The Houston Astros have turned having four left-handed pitchers in their bullpen into a major asset this season, leveraging their skill to great effect. On Wednesday, Astros manager Joe Espada deployed all four southpaws—Steven Okert, Bennett Sousa, Bryan King, and closer Josh Hader—alongside rookie lefty starter Colton Gordon to secure a 2-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies, clinching the three-game interleague series.
Together, the Astros’ five left-handed pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts without issuing any walks, allowing only seven singles. Despite the Phillies’ lineup featuring six right-handed hitters, Houston’s left-handed arms remained effective against both left- and right-handed batters, showcasing their versatility and control.
Performance Metrics Highlight Astros’ Left-Handers as Key Contributors
The Astros’ southpaws not only maintain impressive earned run averages—Sousa (1.57), Hader (1.73), Okert (2.52), and King (2.97)—but also excel in retiring hitters from both sides of the plate. Manager Joe Espada emphasized the importance of this adaptability in today’s game with the three-batter minimum rule.
In today’s game with the three-batter rule, you have to get righties and lefties out, and those guys have been really good for us the entire year,
Espada said.
I rely on those guys. … We’re going to trust them, and I’m going to continue to give them the ball.
Hunter Brown Set to Start as Astros Aim to Complete Series Sweep
Right-handed pitcher Hunter Brown will take the mound Thursday as the Astros seek to finalize their series sweep against the Phillies. Brown, holding an 8-3 record with a 1.88 ERA, recently pitched five innings against the Los Angeles Angels, conceding only one run on two hits and two walks, while striking out four. This outing marked his fifth consecutive start with two or fewer earned runs, during which he posted a 2-0 record and an outstanding 1.53 ERA with 38 strikeouts over nearly 30 innings.
Brown leads the American League in ERA, opposing hitters’ batting average (.178), and has the lowest average hits allowed per nine innings (5.54). His previous experience against the Phillies includes 2 1/3 innings of hitless relief with three strikeouts in the Astros’ 10-0 win last October.
Phillies’ Cristopher Sanchez to Counter as Starter Thursday
The Phillies will counter with left-hander Cristopher Sanchez, who boasts a 6-2 record and a 2.87 ERA. Sanchez carried the team to a 2-1 road win over the Miami Marlins last Thursday, delivering eight strong innings while allowing a single run on five hits and recording four strikeouts. He has been consistent over his last few starts, issuing two or fewer earned runs in five straight outings and maintaining a 2.14 ERA with seven quality starts in nine appearances during the past two months.
Sanchez will be facing the Astros for the first time in his career, setting up an intriguing pitcher matchup.
Phillies’ Lineup Decisions Reflect Tactical Adjustments Against Astros
Phillies manager Rob Thomson made lineup adjustments during the second game of the series, benching right-handed hitters Buddy Kennedy and Johan Rojas in favor of left-handed batters Bryson Stott, Brandon Marsh, and power hitter Kyle Schwarber against lefty Colton Gordon. Thomson explained that platoon decisions are influenced by various factors such as pitch velocity and movement, as well as how well hitters are performing at the plate.
Velocity, shapes (of pitches), that type of thing. I think it’s all based on the pitcher, and how they’re swinging the bat.
—Rob Thomson, Phillies manager
Significance of Astros’ Left-Handed Pitching Advantage Going Forward
The Astros’ strategic use of multiple left-handed pitchers, combined with Hunter Brown’s dominant performances, underscores their pitching depth as they head into the final game against the Phillies. Maintaining this pitching dominance—especially in crucial interleague matchups—could prove decisive for Houston’s push deeper into the season. Brown’s command atop the rotation, coupled with a bullpen that can neutralize both left- and right-handed hitters, positions the Astros to continue leveraging this advantage in upcoming contests.