Astros outfielder George Springer earned his second All-Star bid despite enduring a brutal cold stretch across June. But thanks to a few home runs, he may be on to better days at the dish.
Sometimes it takes just one crack of the bat to break a disgusting, lingering slump. For Houston Astros outfielder George Springer, that swing came Saturday night against the Angels.
The powerful punch against Jose Alvarez put Houston out of reach for the evening. Then Springer provided an encore Sunday night, garnering multiple hits including a double.
It’s almost unbelievable to realize that Springer once owned a .295 average with an .884 OPS. Yet, between June 10 and July 10, the leadoff hitter’s numbers dropped dramatically.
The entire month of June for Springer was essentially a nightmare – his worst month since his rookie season. It’s ironic that the Astros outfielder was patient at the plate, drawing walks, yet he hit for a paltry .190 average.
His transition into July wasn’t necessarily smooth either, but he earned some much-needed rest during the All-Star break. And the Midsummer Classic could be the turning point of his current campaign.
Typically, the Home Run Derby is notorious for ruining players’ swing in the second half. Though Springer didn’t take part in the official Derby, he smacked a 10-inning bomb in the All-Star Game – the Derby 2.0.
But it may have had the opposite effect for the Houston rising star.
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The Astros hitter went 4-for-10 with six RBIs along with four walks in three games against the Angels. Springer last eclipsed four hits in a series June 8 through June 10 against Oakland.
However, recent history doesn’t project a hot streak. Before posting numbers that won him the World Series MVP, he endured a cold stretch for much of the second-half in 2017.
Thus, Springer’s inconsistent nature suggests he could fall flat until the postseason once again. It seems that several Astros hitters are more volatile at the dish than steady.
Nevertheless, when one or two players on the club face a rough stretch, another pair of hitters step up and produce. It’s essentially why Houston boasts the second-best offense in the league.
But in order to return to the Fall Classic, Springer will need to resurge. Considering that left field has been a disappointment, along with Josh Reddick’s erratic hitting, the center fielder must remain dependable.
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