Astros not worried despite brutal start to season

The Astros, seven straight times in the ALCS, stand 7-19, and just two teams have risen from similar starts to make the playoffs.Yet, there’s still plenty of pedigree, and the division looks open with the Rangers and Mariners only off to so-so starts.

So Houston holds hope.“I think we’re going to be fine,” Astros GM Dana Brown said by phone Wednesday, before the team lost twice more.“We’re 5 ¹/₂ games out [now 6 ¹/₂], and we’ve got 138 [now 136] games left.”The record is a shock but isn’t a fluke.

Star third baseman Alex Bregman is struggling, former MVP Jose Abreu looks done, and just about every starter has been out.“I can’t recall a time when all five of the starters were on the IL prior to May 1,” noted Brown, a former Seton Hall star who’s been in the game 30-plus years.Abreu’s playing so badly they’re going to use Jon Singleton more, and perhaps summon prospect Joey Loperfido (the pro homer leader with 12).Abreu’s hitting .065.“Maybe we’ll give him some time off, just to see if somebody else gets hot,” Brown said.The vaunted relief trio of Bryan Abreu, Ryan Pressly and Josh Hader are all struggling, too, with Pressly and Hader logging ERAs well above 7.00.“We’ve got three guys who could close for most teams, and we’ve got six blown saves,” Brown said.

“If you flip those games, we’re in first place.”Their history provides hope.Said Brown: “I’m at the intersection of disappointment and optimism.”...