The **Houston Astros** sit at **40-30** with a **five-game lead** in the AL West, but they’re facing a familiar problem that’s going to require action before the trade deadline.
It’s the same story we’ve seen from Houston in recent years. Poor start, everyone writes them off, then they climb back into contention. The offense has stayed productive even without **Kyle Tucker**, ranking **third in MLB** for batting average.
**Hunter Brown** and **Framber Valdez** have been dominant at the top of the rotation. That’s where the good news ends.
**Ronel Blanco** and **Hayden Wesneski** are done for the season with injuries. Rookies **Ryan Gusto** and **Colton Gordon** stepped in but haven’t been able to handle the workload. If Houston wants to hold onto their division lead and make noise in October, they need starting pitching help.
That’s where **Merrill Kelly** comes in.
The **36-year-old right-hander** could be available if the **Arizona Diamondbacks** become sellers. Kelly’s on an expiring contract and happens to be a Houston native, which doesn’t hurt.
“Kelly will have a less competitive market than Sale, but has also looked great this year. The 36-year-old Houston native has a 2.34 ERA with 76 strikeouts in 73 innings over his last 12 starts.”
That quote from Sports Illustrated’s Dylan Sanders tells the story. Kelly’s been **6-2 with a 3.18 ERA** and a **0.99 WHIP** in 14 starts this season. He’s been one of the more reliable arms in baseball since signing with Arizona back in 2019.
Kelly took an unconventional path to MLB success. He spent four seasons in South Korea from 2015 to 2018, going **48-32 with a 3.86 ERA** and **641 strikeouts**. The Korea Baseball Organization’s strikeout leader in 2017.
Since returning to the majors, Kelly’s made **154 starts** and compiled a **59-46 record** with a **3.76 ERA** and **1.19 WHIP**. That’s the kind of consistency Houston needs.
At this stage of his career and as a rental player, Kelly shouldn’t cost the Astros their top prospects. Arizona would likely be looking for MLB-ready pieces or mid-level prospects rather than a massive haul.
The question is whether the Diamondbacks decide to sell. If they do, Kelly makes too much sense for Houston to pass up. A veteran arm who knows how to pitch, has postseason experience, and won’t break the farm system.
Sometimes the best moves are the obvious ones.
