Astros problems in 2016 are plentiful

9:22 PM ET

The Houston Astros have not played like the team ranked No. 5 in ESPN.com’s preseason power rankings.

They’re now 7-17 with nine losses in their last 11 games after a 2-0 defeat against the Athletics on Saturday afternoon. On a day in which their pitching finally looked good, their offense could not produce.

What’s gone wrong

But it is the pitching that has been the Astros biggest bugaboo, both in the starting rotation (5.10 ERA, which ranks 27th in the majors and the bullpen (4.75 ERA, which ranks 25th).

Dallas Keuchel’s fastball velocity, which typically gets into the low 90s, has averaged 88 MPH this season. His location with it is also off. His fastball strike rate is down four percentage points from last season (63 percent to 59 percent) and opponents are hitting .356 against the pitch.

Collin McHugh won his last start, but has been inconsistent, with a 6.65 ERA through five starts and 36 hits allowed in 21 2/3 innings. The one encouraging thing is that McHugh has limited his home runs allowed (2) and managed a strikeout-to-walk rate (17-to-5) consistent with his past performance. His FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) is 3.40 so there is hope that he could improve.

The Astros miss Lance McCullers, who would have been their No. 3 starter, but started the season on the disabled list due to a shoulder injury. The …

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