Three takeaways from the Diamondbacks series

Two games in Arizona and two games in Houston, it may not exactly be a "series" but it should be considered one. So after snagging three wins against the Diamondbacks the Astros have won three series in a row after the poor home sweep against the Rangers a couple weeks back.

The Astros are playing much better, and while they aren't getting near the top of the A.L. West it's certainly good to see, small steps baby!

Here are a few takeaways from the four games with the Diamondbacks.

George Springer really likes batting first 

After the Astros win over the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, I told George Springer the stats say he likes batting leadoff, then I asked him if there is there a reason for it? Without having the exact quote he pretty much said, now it's his job to get on base for Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa.

This season Springer is batting .409 leading off and .260 batting second. It may just be a hot streak but for whatever reason he's proven over the past two years leading off batting .297 that it suits him.

Springer batting lead off is a big reason the Astros are doing so well of late. His offense is finally starting to catch up to his amazing defensive game.

Time for a new closer

During the four-game series, Luke Gregerson only blew one game and the Astros still ended up winning the game. The series isn't alone a reason to call it quits on the Gregerson project, but it's time to seriously start thinking of a plan B.

The Astros have a couple of good relievers in the bullpen. Will Harris has been the Astros most solid relief pitcher since last season and it's unlikely they would move him away from his seventh/eighth inning role. But there are still four other guys you can give the ball too and it not be completely crazy.  
1) Scott Feldman has done pretty well coming out of the bullpen, even found some extra speed on his fastball. If you must require a veteran to close games Feldman would fill that role.

2) Ken Giles was brought to Houston to be the closer, he's not perfect but is now the time to give him a shot?

3) Chris Devenski seems to profile more as a starter but they keep using him in the bullpen, he's very effective, why not give him a shot?

4) Michael Feliz has got the nastiest stuff on the team and while they are using him in bigger roles little by little he's still not in the prime seventh/eighth/ninth inning roles.

Finally two catchers

Evan Gattis since getting a shot at catching has done a great job behind the backstop. You know what you are getting in offense from Gattis, a .240-.250 batting average with 15-20 homers.

Jason Castros has also done a bang-up job on the offensive end in the month of May with an on-base percentage over .400 and a batting average .268 (148 points higher than April).

For so long, the Astros have had Castro and insert random name of a backup catcher. None have really been very exciting offensive options. Now with Castro seemingly retapping back into his 2013 form and Gattis showing he can catch, the Astros could have a really interesting one-two punch.

Would you rather have Max Stassi or Erik Kratz over Gattis? Ok, so that's not much of choice but feel free to tell me what backup catcher is better than Gattis, not sure you are going to find many.