"They're just too good" - Ex-Braves slugger credits catcher, pitcher, and inevitable streaks of Alex Bregman and Yordan Alvarez for Astros' success

On June 18, the Houston Astros stood 10 games behind the Seattle Mariners in the AL West. For many onlookers, it appeared as though the dying days of a modern dynasty were finally coming to pass.

Since June 20, manager Joe Espada's club have put together a run of epic proportions. Now 29-16 in that span, no other AL team have come close to the Houston Astros. Moreover, in the past six weeks, Houston ranks in the MLB's top 10 in home runs, runs, OPS, hits, team ERA, and strikeouts.

"They're just too good. They don't ride the high-low like most teams do." - @markdero7 on the Astros. #MLBCentral | #Relentless" - MLB Network

In a recent appearance on MLB Network, former Atlanta Braves infielder and current analyst Mark DeRosa marvelled at the club's success. DeRosa claimed the Astros to be "just too good" and that they "don't ride the high-low like most teams do."

DeRosa cited that fact that the Astros have appeared in seven straight ALCS as proof of the club's dominance. DeRosa then turned to examining the individual bats who have been so pivotal for the Houston Astros in 2024.

Chief among DeRosa's subjects of praise were sluggers Alex Bregman and Yordan Alvarez. After overcoming some early-season difficulties, both men homered in Sunday's 10-2 over the Boston Red Sox, and appear to be leading the Astros toward their eighth straight AL West divisional title.

"Alex Bregman and Yordan Alvarez go back-to-back at Fenway" - MLB

After hitting a regrettable .220 for the first two months of the season, third baseman Alex Bregman is now red-hot. His 17th home run came as his second in as many games on Sunday. A .308 hitter over the past two weeks, Bregman is on pace to hit his most homers since 2019.

For Yordan Alvarez, a similar story exists. Though his early-season numbers were better than Bregman's, that isn't stopping the big Cuban. In his last 12 games, Alvarez is hitting .395/.519/.791.

Experience with each other makes the Houston Astros gel

After going 2-for-2 in the win over Boston, Yordan Alvarez now has a .482 average in fifteen career games at Fenway Park. As Alex Bregman, who is in a big contract year, said of his teammate to AP:

“Just to be able to be his teammate and be able to watch what he does on a day-to-day basis is special. He hits for average line-to-line, hits the ball out of the ballpark anywhere, so he’s always fun to watch and he’s very clutch, too. ... He always gets his ‘A’ swing off.”

Now in a dead tie with the Seattle Mariners, the Astros will only need to stay the course to earn their eighth straight divisional win.