Astros Finally Rested Their Bullpen. They May Need All of It Tuesday
For much of September, the Astros treated their bullpen like there might not be a tomorrow. Now there is one—and the bullpen may have to carry a large part of it. Houston opens the Wild Card Series against the Chicago White Sox at Daikin Park on Tuesday…
Astros Option Ronel Blanco After Uneven Comeback Season
The Houston Astros recalled infielder Raynel Delgado from Triple-A Sugar Land and optioned right-hander Ronel Blanco to the Space Cowboys ahead of Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Athletics. The move was all about Game 162. Houston wanted…
Astros Finish a Bizarre Season as AL West Champions
There may be no more fitting ending to the Astros’ strange 2026 regular season than this: They finished exactly .500—and won the division anyway. Houston shut out the Athletics 9-0 Sunday at Sutter Health Park, finishing 81-81 and claiming the AL West on…
Astros Erupt for 13 Runs, Send AL West Race to Game 162
After a week of squandered opportunities, bullpen disasters, and an AL West race that increasingly resembled a contest to see who could avoid winning it, the Astros finally did something emphatic Saturday night. Houston pounded the Athletics 13-2 at…
Verlander’s Daughter Throws First Pitch Before Farewell
Justin Verlander has spent more than two decades throwing baseballs from Major League mounds. On Friday night, he got to experience the other side of it. During the Tigers’ career celebration for Verlander at Comerica Park, his 7-year-old daughter,…
Welcome to Baseball Purgatory: AL West Champion Will Make History
With two games remaining in the regular season, the Astros and Rangers are tied for first place at 79-81. Both lost Friday night—Houston 6-5 to the 63-96 Athletics and Texas 10-2 to the Twins—guaranteeing that whoever eventually gets dragged, kicking and…
Six-Run Sixth Costs Astros Chance to Take AL West Lead
For five innings Friday night, Hunter Brown and the Astros appeared to be doing exactly what they needed to do. Then the sixth inning happened. The Athletics scored six runs in the inning, turning a 1-0 Houston lead into a 6-1 deficit, and held off a…
Spence’s Historic 3-Homer Night Powers Astros Past A’s
Lucas Spence entered Thursday night without a major-league home run. He left Sutter Health Park with three of them—and the Astros still tied for first place in the AL West. The 23-year-old rookie drove in five runs with three homers as Houston beat the…
Astros vs. Athletics Series Preview: AL West on the Line
After 158 games, the Astros’ season comes down to four games in West Sacramento. Houston opens its final series of the regular season Thursday against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park. The Astros and Rangers enter the night tied atop the AL West…
Astros Blow Four-Run Lead in 6-5 Loss to Mariners
The Astros had a chance to take sole possession of first place in the AL West Wednesday night. Instead, a four-run lead disappeared before Seattle rallied against Josh Hader in the 10th inning for a 6-5 walk-off win at T-Mobile Park. Houston fell to…