Five or Six? The Astros’ Rotation Decision Has Real Consequences
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Joe Espada has been upfront about wanting to open the season with six starters. The math, however, is starting to complicate that preference. With Josh Hader beginning the year on the injured list, Bryan Abreu slides into the…
Lance McCullers Jr. Finds Peace — and a New Approach — as Astros Right-Hander Rebuilds in Spring Training
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Lance McCullers Jr. has spent much of his professional life fighting. Fighting opposing hitters. Fighting his own body. Fighting the clock on a career that has spent as much time in training rooms as it has on pitching mounds. For…
Back-to-Back Homers From Paredes, Altuve Lift Astros Past Marlins 4-1
JUPITER, Fla. — Isaac Paredes and Jose Altuve hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning Wednesday as the Houston Astros defeated the Miami Marlins 4-1 at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Tatsuya Imai delivered another spotless outing to lead the way.…
Astros Closer Josh Hader to Open 2026 Season on Injured List; Bryan Abreu Expected to Handle Ninth Inning
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Houston Astros manager Joe Espada confirmed Wednesday that closer Josh Hader will begin the 2026 season on the injured list as he continues recovering from biceps inflammation. In his absence, hard-throwing right-hander Bryan…
A Whataburger at Daikin Park Will Cost You. A Lot.
When the Astros announced that a Whataburger was coming to Daikin Park, Houston fans reacted the way you’d expect. Finally. A little piece of Texas inside the ballpark. Something familiar, something affordable, something that felt like home. Then…
Cam Smith Has Something to Prove. His Swing Is Starting to Show It.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The first half of Cam Smith’s rookie season looked like the beginning of something special. The second half looked like a warning. Smith hit .277 with seven home runs and a .765 OPS through 82 games before the All-Star break, the…
Ryan Weiss Is Making Himself Impossible to Ignore
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Nobody outside of Houston paid much attention when the Astros signed Ryan Weiss in December. A $2.6 million deal for a 29 year old who had never thrown a pitch in the major leagues, coming off two seasons in Korea, barely…
Astros Outlast Orioles 7–6 in Wild Spring Finish
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — It wasn’t pretty, but the Astros will take it. Houston survived a four-run Baltimore fifth inning, answered with a three-run rally of its own in the sixth, held off a late Orioles push, and walked off 7–6 Tuesday at CACTI…
Astros Closer Josh Hader Begins Bullpen Work with Opening Day in Doubt
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Josh Hader threw his first bullpen session of the spring Tuesday, a modest but meaningful step in his recovery from biceps inflammation. Whether he’ll be ready when the Astros open the season March 26 against the Angels remains an…
Janek, Spence Reassigned After Strong Springs in Astros Camp
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Walker Janek and Lucas Spence made the most of their final day in big league camp. Hours after both prospects contributed to a seven-run eighth inning in the Astros’ 10–3 split-squad win over the Cardinals—Janek doubling home a…