Well, the one good thing to come out of this game was that Cristian Javier left after three innings due only to “illness.” Thank goodness he didn’t suffer from career-threatening “discomfort.”

Not that it would have mattered much who pitched for the Astros. You can’t win without scoring. By losing today, the Astros lost the series to the Orioles, marking only the fifth road series win for the Orioles all year. Although the Astros managed five runs in Saturday’s extra-inning win, in games one and three of the series, they were shut out with a total of seven hits. Today, it was Orioles starter Dean Kremer whom the Astros made to look like Randy Johnson.

Javier left the game after the third inning, down only 1-0, although right fielder Jesus Sanchez robbed Gunnar Henderson of a grand slam in that inning, making him settle for a sac fly.

Let me say it here. Send Shawn Dubin back down. In his three games back from IL, Dubin has a 47.14 ERA. Can the Astros afford to let him pitch his way back into shape during a hot pennant race, that is, assuming there is a shape to pitch back into? Today’s game was lost after Dubin allowed four runs in the fifth inning, the big blow a three-run homer by Jordan Westburg. It was hoped that Dubin’s return from IL would partially offset the loss of Josh Hader. As it stands now, the Astros are better off letting Chas McCormick pitch than Dubin. Could Ryan Pressly be any worse?

But yeah, it didn’t matter. Sandy Koufax would have lost this game, with Don Drysdale and Bob Gibson in relief.

With a thin starting rotation, a disintegrating bullpen, and a punchless offense still missing perhaps its two most potent weapons, Isaac Paredes and Yordan Alvarez, let’s hope the Astros can cling to some sort of playoff berth and then hit the playoffs healthy. (pending miracle cures for Paredes and Hader, to name just two)

Speaking of McCormick, after Caleb Ort and Jordan Weems allowed seven runs total in innings seven and eight, Chas shut down the O’s 1-2-3 in the ninth. Who needs Hader? Chas for the game’s MVP.

Although the Astros went 3-3 on the homestand, they were outscored 44-17. Even when they play .500, the 2025 Astros seem lucky. They currently hold a one-game lead in the AL West, pending the Mariners’ nationally televised game later this evening.

The Astros were supposed to pile on against the last-place Orioles at home. Tomorrow they face the first-place Tigers in Detroit at 5:40 CT.