Breaking down the Astros: A veteran scout details his thoughts on Houston

The Red Sox just saw the Astros, up close and personal, for four games last week. But we thought we’d take a deeper dive and provide a more detailed look at the Red Sox’ ALDS opponents.

We spoke with a veteran major league scout for his impressions of the Astros’ roster.



POSITION PLAYERS:

CF/RF GEORGE SPRINGER: "Not your prototypical leadoff man, but it works for them. It’s a nice weapon to have 30 homers at the top of the lineup. … He’s a big strong, physical kid. He’s an aggressive hitter. He can swing out of his shoes at times. When he’s on time with his swing and gets the bat out front, he can hit it a long way. He’s a good mistake hitter. You can get him out with good breaking balls; he loves the fastball. If you let him, he can get himself out with pitches out of the zone."

3B ALEX BREGMAN: “He’s really come on in the second half. There’s some pop in his bat. He’s got a real short, compact swing. He’s made himself a pretty good third baseman, considering he was drafted as a shortstop. It’s funny – he doesn’t strike out in excess, but he doesn’t walk a lot either. Teams try to get him out with stuff away, especially with breaking balls. But I’ve seen him shoot the ball the other way. If you go inside on him, you better get in there hard.’’

2B JOSE ALTUVE: “He’s an MVP-caliber player. He does everything -- hits for average, for power, steals bases. He’s tough to strike out, because he has great bat-to-ball skills. He’s kind of the energizer for them – he makes things happen. He can handle location, velocity. He’s just a good hitter. I’ve seen him hit balls down low and I’ve seen him tomahawk pitches way up in the zone. He’s a good bad ball hitter. He’s ultra-aggressive, and is up there to hack. Sometimes, you can get him to chase sliders off the plate.’’

SS CARLOS CORREA: “He’s just one of those young, dynamic players, and he’s getting better every year. He’s got a chance to be an elite player. He uses the whole field as a hitter and he’s got power in every direction. At short, he doesn’t have great range, but he’s a guy who can make plays he supposed to. Every once in a while, he’ll make a play in the hole or behind the bag. Because he’s big tall guy, he likes the ball out over the plate where he can extend.’’

OF JOSH REDDICK: “He’s learned to become a better hitter. He used to be just a power bat, but now he’s sacrificed some power for improved contact. He uses the whole field. He plays with a lot of energy. There’s still some pop at the plate. He tends to like the ball down, so if you can get a slider underneath his hands or at his back foot, that can tie him up. He’s still an above-average defender. He can play either corner and can still throw. Of all the additions they made last season, he was the best. He’s a veteran presence and he’s helped lengthen their lineup. He’s not necessarily a plus runner, but he knows how to take a bag.’’

C BRIAN McCANN: “He’s dangerous at the bottom of the lineup. He can adjust and go the other way, but usually, he’s looking to pull. Defensively, he doesn’t move as well. Really has to have everything just right to throw out a runner. His release time (to second base on throws) is 2.0 or better. He doesn’t get rid of it as well as he used to. He still works well with the staff, but he’s just a fringe-average receiver. With guys who have late movement, he’ll box a few balls around. He doesn’t shift or block (balls) like he once did. He provides presence in the lineup and clubhouse.’’

DH CARLOS BELTRAN: “Age is catching up to him, no doubt. He doesn’t have much defensive value anymore; he just doesn’t have the range. His value is more in the clubhouse and in dugout. The bat has slowed down. You see him having to cheat a bit to get starter. He’s always been stronger from the left side. He’s still got an easy swing, and good rhythm and timing. But the bat speed isn’t what it used to be.’’

C/DH EVAN GATTIS: “He’s a big strong brute. He doesn’t strike out as much as he once did, but his power has dipped too, which is strange. But he’s dangerous – he can hurt you with one swing of the bat. He likes to chase the ball up. Teams throw him fastballs up, above the zone and breaking stuff off the plate. If you get ahead, you can expand on him with breaking balls. He’s not real mobile (behind the plate); he’s just a functional receiver.’’

1B YULI GURRIEL: “He can hit. He swings at everything; he’s not looking to walk. He makes a lot of contact, but it’s not always hard because he’s hitting balls out of the zone. He’s got great hand-eye coordination. You don’t have to throw him strikes. He’s got a long, whippy-type of bat. Defensively, he’s done a good job moving to first base, and has shown improved footwork.’’

OF/IF MARWIN GONZALEZ: “He’s the best utility guy in baseball, I think. You can play him somewhere every day. He doesn’t run well or have great range, but he catches everything he gets to. As a hitter, he’s better from the left side. That’s where most of his power and production comes from. He’s become a much better hitter. A good approach is to double or triple up on off-speed stuff, then give him something hard above the hands. He’s got a different set-ups from both sides, but maintains both swings.''

OF CAMERON MAYBIN : “He’s flexible as a defender. He can play all three and he can still handle center field. He’s a good base stealer. As a hitter, he’s more of line-drive guy with a little gap power. He can handle stuff out over the plate, so you’ve got to be careful.’’

OF DEREK FISHER: “He’s a young guy, real 'toolsy.' He’s played all three outfield spots, but he’s better in the corners. For a big kid, he can run. I’ve got him as a plus-runner down the line. He’s streaky as a hitter, because the timing isn’t always there. He rolls his hands at times and that causes him to miss more than he should. Lefties give him trouble with breaking balls.’’

STARTING PITCHERS

RHP JUSTIN VERLANDER: “He’s throwing like a true No. 1 again. I saw his last two starts and he was terrific. When he’s dealing strikes like that, he’s tough to hit. His fastball can be anywhere from 92-98 mph, and when he needs more, he’ll get more. He can hit every quadrant, and the fastball has late life in the zone He’s got the plus slider, which is also a swing-and-miss pitch. It’s got late action, power and is sharp. He’ll get it under the hands of a lefty and break it down-and-away to a righty. He’s still got a curveball to give you a different look and it’s still above-average. He’ll throw a changeup to lefties to keep them off the fastball, but it’s more of a show pitch. He can be a difference-maker. That’s what they needed at the top of that rotation.’’

LHP DALLAS KEUCHEL: ‘’He’s a great touch-and-feel guy, like a left-handed version of (Greg) Maddux. He’s got great pitch ability. He throws on the edges and commands everything he throws. When the umpire is giving him the outside edge, it’s going to be a long night. He’s got the extreme ground ball rate and the fastball has good run and sink. He’s got a good slider, cutter and change, so he has four pitches he can paint with. He’s also a great fielder and has a good move to first.’’

RHP BRAD PEACOCK: “He’s made himself a pretty good pitcher. The fastball isn’t overpowering, but he locates it well. His real out pitch is a late, 'slurvy' breaking ball -- a low 80’s slider with late break and depth and bite. That’s his go-to pitch. He’ll sprinkle in a curve and change, but he’s mostly fastball-slider.’’

RHP CHARLIE MORTON: “I saw him in spring training and he was 95-98 mph with his fastball, and I saw his last start, and he was still 95-97 mph. He’s also got a curveball, cutter and changeup. It’s a power four-pitch mix. He’s got a pretty good feel, but he’s had trouble staying healthy.’’

RHP LANCE McCULLERS Jr. (likely in bullpen): “When he’s healthy, he’s got the best stuff of all. He’s got a terrific knuckle-curve that’s a real swing-and-miss pitch. His fastball is 94-98, and he’s got an unbelievable change with late action. From a pure stuff standpoint, he’s got the best on this staff and he competes like you wouldn’t believe. He’s got filthy stuff, he’s aggressive and he’s got good mound presence.’’

RELIEF PITCHERS

RHP KEN GILES (closer):  “He finished up strong; I don’t think he blew a save in his last 25 opportunities. He’s primarily a two-pitch guy: a power fastball with limited life and a slider. The slider is his go-to pitch.''

RHP CHRIS DEVENSKI: “He’s a life-saver for the bullpen. He can handle any role  -- the sixth, seventh, eighth or ninth. It doesn’t make any difference to him. He can give you multiple innings with a mid-90s fastball with a changeup as good as there is in the game. In fact, I’d say he had the best changeup I saw all this year.’’

RHP LUKE GREGORSON: “It’s been a bit of a down year for him. He’s a sinker-slider guy, with the slider being his best pitch. He’s much more effective against righties than lefties. He hasn’t had the same command or quality of sink this year. That’s why his numbers aren’t as good. He knows how to get outs, but he’s not as efficient as he’s been in the past.’’

RHP WILL HARRIS: “He’s their seventh-inning guy, and he features a cutter, which he throws 90-93 mph. He’s also got a nice 12-6 curve, which he throws with some power.’’

LHP FRANCISCO LIRIANO: (No scout comments) Liriano was obtained at the deadline and pitched out of the bullpen in the final two months. Veteran with some post-season experience, but performance has faltered this year and he didn't not adapt well to the  shift to a relief role.

LHP TONY SIPP: (No scout comments) Sipp had been a mainstay for the Astros in recent years, but had his worst season this year. Also known as one of the slowest-working pitchers in the game.