So, what happens when you combine the top run-scoring lineup in baseball through 16 games (93 runs scored) with the worst run-prevention pitching staff (99 runs allowed)? Apparently, a 6-10 record with a lot of conflicting feelings.
On the one hand, it has been refreshing to see a lineup that can actually take some pitches and mash the mistakes. Only the Dodgers have a higher slugging percentage and ISO than the Astros right now. The lack of thump through the batting order was a sore point for Houston at times in the past two seasons, particularly in 2025. If this team is going to survive this rash of pitching injuries, the bats will need to remain decidedly above-average. While I wouldn’t expect this group to remain the best run-scoring unit in baseball, they’ll need to remain relatively close to the top.
On the other hand, this pitching staff has some serious problems. Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier will be out for an indefinite amount of time. Who knows what is going on with Tatsuya Imai? The bullpen has clearly struggled with an increased workload, with Bryan Abreu’s lack of positive results standing out. Only three teams have used their relievers more and their starters less than the Astros. That’s not a sustainable trend, especially with 146 games remaining in the season. One of the more glaring issues is the sheer number of walks that this staff is allowing. And the history of teams with similar walk issues through their first 16 games isn’t promising for anyone hoping to qualify for the postseason or even achieve a winning record.
Astros @ Mariners Game Information and Gamethread Details
This road trip is mercifully ending after today. But the injury train keeps on rolling.
Whether the Astros can avoid a four-game sweep in Seattle is another matter. Mike Burrows will start, and, frankly, I’d be thrilled if he could replicate his last two pitching lines. You know, roughly five to six innings with even average results or even slightly below-average will be adequate. What a sad reality that I am typing this sentence, but that’s Astros baseball in 2026. It’ll be another tough test for Houston with George Kirby starting for the Mariners, however.
With Jeremy Peña now on the IL with a hamstring strain, Nick Allen gets the start at shortstop. Carlos Correa will play third base and Isaac Paredes will be the DH. Yordan Alvarez starts in left field with Jose Altuve at second base. I guess that’s one way to solve that infield glut for now. The rest of the outfield is Cam Smith in right and Taylor Trammell in center. Yainer Diaz will catch Burrows.
The game will be broadcast at 3:10 p.m. CT on SCHN with radio coverage on KBME 790 AM.
We hope you will join us and the rest of the Launch Angle community for the game! The turnout has been fantastic on the TLA Discord Server for the game threads.
Join us again for today’s game. Just join the Discord server using this link: https://launch-angle.com/discord .
If you’ve participated in game threads on other Astros sites in the past, you will probably see a lot of familiar names. Chat, lurk, do whatever! (But please say “hi”, so we know you’re not a bot.)
Feature photo from @astros on X, Source Link
I hope I’m wrong but I don’t know how the 2026 Astros can recover from this. Not from the record rolling strea. Whatever.
These injuries are just too much and all at once to overcome. Forget even looking to win a game, trying to find enough pitching to cover 9 innings is difficult.
Who do you blame for injuries? Is it even fair to blame anyone for injuries? Sometimes shit just happens.
Maybe you just hope Lance and Vazquez stay healthy and productive to the point someone wants to trade us something for them in July.
It is now basically hoping guys like Gordon, Arrighetti, Alexander, France, etc., hit above their weight class and stay healthy for the next two to three months at the least. Not to mention that Burrows and Lance remain upright and decent enough. Yeah, that’s not happening.
Yeah it’s one thing when you’re off to a bad start and you have hope because they should regress to the mean to closer to what’s generally expected of them. But if they’re injured, they’re not regressing back. They’re just out. You never get their overperforming periods to balance out their underperforming starts
The Astros lead the AL in runs and are also in last place in the AL. How often does that happen??