2025 MLB Season Recap: Houston Astros

The Pitching

The Good

Despite several significant injuries to the Astros’ pitching staff, Houston still had Hunter Brown leading the charge.

Brown, who turned into an elite starter in 2024 thanks in part to the addition of a sinker, went 12-9 with a 2.43 ERA (172 ERA+) and 206 strikeouts over 185.1 IP. It was a complete year for the 26-year-old, who earned his first All-Star nod this past season.

The Astros’ bullpen, meanwhile, was sublime yet again. Josh Hader notched 28 saves and struck out 76 over 52 innings. Bryan Abreu, Bryan King, Steven Okert, and Bennett Sousa helped fill out the rest of the ‘pen. All four had ERA+ figures above league-average and K/9 rates north of 9.0.

As for the offense, it was tricky to get production at times. However, Houston had four 20+ home run hitters this season, headlined by Jose Altuve. Altuve received time both at second base and left field this season.

Christian Walker, brought in to fill a long-standing hole at first, hit 27 home runs this season. It wasn’t his best season, though, as Walker posted a .297 OBP. He whiffed a ton but did get better as the season went on. Fifteen of his 27 home runs came after the All-Star break.

The Astros also saw several young hitters make their MLB debuts this season. Cam Smith, Jacob Melton, and Brice Matthews all made it up to the Majors this year. Smith was the most productive of the three, sticking as a regular despite only having a handful of pro games under his belt heading into the year.

However, Smith had a rough second half.

Lastly, Carlos Correa looked very comfortable back in Houston after he was re-acquired at the deadline.. Correa slashed .290/.355/.430 with 16 extra-base hits in two months of play with the Astros.

The Bad

How things have changed for the Astros over the course of three years. Back in 2023, the last time that the Astros made it past the Wild Card round, the Houston offense racked up 827 runs. That total was fifth-best in the Majors. During the 2024 campaign, the Astros’ offense slipped outside the top-10.

In 2025? The Astros ranked in the bottom third of the league in runs scored.

The Astros didn’t have Yordan Alvarez for much of 2025. Alvarez played in just 48 games this year. The star slugger suffered a hand fracture early in the year, something not picked up for weeks, thanks to inflammation in his hand. An ankle sprain cost Alvarez the final two weeks, one made up of several AL West matchups.

It wasn’t just Alvarez, though, who had injury problems.

Isaac Paredes, who fit well in Houston thanks to his pull-heavy, fly-ball tendencies from the right side, only played 102 games. Paredes was dealing with a hamstring strain this past summer.

Jeremy Pena, who slashed .304/.363/.477 with 17 home runs and 49 extra-base hits over 125 games, dealt with a rib fracture.

Then, there were the pitching injuries. Spencer Arrighetti went down early thanks to a fractured elbow that occurred in a freak injury during BP in April. He only made seven starts in his sophomore season. Hayden Wesneski, acquired in the Kyle Tucker trade last December along with Cam Smith and the aforementioned Paredes, needed Tommy John surgery in May.

Wesneski was one of several pitchers to go down thanks to season-ending surgery. So did Ronel Blanco, Brandon Walter, and Luis Garcia (again), depleting the Astros’ pitching depth.

What truly didn’t help amidst all those injuries was the fact that Framber Valdez wasn’t particularly effective in the second half. Valdez was a Cy Young candidate in the first half, as the 31-year-old went 12-4 with a 2.75 ERA and 125 strikeouts over 121 innings. In the second half, Valdez posted a 5.20 ERA; his seven home runs allowed across 71 innings, was one fewer than all the homers (8) he gave up in the first.

Valdez’s prowess has largely derived from his plus sinker, a heavy ball that can run up to the mid-90s and induce a ton of ground balls. Between the first and second half, some subtleties made a difference (in the wrong direction).

Valdez’s sinker was actually getting more downward breaking action — but also more run, and not the late kind. And in some cases, run right over the middle of the plate. Five of his seven home runs allowed off the sinker came in September.

It could very well be the end of Valdez’s run in Houston, as the 31-year-old can enter free agency this fall.

Pitching woes, overall, helped cost the Astros a playoff spot. A 13-15 August, one that saw Houston had a -34 run differential, helped put the division back in play. Eventually, the Mariners were the team to take the AL West.

Early Projected Lineup for 2025

• C: Yainer Diaz
• 1B: Christian Walker
• 2B: Isaac Paredes
• 3B: Carlos Correa
• SS: Jeremy Pena
• OF: Jose Altuve (LF), Cam Smith (CF), Jesus Sanchez (RF)
• DH: Yordan Alvarez
• SP: Hunter Brown, Spencer Arrighetti, Cristian Javier, Colton Gordon, Nate Pearson
• RP: Josh Hader, Bryan Abreu, Bennett Sousa, Steven Okert, Jason Alexander, Bryan King, Enyel De Los Santos, A.J. Blubaugh

With Framber Valdez headed to free agency, the Astros will have to deal with how — provided he leaves — to replace the long-time starter and ace of the franchise.

Hunter Brown would obviously slide into the #1 role. However, the Astros’ rotation is already thin on depth. Brandon Walter, Hayden Wesneski, Ronel Blanco, and Luis Garcia will all either miss most or all of the 2026 campaign thanks to surgery recovery.

The Astros got ahead of adding depth, as Houston signed Nate Pearson to a one-year deal. Pearson, who worked primarily as a reliever in the Majors between 2021-25, was reportedly added to be a starter.

Houston’s lineup is nearly set. However, how will the Astros manage their 2026 lineup, one that’ll tentatively include both Correa and Paredes for a full, 162-game season? Additionally, former first-rounder Brice Matthews could work his way into the infield rotation.