The Young Astros Bats Behind Their 5-HR Inning

It looks like the Yankees aren’t the only ones blasting away in the American League.

On Tuesday, the Astros hit five home runs in the second inning off Boston’s Nathan Eovaldi in their 13-4 shellacking of the Red Sox — just the eighth time in MLB history that a team has hit five in a single inning, and the third time off a single pitcher.

Three of those homers came from Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker, and Jeremy Peña — all 25 or younger. Incredibly productive on very low salaries, the trio represent a powerful young core for the AL West leaders to build around.

• Alvarez’s 12 HR are second in the majors; Tucker and Peña each have seven (T-22nd).
• All three players are pre-arbitration, leading to a combined 2022 salary of just $2.2M.
• The Astros’ 55 long balls have now topped the Yankees in MLB.

Between their hot bats and elite pitching, this Houston squad can make some noise come October.

The Astros are currently tied with the Mets for the third-best odds to win the World Series (+800) behind the Dodgers (+450) and their moonshot rivals, the Yankees (+600).

And just imagine the fireworks if Houston and New York meet in the ALCS.