{"id":432445,"date":"2026-09-11T03:56:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T03:56:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/432445\/"},"modified":"2026-09-11T03:56:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T03:56:15","slug":"houston-astros-cristian-javier-cam-smith-starting-to-get-hot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/432445\/","title":{"rendered":"Houston Astros: Cristian Javier, Cam Smith &#8216;starting to get hot&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img alt=\"Houston Astros' Cristian Javier pitches during the third inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo\/Matt Rourke)\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofcv bgscv block bg-gray200 mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Houston Astros&#8217; Cristian Javier pitches during the third inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo\/Matt Rourke)<\/p>\n<p>Matt Rourke\/Associated Press<\/p>\n<p>PHILADELPHIA\u00a0\u2014 Progress in a demanding sport is not always linear. Four years ago, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/PHILADELPHIA%20%E2%80%93%20Progress%20in%20a%20demanding%20sport%20is%20not%20always%20linear.%20Four%20years%20ago,%20Cristian%20Javier%20found%20the%20pinnacle%20of%20a%20breakout%20season%20on%20the%20same%20mound%20he%20climbed%20Thursday.%20Throwing%20the%20first%20six%20innings%20of%20a%20combined%20World%20Series%20no-hitter%20seemed%20to%20cement%20his%20arrival%20with%20a%20pitching-rich%20franchise.%20%20An%20eight-figure%20extension%20soon%20followed.%20But%20then%20came%20struggle,%20and%20elbow%20surgery,%20and%20evasive%20results%20upon%20his%20return,%20the%20latter%20suggesting%20an%20ongoing%20need%20to%20evolve.%20Few%20starters%20can%20thrive%20on%20the%20formula%20Javier%20once%20employed,%20never%20more%20extremely%20than%20on%20a%20November%20night%20in%20Philadelphia%20in%202022.%20%20%E2%80%9CI%20remember%20in%20the%20World%20Series%20he%20threw%20like%2095%20pitches,%20and%20we%20used%20like%2072%20fastballs,%E2%80%9D%20Astros%20catcher%20Christian%20V%C3%A1zquez%20said.%20%E2%80%9CThat%20fastball%20was%20electric%20that%20day.%E2%80%9D%20%20V%C3%A1zquez,%20recalling%20the%20outing%20Thursday,%20was%20nearly%20pinpoint.%20Javier%20totaled%2097%20pitches%20in%20Game%204%20of%20the%202022%20World%20Series%20against%20the%20Phillies.%20Seventy%20of%20them,%20or%2072%,%20were%20four-seam%20fastballs.%20Another%2025%20were%20sweepers.%20Those%20two%20pitches%20comprised%2087%%20of%20the%20right-hander%E2%80%99s%20usage%20that%20season.%20%20%E2%80%9CI%20feel%20like%20I%E2%80%99m%20a%20very%20different%20pitcher%E2%80%9D%20now,%20Javier%20said,%20through%20an%20interpreter.%20%E2%80%9CBefore,%20I%20only%20had%20two%20pitches.%20And%20now%20I%20feel%20like%20I%20have%20more%20pitches%20that%20I%20can%20throw%20and%20execute%20and%20attack%20hitters%20with.%E2%80%9D%20%20Results%20had%20not%20lent%20resounding%20support.%20Javier,%20in%20the%20penultimate%20year%20of%20a%20%2464%20million%20deal%20and%20his%20first%20full%20season%20back%20from%20surgery,%20was%20expected%20to%20reinforce%20this%20Astros%20rotation.%20He%20entered%20Thursday%20with%20a%205.98%20ERA%20in%2049%202\/3%20innings%20this%20season%20between%20a%20shoulder%20injury%20and%20a%20detour%20to%20the%20bullpen.%20%20But%20the%20rotation%20is%20still%20in%20need,%20and%20Javier%E2%80%99s%20last%20start%20against%20Arizona%20was%20promising,%20so%20he%20drew%20another%20Thursday.%20Two%20days%20before,%20on%20the%20team%20bus%20to%20Citizens%20Bank%20Park,%20V%C3%A1zquez%20had%20brought%20up%20his%20outing%20in%20the%20second-ever%20World%20Series%20no-hitter,%20Javier%20acknowledged:%20%E2%80%9CSo%20I%20was%20thinking%20about%20it.%E2%80%9D%20%20Echoes%20of%20it%20were%20undeniable.%20Javier%20worked%20with%20the%20same%20catcher%20Thursday,%20V%C3%A1zquez,%20who%20had%20caught%20Game%204%20in%202022.%20He%20faced%20a%20Phillies%20lineup%20featuring%20five%20of%20the%20same%20hitters.%20He%20wore%20the%20same%20uniform%20combination%20of%20orange%20jersey,%20gray%20pants,%20dark%20blue%20long%20sleeves%20and%20socks.%20%20Amid%20them,%20Javier%20perhaps%20offered%20a%20glimpse%20of%20progress%20from%20where%20he%20has%20been.%20During%20his%20six%20innings%20in%20a%202-1%20Astros%20win,%20the%20right-hander%20conjured%20memories%20for%20his%20manager%20and%20catcher%20of%20that%20start,%20while%20doing%20it%20in%20a%20different%20way.%20%20By%20the%20time%20Javier%20finished%20his%20fourth%20inning,%20still%20yet%20to%20allow%20a%20hit,%20Houston%20manager%20Joe%20Espada%20said:%20%E2%80%9CI%20started%20thinking%20about%20it.%E2%80%9D%20Luis%20Arraez%20dashed%20any%20idea%20of%20a%20repeat%20with%20a%20leadoff%20single%20in%20the%20fifth.%20Javier%20allowed%20two%20more%20hits%20across%20six%20innings%20of%20one-run%20ball%20against%20a%20potent%20offense.%20%20%E2%80%9CHe%20was%20very%20good,%E2%80%9D%20said%20V%C3%A1zquez.%20%E2%80%9CI%20think%20the%20changeup%20was%20amazing%20today.%20We%20used%20a%20lot%20of%20changeups%20to%20everybody%20%E2%80%A6%20His%20fastball%20after%20the%20changeup%20worked%20a%20lot.%E2%80%9D%20%20Javier%20threw%20his%20changeup%204.1%%20of%20the%20time%20in%202022%20and%20not%20once%20in%20his%20World%20Series%20outing.%20It%20became%20a%20larger%20part%20of%20his%20arsenal%20in%202024,%20prior%20to%20surgery.%20He%20introduced%20a%20cutter%20earlier%20this%20season,%20a%20new%20pitch%20he%20has%20thrown%20with%20a%20high%20in-zone%20rate.%20Reliever%20Bryan%20Abreu%20also%20added%20one%20amid%20his%20recent%20rebound.%20%20Thursday,%20Javier%20threw%20his%20four-seamer%2039%%20of%20the%20time.%20He%20threw%2021%20changeups%20on%2079%20pitches;%20seven%20put%20in%20play%20averaged%20an%2083.9%20mph%20exit%20velocity%20and%20all%20went%20for%20outs.%20He%20mixed%20in%2016%20sweepers%20and%2011%20cutters.%20Phillies%20hitters%20chased%20at%20a%2046%%20clip%20against%20him%20and%20whiffed%20on%2014%20of%2044%20swings,%20or%2032%20percent.%20%20%E2%80%9CHe%E2%80%99s%20got%20all%20his%20pitches%20working,%E2%80%9D%20Espada%20said.%20%E2%80%9CHe%20knows%20where%20to%20go%20against%20lefties,%20he%20knows%20where%20to%20go%20against%20righties.%20The%20level%20of%20confidence%20in%20between%20innings%20when%20he%E2%80%99s%20downstairs%20and%20he%E2%80%99s%20talking,%20the%20tone%20is%20different.%20He%E2%80%99s%20really%20believing%20and%20the%20stuff%20right%20now%20is%20working%20well%20for%20him.%E2%80%9D%20%20In%20his%20last%20two%20starts,%20both%20against%20NL%20contenders,%20Javier%20has%20allowed%20two%20runs%20and%20four%20hits%20in%2011%20innings.%20The%20idea%20of%20harnessing%20this%20version%20of%20him%20amid%20a%20playoff%20push%20is%20tantalizing%20for%20the%20Astros,%20even%20if%20little%20in%20Javier%E2%80%99s%20last%20two%20seasons%20invites%20it.%20%20Along%20with%20Hunter%20Brown,%20the%20Astros%20are%20leaning%20heavily%20on%20Hayden%20Wesneski%20in%20his%20return%20from%20surgery%20and%20have%20taxed%20Peter%20Lambert.%20Before%20Thursday,%20they%20seemed%20reticent%20to%20let%20Javier%20work%20deep%20into%20starts%20and%20face%20lineups%20for%20a%20third%20time.%20That%20made%20his%20sixth%20inning%20notable.%20%20An%20infield%20hit%20and%20a%20passed%20ball%20put%20the%20potential%20go-ahead%20run%20on%20second%20base%20in%20a%201-1%20game.%20Espada%20let%20Javier%20face%20Phillies%20leadoff%20hitter%20Kyle%20Schwarber,%20the%20majors%E2%80%99%20home%20run%20leader,%20and%20Trea%20Turner%20each%20for%20a%20third%20time.%20Schwarber%20struck%20out%20swinging%20on%20a%20fastball,%20Turner%20on%20a%20changeup.%20%20It%20punctuated%20a%20promising%20day%20for%20Javier.%20He%20departed%20a%20game%20that%20remained%20tied%20until%20the%20ninth%20inning,%20when%20Cam%20Smith%20stepped%20in%20to%20face%20Phillies%20closer%20Jhoan%20Duran.%20%20It%20has%20been%20a%20trying%20sophomore%20season%20for%20Smith,%20the%2023-year-old%20right%20fielder%20anointed%20a%20future%20%E2%80%9Caircraft%20carrier%E2%80%9D%20before%20his%20debut%20by%20a%20general%20manager%20no%20longer%20in%20that%20role.%20Smith%20awoke%20Thursday%20with%20a%20.216%20batting%20average%20and%20a%20.683%20OPS,%20stats%20outweighing%20strides%20indicated%20by%20some%20of%20his%20underlying%20metrics.%20%20Smith%20posted%20a%20.504%20OPS%20in%20July,%20when%20he%20was%20held%20out%20of%20the%20starting%20lineup%20for%20a%20series%20to%20work%20on%20his%20swing.%20He%20followed%20with%20a%20.785%20OPS%20in%20August%20but%20on%20its%20final%20day%20said:%20%E2%80%9CI%20really%20haven%E2%80%99t%20done%20much%20and%20haven%E2%80%99t%20produced%20at%20all,%E2%80%9D%20inviting%20wonder%20of%20whether%20an%20up-and-down%20season%20may%20be%20weighing%20on%20him.%20%20%E2%80%9CI%E2%80%99m%20not%20concerned%20about%20that,%E2%80%9D%20Espada%20said%20Thursday,%20%E2%80%9Cbecause%20he%E2%80%99s%20very%20mature%20for%20his%20age%20and%20knows%20how%20to%20handle%20himself.%E2%80%9D%20%20Three%20games%20in%20an%20atmosphere%20Smith%20said%20felt%20like%20%E2%80%9Cplayoffs%E2%80%9D%20showcased%20a%20young%20player%20who%20may%20still%20be%20growing%20into%20immense%20potential.%20Tuesday,%20Smith%20hit%20a%20home%20run,%20made%20a%20key%20sliding%20catch%20and%20ran%20through%20a%20stop%20sign%20at%20third%20base,%20albeit%20scoring%20on%20the%20play.%20Wednesday,%20Smith%20homered%20off%20reigning%20NL%20Cy%20Young%20runner-up%20Cristopher%20S%C3%A1nchez%20and%20made%20an%20ill-advised%20throw%20to%20home%20plate%20that%20set%20up%20a%20Phillies%20run.%20%20On%20Thursday,%20Smith%20struck%20out,%20singled%20and%20walked%20in%20three%20matchups%20with%20Zack%20Wheeler,%20the%20Phillies%20workhorse%20who%20spun%20seven%20innings%20of%20one-run%20ball.%20He%20stood%20on%20deck%20as%20Duran%20started%20the%20ninth.%20The%20Astros%20bench%20included%20LaMonte%20Wade%20Jr.,%20the%20left-handed%20hitter%20who%20has%20pinch-hit%20for%20Smith%20at%20times%20against%20righties%20but%20is%20not%20a%20comparable%20defender.%20Smith%20took%20the%20at-bat.%20%20He%20had%20faced%20Duran%20once,%20last%20June%20in%20Houston.%20Duran%20had%20started%20him%20with%20a%20splitter.%20Smith%20bounced%20it%20up%20the%20middle%20for%20a%20walk-off%20single%20but%20recalled%20Thursday%20that%20he%20%E2%80%9Cgot%20a%20little%20long%E2%80%9D%20with%20that%20swing:%20%E2%80%9CSo%20this%20time,%20I%20was%20just%20telling%20myself%20to%20stay%20short.%E2%80%9D%20Duran%20again%20started%20him%20with%20a%20splitter,%20at%2098.5%20mph%20but%20hovering%20over%20the%20plate.%20Smith%20hit%20it%20421%20feet%20into%20the%20seats%20in%20left-center.%20%20%E2%80%9CI%20think%20he%E2%80%99s%20showing%20the%20power%20that%20he%20has,%20and%20it%20was%20amazing,%20(off)%20a%20great%20pitcher,%E2%80%9D%20V%C3%A1zquez%20said.%20%20Duran%20had%20allowed%20one%20home%20run%20in%2055%20appearances%20this%20year%20and%20none%20to%20a%20right-handed%20hitter%20on%20his%20splitter%20since%202024,%20per%20Baseball%20Savant.%20Home%20runs%20in%20three%20straight%20games%20put%20Smith%20at%2020%20this%20season.%20He%20is%20the%20sixth%20Astros%20player%20to%20record%20a%2020-homer%20season%20at%20age%2023%20or%20younger.%20Carlos%20Correa%20and%20C%C3%A9sar%20Cede%C3%B1o%20each%20had%20three%20such%20seasons.%20Yordan%20Alvarez,%20Matt%20Dominguez%20and%20Jim%20Wynn%20all%20had%20one.%20%20%E2%80%9CI%20guess%20I%E2%80%99m%20still%20trying%20to%20find%20my%20way,%E2%80%9D%20Smith%20said%20of%20his%20second%20MLB%20season.%20%E2%80%9CI%20can%E2%80%99t%20really%20explain%20the%20journey%20I%E2%80%99ve%20been%20on.%20But%20I%20get%20an%20opportunity%20to%20play%20here%20every%20single%20day,%20so%20thanks%20to%20the%20front%20office%20and%20Joe%20for%20putting%20me%20in%20the%20lineup%20as%20much%20as%20they%20do.%E2%80%9D%20%20Lack%20of%20other%20options%20must%20be%20acknowledged.%20The%20Astros%20had%20received%20a%20.669%20OPS%20from%20their%20outfielders%20entering%20Thursday,%20second-lowest%20in%20the%20majors.%20Two%20other%20right-handed%20hitting%20outfielders%20on%20their%20active%20roster,%20Nelson%20Vel%C3%A1zquez%20and%20Jorge%20Barrosa,%20were%20both%20recent%20waiver%20claims.%20Smith%E2%80%99s%20defense%20in%20right%20field%20also%20remains%20elite,%20regardless%20of%20his%20offensive%20production.%20%20Still,%20the%20Astros%20are%20seeking%20the%20latter.%20They%20did%20total%2015%20runs%20across%20three%20games%20against%20the%20Phillies%20but%20before%20that%20had%20the%20fifth-fewest%20in%20baseball%20since%20the%20trade%20deadline.%20Smith%20went%204-for-10%20in%20the%20series,%20drove%20in%20four%20runs%20and%20scored%20five,%20displaying%20the%20impact%20he%20could%20have%20for%20a%20club%20that%20ended%20Thursday%20with%20a%20three-game%20AL%20West%20lead.%20Consistency%20is%20a%20question,%20but%20there%20are%20different%20paths%20to%20progress.%20%20%E2%80%9CHe%E2%80%99s%20tough%20mentally,%E2%80%9D%20Espada%20said.%20%E2%80%9CAnd%20he%E2%80%99s%20starting%20to%20get%20hot%20at%20the%20right%20time.%E2%80%9D\" data-link=\"native\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">Cristian Javier<\/a> found the pinnacle of a breakout season on the same mound he climbed Thursday. Throwing the first six innings of a combined <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/PHILADELPHIA%20%E2%80%93%20Progress%20in%20a%20demanding%20sport%20is%20not%20always%20linear.%20Four%20years%20ago,%20Cristian%20Javier%20found%20the%20pinnacle%20of%20a%20breakout%20season%20on%20the%20same%20mound%20he%20climbed%20Thursday.%20Throwing%20the%20first%20six%20innings%20of%20a%20combined%20World%20Series%20no-hitter%20seemed%20to%20cement%20his%20arrival%20with%20a%20pitching-rich%20franchise.%20%20An%20eight-figure%20extension%20soon%20followed.%20But%20then%20came%20struggle,%20and%20elbow%20surgery,%20and%20evasive%20results%20upon%20his%20return,%20the%20latter%20suggesting%20an%20ongoing%20need%20to%20evolve.%20Few%20starters%20can%20thrive%20on%20the%20formula%20Javier%20once%20employed,%20never%20more%20extremely%20than%20on%20a%20November%20night%20in%20Philadelphia%20in%202022.%20%20%E2%80%9CI%20remember%20in%20the%20World%20Series%20he%20threw%20like%2095%20pitches,%20and%20we%20used%20like%2072%20fastballs,%E2%80%9D%20Astros%20catcher%20Christian%20V%C3%A1zquez%20said.%20%E2%80%9CThat%20fastball%20was%20electric%20that%20day.%E2%80%9D%20%20V%C3%A1zquez,%20recalling%20the%20outing%20Thursday,%20was%20nearly%20pinpoint.%20Javier%20totaled%2097%20pitches%20in%20Game%204%20of%20the%202022%20World%20Series%20against%20the%20Phillies.%20Seventy%20of%20them,%20or%2072%,%20were%20four-seam%20fastballs.%20Another%2025%20were%20sweepers.%20Those%20two%20pitches%20comprised%2087%%20of%20the%20right-hander%E2%80%99s%20usage%20that%20season.%20%20%E2%80%9CI%20feel%20like%20I%E2%80%99m%20a%20very%20different%20pitcher%E2%80%9D%20now,%20Javier%20said,%20through%20an%20interpreter.%20%E2%80%9CBefore,%20I%20only%20had%20two%20pitches.%20And%20now%20I%20feel%20like%20I%20have%20more%20pitches%20that%20I%20can%20throw%20and%20execute%20and%20attack%20hitters%20with.%E2%80%9D%20%20Results%20had%20not%20lent%20resounding%20support.%20Javier,%20in%20the%20penultimate%20year%20of%20a%20%2464%20million%20deal%20and%20his%20first%20full%20season%20back%20from%20surgery,%20was%20expected%20to%20reinforce%20this%20Astros%20rotation.%20He%20entered%20Thursday%20with%20a%205.98%20ERA%20in%2049%202\/3%20innings%20this%20season%20between%20a%20shoulder%20injury%20and%20a%20detour%20to%20the%20bullpen.%20%20But%20the%20rotation%20is%20still%20in%20need,%20and%20Javier%E2%80%99s%20last%20start%20against%20Arizona%20was%20promising,%20so%20he%20drew%20another%20Thursday.%20Two%20days%20before,%20on%20the%20team%20bus%20to%20Citizens%20Bank%20Park,%20V%C3%A1zquez%20had%20brought%20up%20his%20outing%20in%20the%20second-ever%20World%20Series%20no-hitter,%20Javier%20acknowledged:%20%E2%80%9CSo%20I%20was%20thinking%20about%20it.%E2%80%9D%20%20Echoes%20of%20it%20were%20undeniable.%20Javier%20worked%20with%20the%20same%20catcher%20Thursday,%20V%C3%A1zquez,%20who%20had%20caught%20Game%204%20in%202022.%20He%20faced%20a%20Phillies%20lineup%20featuring%20five%20of%20the%20same%20hitters.%20He%20wore%20the%20same%20uniform%20combination%20of%20orange%20jersey,%20gray%20pants,%20dark%20blue%20long%20sleeves%20and%20socks.%20%20Amid%20them,%20Javier%20perhaps%20offered%20a%20glimpse%20of%20progress%20from%20where%20he%20has%20been.%20During%20his%20six%20innings%20in%20a%202-1%20Astros%20win,%20the%20right-hander%20conjured%20memories%20for%20his%20manager%20and%20catcher%20of%20that%20start,%20while%20doing%20it%20in%20a%20different%20way.%20%20By%20the%20time%20Javier%20finished%20his%20fourth%20inning,%20still%20yet%20to%20allow%20a%20hit,%20Houston%20manager%20Joe%20Espada%20said:%20%E2%80%9CI%20started%20thinking%20about%20it.%E2%80%9D%20Luis%20Arraez%20dashed%20any%20idea%20of%20a%20repeat%20with%20a%20leadoff%20single%20in%20the%20fifth.%20Javier%20allowed%20two%20more%20hits%20across%20six%20innings%20of%20one-run%20ball%20against%20a%20potent%20offense.%20%20%E2%80%9CHe%20was%20very%20good,%E2%80%9D%20said%20V%C3%A1zquez.%20%E2%80%9CI%20think%20the%20changeup%20was%20amazing%20today.%20We%20used%20a%20lot%20of%20changeups%20to%20everybody%20%E2%80%A6%20His%20fastball%20after%20the%20changeup%20worked%20a%20lot.%E2%80%9D%20%20Javier%20threw%20his%20changeup%204.1%%20of%20the%20time%20in%202022%20and%20not%20once%20in%20his%20World%20Series%20outing.%20It%20became%20a%20larger%20part%20of%20his%20arsenal%20in%202024,%20prior%20to%20surgery.%20He%20introduced%20a%20cutter%20earlier%20this%20season,%20a%20new%20pitch%20he%20has%20thrown%20with%20a%20high%20in-zone%20rate.%20Reliever%20Bryan%20Abreu%20also%20added%20one%20amid%20his%20recent%20rebound.%20%20Thursday,%20Javier%20threw%20his%20four-seamer%2039%%20of%20the%20time.%20He%20threw%2021%20changeups%20on%2079%20pitches;%20seven%20put%20in%20play%20averaged%20an%2083.9%20mph%20exit%20velocity%20and%20all%20went%20for%20outs.%20He%20mixed%20in%2016%20sweepers%20and%2011%20cutters.%20Phillies%20hitters%20chased%20at%20a%2046%%20clip%20against%20him%20and%20whiffed%20on%2014%20of%2044%20swings,%20or%2032%20percent.%20%20%E2%80%9CHe%E2%80%99s%20got%20all%20his%20pitches%20working,%E2%80%9D%20Espada%20said.%20%E2%80%9CHe%20knows%20where%20to%20go%20against%20lefties,%20he%20knows%20where%20to%20go%20against%20righties.%20The%20level%20of%20confidence%20in%20between%20innings%20when%20he%E2%80%99s%20downstairs%20and%20he%E2%80%99s%20talking,%20the%20tone%20is%20different.%20He%E2%80%99s%20really%20believing%20and%20the%20stuff%20right%20now%20is%20working%20well%20for%20him.%E2%80%9D%20%20In%20his%20last%20two%20starts,%20both%20against%20NL%20contenders,%20Javier%20has%20allowed%20two%20runs%20and%20four%20hits%20in%2011%20innings.%20The%20idea%20of%20harnessing%20this%20version%20of%20him%20amid%20a%20playoff%20push%20is%20tantalizing%20for%20the%20Astros,%20even%20if%20little%20in%20Javier%E2%80%99s%20last%20two%20seasons%20invites%20it.%20%20Along%20with%20Hunter%20Brown,%20the%20Astros%20are%20leaning%20heavily%20on%20Hayden%20Wesneski%20in%20his%20return%20from%20surgery%20and%20have%20taxed%20Peter%20Lambert.%20Before%20Thursday,%20they%20seemed%20reticent%20to%20let%20Javier%20work%20deep%20into%20starts%20and%20face%20lineups%20for%20a%20third%20time.%20That%20made%20his%20sixth%20inning%20notable.%20%20An%20infield%20hit%20and%20a%20passed%20ball%20put%20the%20potential%20go-ahead%20run%20on%20second%20base%20in%20a%201-1%20game.%20Espada%20let%20Javier%20face%20Phillies%20leadoff%20hitter%20Kyle%20Schwarber,%20the%20majors%E2%80%99%20home%20run%20leader,%20and%20Trea%20Turner%20each%20for%20a%20third%20time.%20Schwarber%20struck%20out%20swinging%20on%20a%20fastball,%20Turner%20on%20a%20changeup.%20%20It%20punctuated%20a%20promising%20day%20for%20Javier.%20He%20departed%20a%20game%20that%20remained%20tied%20until%20the%20ninth%20inning,%20when%20Cam%20Smith%20stepped%20in%20to%20face%20Phillies%20closer%20Jhoan%20Duran.%20%20It%20has%20been%20a%20trying%20sophomore%20season%20for%20Smith,%20the%2023-year-old%20right%20fielder%20anointed%20a%20future%20%E2%80%9Caircraft%20carrier%E2%80%9D%20before%20his%20debut%20by%20a%20general%20manager%20no%20longer%20in%20that%20role.%20Smith%20awoke%20Thursday%20with%20a%20.216%20batting%20average%20and%20a%20.683%20OPS,%20stats%20outweighing%20strides%20indicated%20by%20some%20of%20his%20underlying%20metrics.%20%20Smith%20posted%20a%20.504%20OPS%20in%20July,%20when%20he%20was%20held%20out%20of%20the%20starting%20lineup%20for%20a%20series%20to%20work%20on%20his%20swing.%20He%20followed%20with%20a%20.785%20OPS%20in%20August%20but%20on%20its%20final%20day%20said:%20%E2%80%9CI%20really%20haven%E2%80%99t%20done%20much%20and%20haven%E2%80%99t%20produced%20at%20all,%E2%80%9D%20inviting%20wonder%20of%20whether%20an%20up-and-down%20season%20may%20be%20weighing%20on%20him.%20%20%E2%80%9CI%E2%80%99m%20not%20concerned%20about%20that,%E2%80%9D%20Espada%20said%20Thursday,%20%E2%80%9Cbecause%20he%E2%80%99s%20very%20mature%20for%20his%20age%20and%20knows%20how%20to%20handle%20himself.%E2%80%9D%20%20Three%20games%20in%20an%20atmosphere%20Smith%20said%20felt%20like%20%E2%80%9Cplayoffs%E2%80%9D%20showcased%20a%20young%20player%20who%20may%20still%20be%20growing%20into%20immense%20potential.%20Tuesday,%20Smith%20hit%20a%20home%20run,%20made%20a%20key%20sliding%20catch%20and%20ran%20through%20a%20stop%20sign%20at%20third%20base,%20albeit%20scoring%20on%20the%20play.%20Wednesday,%20Smith%20homered%20off%20reigning%20NL%20Cy%20Young%20runner-up%20Cristopher%20S%C3%A1nchez%20and%20made%20an%20ill-advised%20throw%20to%20home%20plate%20that%20set%20up%20a%20Phillies%20run.%20%20On%20Thursday,%20Smith%20struck%20out,%20singled%20and%20walked%20in%20three%20matchups%20with%20Zack%20Wheeler,%20the%20Phillies%20workhorse%20who%20spun%20seven%20innings%20of%20one-run%20ball.%20He%20stood%20on%20deck%20as%20Duran%20started%20the%20ninth.%20The%20Astros%20bench%20included%20LaMonte%20Wade%20Jr.,%20the%20left-handed%20hitter%20who%20has%20pinch-hit%20for%20Smith%20at%20times%20against%20righties%20but%20is%20not%20a%20comparable%20defender.%20Smith%20took%20the%20at-bat.%20%20He%20had%20faced%20Duran%20once,%20last%20June%20in%20Houston.%20Duran%20had%20started%20him%20with%20a%20splitter.%20Smith%20bounced%20it%20up%20the%20middle%20for%20a%20walk-off%20single%20but%20recalled%20Thursday%20that%20he%20%E2%80%9Cgot%20a%20little%20long%E2%80%9D%20with%20that%20swing:%20%E2%80%9CSo%20this%20time,%20I%20was%20just%20telling%20myself%20to%20stay%20short.%E2%80%9D%20Duran%20again%20started%20him%20with%20a%20splitter,%20at%2098.5%20mph%20but%20hovering%20over%20the%20plate.%20Smith%20hit%20it%20421%20feet%20into%20the%20seats%20in%20left-center.%20%20%E2%80%9CI%20think%20he%E2%80%99s%20showing%20the%20power%20that%20he%20has,%20and%20it%20was%20amazing,%20(off)%20a%20great%20pitcher,%E2%80%9D%20V%C3%A1zquez%20said.%20%20Duran%20had%20allowed%20one%20home%20run%20in%2055%20appearances%20this%20year%20and%20none%20to%20a%20right-handed%20hitter%20on%20his%20splitter%20since%202024,%20per%20Baseball%20Savant.%20Home%20runs%20in%20three%20straight%20games%20put%20Smith%20at%2020%20this%20season.%20He%20is%20the%20sixth%20Astros%20player%20to%20record%20a%2020-homer%20season%20at%20age%2023%20or%20younger.%20Carlos%20Correa%20and%20C%C3%A9sar%20Cede%C3%B1o%20each%20had%20three%20such%20seasons.%20Yordan%20Alvarez,%20Matt%20Dominguez%20and%20Jim%20Wynn%20all%20had%20one.%20%20%E2%80%9CI%20guess%20I%E2%80%99m%20still%20trying%20to%20find%20my%20way,%E2%80%9D%20Smith%20said%20of%20his%20second%20MLB%20season.%20%E2%80%9CI%20can%E2%80%99t%20really%20explain%20the%20journey%20I%E2%80%99ve%20been%20on.%20But%20I%20get%20an%20opportunity%20to%20play%20here%20every%20single%20day,%20so%20thanks%20to%20the%20front%20office%20and%20Joe%20for%20putting%20me%20in%20the%20lineup%20as%20much%20as%20they%20do.%E2%80%9D%20%20Lack%20of%20other%20options%20must%20be%20acknowledged.%20The%20Astros%20had%20received%20a%20.669%20OPS%20from%20their%20outfielders%20entering%20Thursday,%20second-lowest%20in%20the%20majors.%20Two%20other%20right-handed%20hitting%20outfielders%20on%20their%20active%20roster,%20Nelson%20Vel%C3%A1zquez%20and%20Jorge%20Barrosa,%20were%20both%20recent%20waiver%20claims.%20Smith%E2%80%99s%20defense%20in%20right%20field%20also%20remains%20elite,%20regardless%20of%20his%20offensive%20production.%20%20Still,%20the%20Astros%20are%20seeking%20the%20latter.%20They%20did%20total%2015%20runs%20across%20three%20games%20against%20the%20Phillies%20but%20before%20that%20had%20the%20fifth-fewest%20in%20baseball%20since%20the%20trade%20deadline.%20Smith%20went%204-for-10%20in%20the%20series,%20drove%20in%20four%20runs%20and%20scored%20five,%20displaying%20the%20impact%20he%20could%20have%20for%20a%20club%20that%20ended%20Thursday%20with%20a%20three-game%20AL%20West%20lead.%20Consistency%20is%20a%20question,%20but%20there%20are%20different%20paths%20to%20progress.%20%20%E2%80%9CHe%E2%80%99s%20tough%20mentally,%E2%80%9D%20Espada%20said.%20%E2%80%9CAnd%20he%E2%80%99s%20starting%20to%20get%20hot%20at%20the%20right%20time.%E2%80%9D\" data-link=\"native\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">World Series no-hitter<\/a> seemed to cement his arrival with a pitching-rich franchise.<\/p>\n<p>An <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/texas-sports-nation\/astros\/article\/houston-astros-cristian-javier-signs-five-year-17777631.php\" data-link=\"native\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">eight-figure extension<\/a> soon followed. But then came struggle, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/texas-sports-nation\/astros\/article\/houston-astros-cristian-javier-signs-five-year-17777631.php\" data-link=\"native\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">elbow surgery,<\/a> and evasive results upon his return, the latter suggesting an ongoing need to evolve. Few starters can thrive on the formula Javier once employed, never more extremely than on a November night in Philadelphia in 2022.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI remember in the World Series he threw like 95 pitches, and we used like 72 fastballs,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/sports\/astros\/article\/christian-vazquez-1000-games-houston-22422979.php\" data-link=\"native\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">Astros catcher Christian V\u00e1zquez<\/a> said. \u201cThat fastball was electric that day.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"uiTextSmall f aic jcc\">Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<p>V\u00e1zquez, recalling the outing Thursday, was nearly pinpoint. Javier totaled 97 pitches in Game 4 of the 2022 World Series against the Phillies. Seventy of them, or 72%, were four-seam fastballs. Another 25 were sweepers. Those two pitches comprised 87% of the right-hander\u2019s usage that season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI feel like I\u2019m a very different pitcher\u201d now, Javier said, through an interpreter. \u201cBefore, I only had two pitches. And now I feel like I have more pitches that I can throw and execute and attack hitters with.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Results had not lent resounding support. Javier, in the penultimate year of a $64 million deal and his first full season back from surgery, was expected to reinforce this Astros rotation. He entered Thursday with a 5.98 ERA in 49\u2154 innings this season between a shoulder injury and a detour to the bullpen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"uiTextSmall f aic jcc\">Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<p>But the rotation is still in need, and Javier\u2019s last start against Arizona was promising, so he drew another Thursday. Two days before, on the team bus to Citizens Bank Park, V\u00e1zquez had brought up his outing in the second-ever World Series no-hitter, Javier acknowledged: \u201cSo I was thinking about it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Houston Astros' Cristian Javier pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo\/Matt Rourke)\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofcv bgscv block bg-gray200 mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Houston Astros&#8217; Cristian Javier pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo\/Matt Rourke)<\/p>\n<p>Matt Rourke\/Associated Press<\/p>\n<p>Echoes of it were undeniable. Javier worked with the same catcher Thursday, V\u00e1zquez, who had caught Game 4 in 2022. He faced a Phillies lineup featuring five of the same hitters. He wore the same uniform combination of orange jersey, gray pants, dark blue long sleeves and socks.<\/p>\n<p>Amid them, Javier perhaps offered a glimpse of progress from where he has been. During his six innings in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/sports\/astros\/article\/houston-philadelphia-phillies-score-cam-smith-22425328.php\" data-link=\"native\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">a 2-1 Astros win<\/a>, the right-hander conjured memories for his manager and catcher of that start, while doing it in a different way.<\/p>\n<p class=\"uiTextSmall f aic jcc\">Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<p>By the time Javier finished his fourth inning, still yet to allow a hit, Houston manager Joe Espada said: \u201cI started thinking about it.\u201d Luis Arraez dashed any idea of a repeat with a leadoff single in the fifth. Javier allowed two more hits across six innings of one-run ball against a potent offense.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe was very good,\u201d said V\u00e1zquez. \u201cI think the changeup was amazing today. We used a lot of changeups to everybody \u2026 His fastball after the changeup worked a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Houston<br \/>\nAB<br \/>\nR<br \/>\nH<br \/>\nBI<br \/>\nBB<br \/>\nSO<br \/>\nAvg.<\/p>\n<p>Totals<br \/>\n33<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n8<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n10<\/p>\n<p>Pe\u00f1a ss<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n.271<\/p>\n<p>Alvarez dh<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n.310<\/p>\n<p>Paredes 3b<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n.260<\/p>\n<p>Altuve 2b<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n.246<\/p>\n<p>Allen 2b<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n.275<\/p>\n<p>Varsho cf<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n.228<\/p>\n<p>Walker 1b<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n.228<\/p>\n<p>Smith rf<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n.219<\/p>\n<p>Trammell lf<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n.208<\/p>\n<p>V\u00e1zquez c<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n.210<\/p>\n<p>a-Diaz ph-c<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n.268<\/p>\n<p>Philadelphia<br \/>\nAB<br \/>\nR<br \/>\nH<br \/>\nBI<br \/>\nBB<br \/>\nSO<br \/>\nAvg.<\/p>\n<p>Totals<br \/>\n28<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n9<\/p>\n<p>Schwarber dh<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n.241<\/p>\n<p>Turner ss<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n.241<\/p>\n<p>Harper rf<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n.269<\/p>\n<p>Arraez 2b<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n.318<\/p>\n<p>Bohm 1b<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n.246<\/p>\n<p>Stott 3b<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n.249<\/p>\n<p>Marsh lf<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n.267<\/p>\n<p>Hill lf<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n.246<\/p>\n<p>Crawford cf<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n.264<\/p>\n<p>March\u00e1n c<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n.100<\/p>\n<p>b-Sosa ph<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n.238<\/p>\n<p>Houston<br \/>\n010<br \/>\n000<br \/>\n001_2<br \/>\n8<br \/>\n0<\/p>\n<p>Philadelphia<br \/>\n000<br \/>\n010<br \/>\n000_1<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n1<\/p>\n<p>a-struck out for V\u00e1zquez in the 7th. b-struck out for March\u00e1n in the 9th.<\/p>\n<p>E_Turner (21). LOB_Houston 7, Philadelphia 1. 2B_Trammell (10), Altuve (22), Bohm (27). HR_Smith (20), off Duran. RBIs_Trammell (21), Smith (54), Stott (62).<\/p>\n<p>Runners left in scoring position_Houston 5 (V\u00e1zquez, Varsho 2, Diaz 2); Philadelphia 1 (Turner). RISP_Houston 0 for 5; Philadelphia 0 for 3.<\/p>\n<p>Runners moved up_Varsho, Walker. LIDP_Paredes. GIDP_Trammell, Marsh, Harper.<\/p>\n<p>DP_Houston 2 (Walker, Pe\u00f1a, Walker; Pe\u00f1a, Walker, Pe\u00f1a, Walker); Philadelphia 2 (Bohm, Turner, Bohm; Turner, Arraez, Turner).<\/p>\n<p>Houston<br \/>\nIP<br \/>\nH<br \/>\nR<br \/>\nER<br \/>\nBB<br \/>\nSO<br \/>\nNP<br \/>\nERA<\/p>\n<p>Javier<br \/>\n6<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n79<br \/>\n5.50<\/p>\n<p>Sousa<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n14<br \/>\n5.55<\/p>\n<p>Abreu, W, 6-3<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n10<br \/>\n3.57<\/p>\n<p>Hader, S, 25-25<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n8<br \/>\n0.87<\/p>\n<p>Philadelphia<br \/>\nIP<br \/>\nH<br \/>\nR<br \/>\nER<br \/>\nBB<br \/>\nSO<br \/>\nNP<br \/>\nERA<\/p>\n<p>Wheeler<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n9<br \/>\n110<br \/>\n3.14<\/p>\n<p>Alvarado<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n18<br \/>\n5.30<\/p>\n<p>Duran, L, 2-6<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n17<br \/>\n1.82<\/p>\n<p>IBB_off Alvarado (Alvarez). PB_V\u00e1zquez (5).<\/p>\n<p>ABS Challenge_Smith (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Javier (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Varsho (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Smith (Strike-Confirmed); Altuve (Strike-Confirmed); Turner (Strike-Confirmed).<\/p>\n<p>Pitch timer violations_Alvarado (pitcher).<\/p>\n<p>Umpires_Home, Jeremie Rehak; First, Adam Beck; Second, Dan Iassogna; Third, Brock Ballou.<\/p>\n<p>T_2:30. A_37,100 (42,901).<\/p>\n<p>Javier threw his changeup 4.1% of the time in 2022 and not once in his World Series outing. It became a larger part of his arsenal in 2024, prior to surgery. He introduced a cutter earlier this season, a new pitch he has thrown with a high in-zone rate. Reliever Bryan Abreu also added one amid his recent rebound.<\/p>\n<p>Thursday, Javier threw his four-seamer 39% of the time. He threw 21 changeups on 79 pitches; seven put in play averaged an 83.9 mph exit velocity and all went for outs. He mixed in 16 sweepers and 11 cutters. Phillies hitters chased at a 46% clip against him and whiffed on 14 of 44 swings, or 32 percent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"uiTextSmall f aic jcc\">Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s got all his pitches working,\u201d Espada said. \u201cHe knows where to go against lefties, he knows where to go against righties. The level of confidence in between innings when he\u2019s downstairs and he\u2019s talking, the tone is different. He\u2019s really believing and the stuff right now is working well for him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In his last two starts, both against NL contenders, Javier has allowed two runs and four hits in 11 innings. The idea of harnessing this version of him amid a playoff push is tantalizing for the Astros, even if little in Javier\u2019s last two seasons invites it.<\/p>\n<p>Along with Hunter Brown, the Astros are leaning heavily on Hayden Wesneski in his return from surgery and have taxed Peter Lambert. Before Thursday, they seemed reticent to let Javier work deep into starts and face lineups for a third time. That made his sixth inning notable.<\/p>\n<p>An infield hit and a passed ball put the potential go-ahead run on second base in a 1-1 game. Espada let Javier face Phillies leadoff hitter Kyle Schwarber, the majors\u2019 home run leader, and Trea Turner each for a third time. Schwarber struck out swinging on a fastball, Turner on a changeup.<\/p>\n<p class=\"uiTextSmall f aic jcc\">Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<p>It punctuated a promising day for Javier. He departed a game that remained tied until the ninth inning, when Cam Smith stepped in to face Phillies closer Jhoan Duran.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Houston Astros' Cam Smith hits a home run off of Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo\/Matt Rourke)\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofcv bgscv block bg-gray200 mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Houston Astros&#8217; Cam Smith hits a home run off of Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo\/Matt Rourke)<\/p>\n<p>Matt Rourke\/Associated Press<\/p>\n<p>It has been a trying sophomore season for Smith, the 23-year-old right fielder anointed a future \u201caircraft carrier\u201d before his debut by a general manager no longer in that role. Smith awoke Thursday with a .216 batting average and a .683 OPS, stats outweighing strides indicated by some of his underlying metrics.<\/p>\n<p>Smith posted a .504 OPS in July, when he was held out of the starting lineup for a series to work on his swing. He followed with a .785 OPS in August but on its final day said: \u201cI really haven\u2019t done much and haven\u2019t produced at all,\u201d inviting wonder of whether an up-and-down season may be weighing on him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not concerned about that,\u201d Espada said Thursday, \u201cbecause he\u2019s very mature for his age and knows how to handle himself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Three games in an atmosphere Smith said felt like \u201cplayoffs\u201d showcased a young player who may still be growing into immense potential. Tuesday, Smith hit a home run, made a key sliding catch and ran through a stop sign at third base, albeit scoring on the play. Wednesday, Smith homered off reigning NL Cy Young runner-up Cristopher S\u00e1nchez\u00a0and made an ill-advised throw to home plate that set up a Phillies run.<\/p>\n<p>On Thursday, Smith struck out, singled and walked in three matchups with Zack Wheeler, the Phillies workhorse who spun seven innings of one-run ball. He stood on deck as Duran started the ninth. The Astros bench included LaMonte Wade Jr., the left-handed hitter who has pinch-hit for Smith at times against righties but is not a comparable defender. Smith took the at-bat.<\/p>\n<p>He had faced Duran once, last June in Houston. Duran had started him with a splitter. Smith bounced it up the middle for a walk-off single but recalled Thursday that he \u201cgot a little long\u201d with that swing: \u201cSo this time, I was just telling myself to stay short.\u201d Duran again started him with a splitter, at 98.5 mph but hovering over the plate. Smith hit it 421 feet into the seats in left-center.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think he\u2019s showing the power that he has, and it was amazing, (off) a great pitcher,\u201d V\u00e1zquez said.<\/p>\n<p>Duran had allowed one home run in 55 appearances this year and none to a right-handed hitter on his splitter since 2024, per Baseball Savant. Home runs in three straight games put Smith at 20 this season. He is the sixth Astros player to record a 20-homer season at age 23 or younger. Carlos Correa and C\u00e9sar Cede\u00f1o each had three such seasons. Yordan Alvarez, Matt Dominguez and Jim Wynn all had one.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI guess I\u2019m still trying to find my way,\u201d Smith said of his second MLB season. \u201cI can\u2019t really explain the journey I\u2019ve been on. But I get an opportunity to play here every single day, so thanks to the front office and Joe for putting me in the lineup as much as they do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lack of other options must be acknowledged. The Astros had received a .669 OPS from their outfielders entering Thursday, second-lowest in the majors. Two other right-handed hitting outfielders on their active roster, Nelson Vel\u00e1zquez and Jorge Barrosa, were both recent waiver claims. Smith\u2019s defense in right field also remains elite, regardless of his offensive production.<\/p>\n<p>Still, the Astros are seeking the latter. They did total 15 runs across three games against the Phillies but before that had the fifth-fewest in baseball since the trade deadline. Smith went 4-for-10 in the series, drove in four runs and scored five, displaying the impact he could have for a club that ended Thursday with a three-game AL West lead. Consistency is a question, but there are different paths to progress.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s tough mentally,\u201d Espada said. \u201cAnd he\u2019s starting to get hot at the right time.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Houston Astros&#8217; Cristian Javier pitches during the third inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Thursday,&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":432446,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[56,58,57],"class_list":["post-432445","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-houston","tag-houston","tag-houston-headlines","tag-houston-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/432445","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=432445"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/432445\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/432446"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=432445"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=432445"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=432445"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}