For most of the season, it has felt like the fight has been chasing the Astros.
Every time Houston solved one problem, another appeared. Josh Hader never got to begin his season. Hunter Brown went on the injured list after one start. Carlos Correa’s season ended before it ever found rhythm. The lineup became shifting sands, and even when the Astros won series, it rarely felt like they had enough stability to build on it before something else broke.
That feeling has not disappeared overnight, and the standings still reflect that. The Astros enter the weekend at 28-36 after losing a series to Pittsburgh. There are still holes to patch and questions to answer. But for the first time in a while, a path is becoming visible again.
Hader is back and immediately reclaimed the ninth inning. Spencer Arrighetti just won AL Pitcher of the Month after helping stabilize the rotation. Yordan Alvarez leads the American League in home runs and has remained one of baseball’s most dangerous hitters. Jeremy Peña has continued producing. Cam Smith has looked increasingly comfortable. Jose Altuve could return to the lineup within the week. Hunter Brown continues progressing through his rehab assignment. None of those developments guarantees anything, but together they give Houston something it has rarely had this season: the chance to stop reacting and start pushing.
Houston opens a six-game stretch at Daikin Park against the Athletics and Angels, two division opponents sitting below .500 entering the weekend. These are not must-win games, and nobody is handing out division banners in June. But this is the kind of stretch teams use to quietly change seasons. Win series. Protect leads. Stack good baseball days together.
Do that for a week, and October starts to feel obtainable.
The Astros do not need to sweep or declare themselves back. They need to do something they have rarely had the chance to do this season: take a healthier roster, a more settled bullpen, and improved pitching and turn it into ordinary baseball wins.
Houston’s slogan this season is Chase the Fight. So far, the fight has been chasing them.
This week is a chance to reverse that.
Heading to Daikin Park soon? Check the Astros promotions schedule before your next game.
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