band was getting back together. But, you know, having him play third base, you know, I think he'll do really well over there. You know, he brings the better leadership as well. And Curius is a guy that can sort of fill in and gives you another one of those utility players like Duvonne. I mean, I think there were all three great moves.

I know they wanted to get a starting pitcher or a reliever. The cost was too high. And, you know, I totally get that. They're sort of rolling the dice here with their rehabbing starters coming back and hoping that they can give them something down the stretch. A couple more minutes here with Brian McTaggart, MLB.com with us here. What do you see in terms of playing time the rest of the way for Cam Smith, especially with the fact you've got Jesus now on this baseball team.

You've got some utility players. You can move around. You can move Dubon to the outfield if you needed to. And, again, if Yordon comes back, that may precipitate, Jose going to left field. What is Cam's, unless again, a high street comes into play, which very well could. But obviously, his last month has not been his best month. It's a major leagueer. Yeah, I could see him losing the best to Sanchez for sure. Sanchez playing, you know, right field and starts and right against left handers and I guess right handers, sorry,

and Cam starting and right against lefties. You will have the Jordan situation when he comes back. So I think this detraege will just cut into his bats a little bit, especially if he continues not to be productive. There was a game in Miami. He had a couple of hits, but still he's come up in some big spots and not been able to get it done. So, you know, at this point in the season, you can't afford to run a guy out there who is struggling at the plate.

And now they have options where they can start somebody else. And Urius gives them good at bats and can play some positions. And they could put somebody else in right field, like you said, whether it's Sanchez or somebody else to, to get those at bats until Smith can get going. Last thing, Brian, I think I know the answer to this, but I want to get it from your perspective. The most encouraging thing about the Astros,

the rest of the way to me is the lineup is lengthened. Now that you have Sanchez, now that you have Carlos Correa, you've got Jeremy Payne up back. That, to me, is the most encouraging thing about the rest of the way. What do you think is the biggest alarm going off in the Astros organization with these 50 or so games? left to go. I think it's probably depth of

depth of pitching, both starting and relieving. I mean, Eric Getty's first start didn't go well. Yeah, he was a little rusty, so, you know, you give him another one. Javier hasn't thrown the ball great in his rehab starts, but, you know, he's going to be coming up here. Louis Garcia threw the ball really well last night at AAA, so that's a positive. But even on the relief side, I mean, who do you trust, you know, beyond those last two guys and a brayer and Hader? I mean, they went out and got a reliever, signed a reliever yesterday,

who had been with the Braves and a guy that throws hard and maybe they can change some of his usage and he can become a key guy. But do they have enough weapons in the bullpen? Is there enough starting pitching depth that can match them up and get them through a long seven game series?