2026 Houston Astros season

March—April

The 2026 season in MLB began on March 25, with one game between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants, denominated as "Opening Night." Meanwhile, the Astros, along with most MLB teams, commenced their season the following day, the earliest for the traditional slate of Opening Day in league history.^[74] Also, the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) was implemented for major league game play for the first time in 2026.^[75]

On Opening Day, March 26, 2026, the Los Angeles Angels tossed a combined shutout of the Astros, 3–0. Right-hander Hunter Brown made his first career Opening Day start for Houston and tossed 4+2⁄3 shutout innings with 9 strikeouts but was outlasted by José Soriano with seven shutout innings. Mike Trout homered, stole a base and coaxed three base on balls to lead Los Angeles to victory.^[78] The Astros got their first victory of the season on March 28, defeating the Angels, 11–9. Aided by wildness and errors, the Astros overcame a 6–0 deficit, exploding for three runs in the fifth inning and eight in the sixth. Eight of the starting nine in the batting order collected a hit and run scored each. First baseman Christian Walker^[79] scored his 500th career run.^[80][81]

On March 27 and March 29, two Astros hurlers with substantial experience in professional baseball in Asia made their major league debuts, Ryan Weiss, (Chinese Professional Baseball League and KBO League))^[17][18][82] and Tatsuya Imai (Nippon Professional Baseball, NPB),^[18][83] respectively. On March 30, Lance McCullers Jr. led an 8–1 win over the Boston Red Sox, while Jose Altuve connected for four hits and two home runs. McCullers went seven innings or more, with one run or fewer for the first time since July 16, 2021. McCullers whiffed nine.^[e][84] This was Altuve's 42nd four-hit game, and third as a multi-homer bout, his first of this type since September 4, 2023.^[85]

Tatsuya Imai (1–0) obtained his first major league victory on April 4,^[86] backed by a record-setting batting performance at Sutter Health Park. The Astros shut out the Athletics, 11–0, with 18 hits and 13 walks. The 13 walks tied for second most in a nine-inning contest in club history,^[f][87] while they set the club record for a nine-inning game with 17 runners left on base (LOB).^[g][88] Moreover, the Astros were two hits short of producing just the second bout in club history of aggregating at least 20 hits and 10 walks.^[h][89] Yordan Alvarez drew four of the walks—reaching base five times—Jeremy Peña and Christian Vázquez each doubled twice, while Christian Walker doubled and homered. Imai allowed three hits over 5+2⁄3 innings and struck out nine.^[90] This was the second time in Alvarez' career that he drew four walks in a game, with first occurring on August 20, 2019.^[91]

Yordan Alvarez slugged his 174th career home run on April 5,^[92] which tied former teammate George Springer for seventh all-time in club history.^[i][93] During the week ended April 5, Alvarez batted .471 / .615 on-base percentage (OBP) / 1.118 slugging percentage (SLG) / over six games^[94] and was recognized as AL Player of the Week, his fourth career award, and first by an Astro since both himself and Alex Bregman on August 11, 2024.^[95] On April 6, Altuve attained his 2,400th career hit, a first-inning double versus the Colorado Rockies.^[96][97][98]

From April 14 to 28, Alvarez authored a 13-game hitting streak during which he hit .389, .759 slugging percentage, five home runs, and 12 RBI. This would be the team's longest hitting streak of the season until Jeremy Peña hit safely in a 14th consecutive game on August 2.^[j][99]

Jose Altuve played his 2,000th career game on April 21 at Progressive Field during a series against the Cleveland Guardians. He became the fifth active major leaguer to appear in as many games, and third Astro all-time, joining Hall of Famers Craig Biggio (2.850) and Jeff Bagwell (2,150).^[k][100]

From April 30 to May 15, Braden Shewmake logged a 10-game hitting streak during which he hit. 389 with two home runs and six RBI.^[101]

The Astros' pitching staff was riddled with injuries in the early part of the season. On April 29, the team was in last place in the AL West with a record of 11-19 and an MLB-worst team earned run average of 5.96.^[102]

Over 32 games during March and April, Yordan Alvarez batted .356 / .462 OBP / .737 SLG, with 12 home runs, 27 runs batted in (RBI), 87 total bases, 21 bases on balls and 14 strikeouts.^[103] He won AL Player of the Month honors, his third career monthly award. Alvarez joined Jeff Bagwell (five wins) and former teammate Alex Bregman (three) as Astros named the Player of the Month three or more times, and was also Houston's most recent winner in September 2023.^[104]

May

On May 14, longtime Astros Jose Altuve and Lance McCullers Jr. each attained a 900 milestone on the way to highlighting a 4–3, extra innings, walk-off victory over the Seattle Mariners. Altuve became the fifth Astro to reach 900 RBI. McCullers struck out Josh Naylor for the 900th of his career. His 154th career appearance, it was the fewest to reach 900 in terms of total career appearances. Zach Cole singled to score Brice Matthews for the walk-off victory in the bottom of the tenth.^[105]

During the inaugural game of the season's Lone Star Series on May 15,^[106] Spencer Arrighetti and Bryan King combined for a one-hit shutout of the Texas Rangers to lead a 2–0 triumph. Arrighetti (5–1) took a no-hit bid into the top of the eighth until Justin Foscue lined a single down the left field line with one out. King relieved Arrighetti and retired the final five Rangers batters for the save (4). Isaac Paredes (4) homered off Rangers starter Jack Leiter (1–4).^[107]

Beginning May 22, until June 19, Yordan Alvarez reached base in 25 consecutive games, during which he hit .366 /.459 .699 slugging percentage, 9 home runs, and 24 RBI. This was tied for eighth-longest on-base streak in the major leagues this season.^[l][108]

Imai—Okert—Santa combined no-hitter

On May 25, three Astros pitchers—two of whom were rookies—combined to no-hit their in-state rivals, the Texas Rangers: starter Tatsuya Imai, Steven Okert, and Alimber Santa,^[109] making his major league debut.^[110] The 18th no-hitter in club history, it was Houston's fifth combined effort.^[111] Imai issued walks to the first two Rangers hitters, then induced a ground ball double play. Imai proceeded to permit just two more baserunners as he tossed six innings. Okert took over for the seventh inning, and Santa polished off the masterpiece by closing out the final two innings. Santa retired his first batter faced, Andrew McCutchen, on a ground ball to third baseman Braden Shewmake. During the bottom of the ninth, Santa struck out Brandon Nimmo looking for the final out of the contest and his first major league strikeout.^[109]

Yordan Alvarez and Christian Walker connected for home runs to lead Houston's offense. Walker tied a club record by connecting for each of at least one home run and three RBI over three successive contests, joining César Cedeño (1976), Moisés Alou (1998), and Lance Berkman (2006). Nick Allen and Christian Vázquez both had two hits. Astros' defense provided crucial plays to keep history intact. During the bottom of the third, Jeremy Peña snared Joc Pederson's rocket ground ball to his right, pivoted and threw out Pederseon. Jake Meyers made two long running catches to the deep left-center field gap during the fifth inning, one swatted by Justin Foscue and one by Danny Jansen.^[112] Vázquez had caught the Astros' most recent combined no-hitter, during Game 4 of the World Series, by Cristian Javier, Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero, and Ryan Pressly against the Philadelphia Phillies.^[111]

This was the first no-hitter pitched in the Lone Star Series. Ronel Blanco had tossed Houston's most recent no-hitter, on April 1, 2024 against the Toronto Blue Jays. It was the first in the major leagues since the Chicago Cubs' Shota Imanaga, Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge no-hit the Pirates on September 4, 2024.^[111] The no-hitter was the second of Imai's career, as he had worked eight innings of a combined effort as a member of the Saitama Seibu Lions on April 18, 2025.^[m][113] Per the Elias Sports Bureau, since 1900, Santa was the only hurler to contribute to a no-hit win in his major league debut.^[114] Prior to Santa, on October 15, 1892, Bumpus Jones threw a complete game no-hit victory for the Cincinnati Reds, the only other known instance in which a pitcher tossed a no-hitter during his major league debut.^[115]

Notably, the day prior, on May 24, the Astros had defeated Imanaga and the Cubs, 8–5, with Pearson getting the save against his former team.^[116]

Rest of May

On May 31, Isaac Paredes doubled during the fourth inning to obtain the 500th hit of career, off Jacob Misiorowski (6–2). It was the first extra-base hit against the right-hander since April 19, a span of sever starts. Misiorowski fanned eight Astros over seven innings to lead a 2–0, three-hit combined shutout victory for the Milwaukee Brewers.^[117] Paredes became the 10th Mexican-born to player to reach the hit milestone, two of whiom had played for Houston: Alex Treviño (the Astros' Spanish-language broadcaster) and Vinny Castilla.^[118]

During May, Spencer Arrighetti worked to a 4–1 win–loss record (W–L). 0.93 earned run average (ERA), over five starts and 29 innings pitched (IP). He struck out 22 and surrendered 17 walks, a 1.138 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP), two extra-base hits, .165 batting average against, and .517 OPS.^[119] He was recognized as American League (AL) Pitcher of the Month for the first time.^[120] Arrighetti, who previously won AL Rookie of the Month in August 2024, joined Roy Oswalt (August 2001,^[121] August 2002, and September 2006 as Astros pitchers who have won both monthly awards.^[120]

June

The Astros won on a rally when trailing after seven innings on June 3—their first such triumph on the season—interrupting a 32-game losing streak during those indicated situations for an 11–9 final over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Cam Smith's two-run triple capped a six-run eighth inning, and, Josh Hader collected the save in his season debut after returning from arm injury. During the bottom of the seventh, Paredes slugged a two-run home run to close Pittsburgh's lead to 8–5.^[122]

On June 4, Isaac Paredes connected for the 100th home run of his career off Carmen Mlodzinski of the Pittsburgh Pirates.^[123] Catcher Collin Price made his major league debut.^[124] Price drew a base on balls from starter Jared Jones for his major league plate appearance during the bottom of the second inning. Price went 0-for-3.^[125]

Yordan Alvarez launched his fifth career grand slam on June 6, versus Kade Morris of the Athletics during the second inning,^[92] to ignite a 13–2 Astros win. LaMonte Wade Jr. added three hits, three RBI, and attained both or his first home run and double for the season. The Astros assembled seven extra-base hits: Jose Altuve also homered, and Christian Walker, Christian Vázquez, Isaac Paredes, and Jeremy Peña all doubled.^[126] Alvarez became the 11th Astro to hit five grand slams, with former teammate Kyle Tucker being the most recent.^[127]

On June 12, Alvarez connected for two home runs—including a grand slam—and six RBI during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium to lead a 10–8 triumph over the Kansas City Royals. Nine of Houston's runs arrived in the first inning as Christian Walker also went deep. Neither starter (Luinder Avila and Tatsuya Imai) recorded more than two outs, however, as Kansas City answered with five tallies during the bottom of the first.^[128] Alvarez became the 24th major leaguer to accrue six or more RBI during a single inning, succeeding Cody Bellinger of the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 2, 2021.^[129] Alvarez' two home runs in one inning tied the major league record, becoming the 66th player, succeeding Riley Greene of the Detroit Tigers on May 2, 2025, and third Astros hitter.^[n][130]

On June 23, Astros hitters connected for three consecutive home runs for the eighth time in club history, by Yainer Díaz, Cam Smith, and Taylor Trammell, off Shane Bieber during the fourth inning at the Rogers Centre.^[o] The Astros won in the top of the eleventh inning when Joey Loperfido hit a three-run home that put Houston ahead, 9–6. They held on to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays, 9–7.^[131]

On June 30, Alvarez connected for his third grand slam of the month, tying a major league record as the 11th hitter, last accomplished by former teammate Alex Bregman in June 2023.^[132] Alvarez took starter Joe Ryan deep during the bottom of the fourth inning, transferring the lead from the Minnesota Twins to the Astros, 6–3, resulting as the game-winning hit.^[133] Alvarez' seventh career grand slam, he also tied the regular-season club record held jointly by Carlos Lee, Altuve, and Bregman.^[127]

July, pre-All-Star break

On July 4, Yordan Alvarez blasted his second career regular season walk-off home run, and first in exactly four seasons,^[92] leading a 10–8 comeback triumph over the Tampa Bay Rays. It was Alvarez' fourth career bout of two home and six RBI or greater, and second of the campaign.^[p][134] Six days later, on July 10 against Texas, Alvarez hit a home run off Cal Quantrill 455 feet (139 m) to right-center field, becoming the first player in the American League to hit 30, also the 200th of his career. This was the second-fewest (96 games) for a player to reach 30 home runs in a season in team history, trailing only Jeff Bagwell in 1999.^[135]

On July 11, LaMonte Wade Jr. hit his first career grand slam against Kumar Rocker at Globe Life Field,^[136] as the Astros toppled the Rangers, 9–3. Starter Peter Lambert (8–5) scattered three hits, one walk and one run over six innings to obtain the victory. Yordan Alvarez (31) and Christian Vázquez (5) also homered, and Alvarez doubled and reached base four times.^[137]

MLB All-Star Game

Yordan Alvarez received selection to the MLB All-Star Game for the fourth time in his career. He was the starting designated hitter, his second selection to the starting lineup. He became the seventh player to became an All-Star four times while playing for Houston, succeeding teammate Jose Altuve (2016) as the most recent. The bout was held at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.^[138] Alvarez realized his first hit and first run as an All-Star,^[139] hitting a single and scoring on a Cody Bellinger double during the first inning, the first run of the game. The American League defeated the National League, 4–0.^[140]

July, post-All-Star break

The Astros were swept by the Baltimore Orioles at home following the All-Star break.^[106] Starting July 12, the first game post-All-Star break, Jeremy Peña had a 15-game hitting streak that lasted until August 3. Peña hit .422/.464./828, 27 hits, seven home runs and 15 RBI. This surpassed Yordan Alvarez' 13-game streak from April 14 to 28 as the team's longest of the season,^[j][108] and was the longest by an Astros hitter since Alex Bregman hit in 16 consecutive from May 28 to June 15, 2024.^[q][141] Peña's tied for fifth-longest in the major leagues this season with Nick Gonzales, Freddie Freeman, Jake McCarthy, and Jordan Walker.^[r][142]

On July 15, the Astros traded pitchers Lance McCullers Jr. and Colton Gordon and cash considerations to the Milwaukee Brewers for minor league designated hitter Jayden Fielder.^[143]

On July 20, right-hander Ronel Blanco returned to the mound 432 days following arm surgery, versus the Miami Marlins.^[144] In the second inning, Jeremy Peña hit an opposite-field grand slam to give the Astros the lead, one they would not relinquish. Alvarez slugged two home runs. The Astros won, 8–5.^[145]

Peña then homered in three of his next five games, to go with three successive three-hit games as the Astros won of five of six contests, while continuing an eight-game hitting streak. He hit .500 (13-for-26) with five home runs and eight RBI.^[146] Peña was the named AL Player of the Week for the first time in his career.^[95]

On July 28, the Astros scored four times in the top of the ninth inning to rally and claim a 6–4 triumph over the Los Angeles Angels, benefiting from miscues on just one hit.^[147] Another Tommy John surgery patient, Hayden Wesneski started and won his 2026 debut for Houston on July 29, leading a 7–4 win over the Los Angeles Angels. The Astros reached the .500 mark (55–55) for the first since April 7, their eighth win in nine games. This was the first time since May 6, 2025, that Wesneski had pitched in a major league game.^[148] On July 31, the Astros defeated the Rangers, 11–2, to simultaneously attain a winning record, win the Lone Star Series, while overtaking the Rangers for first lace in the AL West.^[106] Yainer Díaz delivered successive four-hit games on July 29 and 31, the first time in his career doing so, and first four-hit performance since July 30, 2024, while connecting for a home run in both games.^[149] Isaac Paredes (15) and Christian Walker (22) also homered on July 31, and Jeremy Peña collected three hits and three RBI. Meanwhile, Hunter Brown (3–1) logged 5+2⁄3 innings to earn the win.^[150] Díaz became the 16th batter in team history to record four hits each over consecutive games, succeeding Yordan Alvarez on September 3 and 4 of the previous year.^[s][151]

From July 29 to August 11, Cam Smith batted .415/.452/.732 with three home runs, 8 RBI, and 11 runs scored over 11 games.^[152]

Yordan Alvarez hit .360/.467/.721/1.188 OPS, nine home runs, 22 RBI, 17 walks and 18 strikeouts in 23 games during the month of July.^[103] He was recognized as AL Player of the Month for the second time this season. Alvarez joined Jeff Bagwell in 1994 as both the second Astro to win the award more than once during the same season, and the second to win at least four times overall.^[104]

August

The Astros won on August 1 versus Texas, 5–4, with Yainer Díaz hitting a RBI single the fourth inning for the go-ahead run. Taylor Trammell collected two RBI. Steven Okert (5–1) tossed 1+1⁄3 scoreless frames from the sixth to the seventh to earn the victory, and Bryan Abreu (7) and Josh Hader (15) each followed with one scoreless inning to earn the hold and save, respectively.^[153] On August 2, the Astros won the final game of the season series against Texas by a score of 7–3, concluding the Lone Star Series 9–4 (.692), and extended a winning streak to a season-high six games, their 11th win in 12.^[106] During the bottom of the seventh inning, Cam Smith singled home Taylor Trammell for the go-ahead run. LaMonte Wade Jr. followed with an RBI single, and Yordan Alvarez lined a two-run double. Bryan Abreu (3–3) struck out two of the three batters faced to earn the victory.^[154]

On August 3, Houston traded pitcher Spencer Arrighetti to the Toronto Blue Jays for center fielder Daulton Varsho, during a series in which the two clubs were facing each other at Daikin Park.^[155] The Astros dropped consecutive series versus the Blue Jays and San Diego Padres, both by losing two of three contests.^[106] In the finale of the Padres series, each of Houston's final 22 batters were retired in order in a 2–7 defeat. Houston's only two hits occurred consecutively, first by a Taylor Trammell single, followed by Varsho's first home run as a member of the Astros.^[156]

On August 14, Christian Walker belted the Astros' second walk-off home run of the season,^[157] and third of his career,^[158] off Seattle Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz. A three-run home run, it capped a dramatic five-run comeback during the bottom of the tenth inning which resulted in a 10–7 final. Isaac Paredes, who had two hits and three RBI, singled home Jeremy Peña earlier in the 10th inning, and Daulton Varsho singled home Nick Allen to tie the score, 7-all.^[159]

The Astros inducted catcher and broadcaster Alan Ashby and infielder and manager Phil Garner into their team Hall of Fame during a pre-game ceremony at Daikin Park on August 15, 2026.^[160][161]

On August 19, right-hander Ethan Pecko made his MLB debut as the starting pitcher versus the Los Angeles Angels at Daikin Park. He worked 3+2⁄3 innings, yielding three hits and two runs,^[162] and fanned Vaughn Grissom for his first major league strikeout. Pecko's batterymate, Christian Vázquez, homered (7), as the Astros won, 3–2. Josh Hader, who earned his 18th save^[163] of 18 opportunities to open the season, logged the 500th appearance and 245th save of his career, passing Dan Quisenberry for 41st on the latter chart. Thus far on the season, Hader had surrendered a .123 batting average against and an 0.87 earned run average (ERA).^[164]

On August 24, after having lost 5 of their last 6 series, and going 3–6 on their most recent homestand,^[106] the Astros announced that they had terminated general manager (GM) Dana Brown. His duties would be divided between assistant GMs Charles Cook, Gavin Dickey and Connor Huff, and senior advisor Jeff Bagwell. Hired in advance of the 2023 season, Brown oversaw two playoff appearances, an AL West division title and a Wild Card berth.^[165] On August 27, former pitching coach Brent Strom rejoined the team as a pitching consultant. At the time, the starting rotation had the third-highest ERA in the major leagues (5.17},^[166] while they had issued the second-most base on balls (550).^[167]

Southpaw closer Josh Hader remained unscored upon in August over 14+1⁄3 innings pitched (IP), converting each of seven save opportunities in 13 appearances. He surrendered four this and one walk for a 0.35 WHIP, sporting a 15.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and .085 opponents' batting average.^[168] He was selected as AL Reliever of the Month for the ninth time in his career, and third in one each of three consecutive seasons as a member of the Astros. Hader's most recent selection was for June of the previous year.^[169]

September

On September 4, Josh Hader attained his 250th career save by striking out the side in a 3–1 win versus the Arizona Diamondbacks. He became the 41st pitcher to achieve the milestone, and ranked sixth all-time among left-handers, two behind Dave Righetti.^[170] Hader's scoreless innings streak reached 19 innings, until, on September 8,^[t][171] the Philadelphia Phillies rallied to cut the Astros' lead to 6–5 in the bottom of the ninth inning. However, Hader persisted to limit the damage and record the save (24).^[172] On September 9, Jose Altuve lined a double in the right-center field gap off starter Cristopher Sánchez for hit number 2,500, joining Freddie Freeman as the second active player and 103rd major leaguer overall.^[173]

Josh Hader was announced on September 15 as the Astros' Roberto Clemente Award nominee for 2026, his second consecutive year to receive this nomination.^[174]

On September 17, Yordan Alvarez connected for his 40th home run,^[92] to become the fifth Astros batter to reach the milestone in a single season.^[u][175] Alvarez connected off Kansas City Royals starter Seth Lugo. Jeremy Peña (20), Daulton Varsho (12), LaMonte Wade Jr. (4) and Taylor Trammell (8) also homered as Houston triumphed, 6–2.^[176]

On September 19, Jose Altuve recorded his 226th three-hit game^[v][177] to surpass Craig Biggio for most in team history.^[w][178] Following a September sweep by division leaders Tampa Bay Rays, and during another sweep by the Atlanta Braves on September 19, the Astros fell out of first place in the AL West for the first time since July 29.^[106]

On September 22, Christian Walker blasted the 200th home run of his career, off Logan Gilbert of the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park.^[158] The following game, pitcher Josh Hendrickson made his major league debut^[179] in relief of Ethan Pecko, and struck out his first batter faced, J. P. Crawford. Hendrickson totaled two innings, yielding two hits and one run over two innings. However, the Mariners ambushed the Astros with a 6–5, walk-off victory in ten innings.^[180]

Lucas Spence, in his 16th major league game on September 24, hit his first three major league home runs at Sutter Health Park to lead a 7–5 win over the Athletics. Spence became the third major leaguer to do so, succeeding Seby Zavala of the Chicago White Sox (July 31, 2021) and Joshua Báez of the St. Louis Cardinals, on August 15, 2026.^[181] Spence became the 14th Astro to hit three home runs in a single game, following Yordan Alvarez on August 28, 2024,^[182] and second Astros rookie, also joining Alvarez (August 10, 2019).^[181]

Performance overview

This roster featured eight pitchers who had thrown in a no-hitter during their major league career: Bryan Abreu, Ronel Blanco, Josh Hader, Tatsuya Imai, Cristian Javier, Steven Okert, Nate Pearson, and Alimber Santa. Of the group, only Pearson and Hader had not pitched in a no-hitter as a member of the Astros.^[111]