The Dodgers sit comfortably in first place in the NL West, having +375 World Series odds. However, their worst fear might be building 1,500 miles away in Houston. The Astros are 81-69 in the AL postseason race, still feeling the consequences of their 2017 sign-stealing controversy and eager to make things right. They recently got some news that could change everything in October.

That hope is the Astros’ third baseman, Isaac Paredes, who inked a one-year, $6.6M contract in January of 2025. He was doing well this season, with a .259 batting average, 19 HR, and 50 RBIs in around 94 games. However, on July 19, he tore his right hamstring going to first base. The next day, he went on the 10-day injured list. In early August, when imaging showed the injury was “pretty significant,” he was moved to the 60-day IL.

Recently, on the MLB Network Radio, the Astros GM, Dana Brown, provided a crucial update on his return. He said, “Paredes is heating up right now down in West Palm. He’s taking some live BP. He’s hitting off pitchers… if we can get Paredes back, that’s going to really help our offense.” 

Brown went on to explain how it impacted the club: “See, people don’t realize that when Paredes went down, that really hurt us. He was seeing 25 to 30 pitches a game. That guy, when he went down, really hurt our offense. That’s when we really started to get into a little bit of a tailspin. I think getting Paredes back could be massive for this team. I think we’ve got a chance of getting him back. We’re trying to get him back somewhere around that.” 

So when is he coming back? Brown answered, “Potentially, maybe the Seattle series. I don’t know. It just depends on how he continues to progress. Right now, he seems like he’s turning the corner. I think that’s the big one for us. If we can get him back, that will be massive for our lineup.” 

Houston’s offense didn’t just miss power when Paredes was out in August; it got cold. The month was not good for the Astros; they went 13-15. They only scored two runs or fewer in 13 of the 28 games. Their slash line was the worst it had been since the beginning of the season (March-April), which shows that they were having trouble getting on base, hitting for average, and slugging. The decline in runs and overall offensive efficiency made every game feel like it was going to end.

The Astros are 81-69 and fighting for a playoff spot as the season winds down. They are in a close race with the Seattle Mariners for the AL West title, with the Texas Rangers only two games behind. Every game is critical for Houston now. On top of that, getting Paredes back will only strengthen the lineup.

Jose Altuve will also benefit after the return of the 26-year-old. With pitchers diverting their focus to Paredes’ powerful bat, Altuve will receive more favorable pitches at the top of the order. Paredes’ knack for working through at-bats significantly weakens opposing pitchers, creating numerous opportunities for Altuve to drive in runs. This dynamic in the lineup not only alleviates some of the pressure on Altuve, but it also amplifies his role as Houston gears up for a playoff push in October.

And also, let’s not forget to stop the Boys in Blue for halting the ring again; the Astros will need a healthy lineup.

The Dodgers have been on top lately, winning the championship again in 2024 and being the favorites to win again in 2025. Meanwhile, the Stros have won all three of their regular-season games versus L.A. The Astros’ offense will be boosted after #15 returns, as he is someone who can perform well in high-pressure late-inning situations. This could be the key to defeating the Dodgers in a World Series rematch. With Paredes and Jose Altuve, Houston may have the X-factor needed to overcome the favorites—but only if they can maximize their lineup production when he returns.

How the Astros lineup gets scarier with Paredes

The only thing left to figure out is how the Astros will construct their lineup when Isaac Paredes comes back. Jim Bowden of MLB Network said that Houston may put Paredes in the DH role, move Yordan Álvarez back to left field, and keep Jose Altuve at second base. That looks like a balanced structure on paper, with a lot of power and flexibility distributed throughout the sequence.

This strategy provides Houston with a core of Carlos Correa, Christian Walker, Altuve, Jeremy Peña, Paredes, Jake Meyers, Alvarez, and either Cam Smith or Jesús Sánchez. That lineup has a mix of veterans who have been to the playoffs and younger players who are still trying to find their rhythm. Houston’s lineup suddenly gets a lot harder to pitch around with Paredes’ plate discipline and Alvarez’s power from the left side.

Alvarez has already hit 30 homers in 2025, and Altuve keeps hitting over .290 and producing at the top. Correa keeps getting on base, and Peña provides timely power in the lower half. When you put them all together, they make an order that can reliably traffic runners and transform base hits into crooked numbers.

That lineup isn’t just about the stars; it’s also about the length. Opposing pitchers can’t relax after the middle of the order since Meyers and Pena have hit almost 30 home runs this year. This new building might be the difference between just making it through September and going into October with great impetus, since the division is so close.