UKAmericanSportsFans.com brings you previews of all 30 MLB sides, in just 30 days, from our team of Jonathan Northall, Callum Carson, and Max Whittle.

Houston Astros

2012 – Finished sixth in NL Central

Record: 55-107

The Houston Astros have had a miserable few seasons in the major leagues, combining for just 111 wins over the last two seasons. This winter has been all about change for the Astros, moving away from their original team logo, uniform and the biggest change, of course, is their move to the American League. The Astros, now sporting an orange star with a blue ‘H’ on their cap, will compete in the AL West, balancing up both leagues to 15 teams.

The Astros recent sale from Drayton McLane to Jim Crane cleared the league switch, but the change of opposition will only make it harder for Houston who only won 20 road games in 2012. The AL West is arguably stronger than ever, with as many as three teams realistically targeting the post-season. It is strong enough in fact that both wild card winners from the AL could come from the West, with the Rangers, Angels and Athletics all in play.

Such is typical of an Astros offseason, the club has signed mostly ‘has-been’ players like Carlos Pena, Erik Bedard and Rick Ankiel. Last season was a bust for the Astros with most of their prospects failing at the highest level, so it’s hard to see this as a winnable formula. Despite all of this, it makes for an intriguing season for new scheduling and at least Mariners fans won’t see their team finish dead last this year.

INGOINGS

P Philip Humber, Alex White, John Ely, Jose Veras, Erik Bedard, Brad Peacock

1B Carlos Pena, Chris Carter

OF Rick Ankiel

OUTGOINGS

P Wilton Lopez, Rob Rasmussen, Fernando Rodriguez

CF Jordan Schafer

SS Jed Lowrie

Out of the 30 teams in the majors last season, Houston finished last in runs scored, 29th in batting average and WHIP while their ERA was the fifth worst. Those dismal statistics produced 55 wins and although their ballpark is called ‘Minute Maid’, it will take the Astros a lot longer than the freshly squeezed juice to create a winning team.

Outfielders

Leftfielder J.D. Martinez performed promisingly last season in his first full big league year. The Astros will hope that promise turns into quality performance in 2013, and last year’s numbers suggest he is a potential .300 hitter. Martinez hit .241 while putting up 11 home runs, 55 RBIs and 14 doubles in 395 at-bats. Martinez’s real strength is his ability to hit the ball the opposite way, but his speed or lack thereof is a worry for him and the team.

The other Martinez – Fernando – is projected to start in rightfield but he is one of those guys who didn’t live up to the billing last year. After being pushed too much too soon with the Mets as a 20-year-old, the now 23-year-old lasted just 118 at-bats in 2012, hitting .237 with six home runs and 14 RBIS. He remains a mediocre defender and although he possesses decent power, his speed is also an issue. Let’s hope he isn’t another individual who falls off the wayside.

Justin Maxwell will start in centre and after hitting .229 (18 HRs, 53 RBIs, 46 R) in 315 at-bats last year. He strikes out a lot (32.2 career strikeout %), so the average will always be pretty low for him but his power and speed should hold him in good stead.

Infielders

While Carlos Pena could play at first base, he is pencilled in to be the Astros DH in the American League. Pena had a typical year last season, batting .197 with 19 HR, 61 RBIs and 72 R. His strikeout percentage is over 30 but he walks around 90 times a season so there is a counterbalance.

Brett Wallace and Chris Carter (acquired in a trade with the A’s) are the other two players on the depth chart at first. Wallace is a former top prospect but hasn’t quite lived up to his billing either, batting .253 last year with nine home runs in 229 at-bats. Always with young players, lack of progression is a concern.

Second baseman Jose Altuve had a good season in 2012, batting .290 with 80 runs and 33 stolen bases. He is just 22 and the Astros have to be excited with his constant improvement.

Jed Lowrie is now in Oakland so shortstop is a toss-up between Tyler Greene, Marwin Gonzalez and non-roster invitees. Greene split time between the Cardinals and Astros last season and until 2012 hadn’t played more than 58 games. Greene is a career .224 hitter, so his numbers will likely stay the same in 2013.

The Astros’ top shortstop prospects are 18-year-old Carlos Correa and 21-year-old Nolan Fontana, but with just 99 minor league games between them, you figure that Greene will be there for the majority.

Matt Dominguez will play every day at third base with Chris Johnson gone. Last year he batted .284 with five HR and 16 RBI in 109 at-bats.

Catchers

Jason Castro missed all of 2011 with an ACL tear but recovered last year to bat .257 with six HR, 29 RBIs while scoring 29 runs. The former prospect will be hoping to stay healthy because he is a potential .290 hitter. Carlos Corporan only got 85 at-bats in 2012 and batted .269. He won’t make waves in the majors but will provide backup nonetheless.

Starters

Lucas Harrell will lead the rotation after a stellar first full season last year (11-11 with a 3.76 ERA and 1.36 WHIP). He will, however, need to work on letting less hitters on base. The rest of the starters are hit and hope, with Bud Norris very average (7-13, 4.65 ERA) and Dallas Keuchel (3-8, 5.27 ERA in one-half season) not a major league quality pitcher.

Relievers

The closer role for Houston next season could be anyone from the rotation, but with the Astros payroll at just $25million, there won’t be too many save situations anyway. Jose Veras has had three straight seasons with an ERA under 4, so is a viable option, while Wesley Wright had a 3.27 ERA last year although his first three seasons with the Astros produced a .5.33 ERA. Hector Ambriz pitched less than 20 innings in 2012, while Xavier Cedeno looked solid but has only seen 44 major league games.