Houston Astros: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

MLB Postseason Exposed Astros For Who They Really Were in 2026

There was suddenly a different feel around the Houston Astros on the last day of the regular season when they won the American League West division. It was their eighth division title in the last nine full seasons, and it felt like the postseason could turn the page and set up the Astros to make some noise in October.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Can Astros Slugger Cam Smith Live Up To His First Round Potential?

Cam Smith will be entering his third season with the Astros in 2027. His offensive numbers haven’t quite been up to the Astros standard but he’s been a valuable asset in right field.

Houston Astros News / Houston Astros on SI / October 15

Two Astros Players Named 2026 Gold Glove Finalists

There were a lot of issues that led to the Houston Astros having the season they had in 2026, but some bright spots were seen on defense. Now, it wasn't

Hayden Wesneski News / Houston Astros on SI / October 15

Astros’ Hayden Wesneski Faces Bigger Expectations After 2026 Progress

You can believe in projections or not, but it will be difficult for Hayden Wesneski to sustain his latest version of 2026 as a full-time starter should he manage to earn a spot in the Houston Astros’ rotation for 2027.

Jake Bauers News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'NLCS MVPs' quiz

MLB has been awarding the National League Championship Series MVP Award since the 1977 season. How many of the winners can you name in six minutes?

The 'Last MVP by MLB team 'quiz

The 'Platinum Glove winners since 2011' quiz

The 'Last 100-RBI season by team' quiz

Cam Smith News / Houston Astros on SI / October 15

Astros' Outfielder Cam Smith Gets Label That Should Be Unsurprising To Fans

In 2025, Cam Smith broke into the Houston Astros lineup at 22 years old and cemented his spot as a potential building piece for an organization that is looking for some young outfielders to grab a starting spot and run with it.

Athletics News / Yardbarker

25 things we learned from the 2026 MLB season

The 2026 MLB season was full of great performances, breakout stars, and incredible feats. These are the 25 things we learned along the way.

Joe Espada News / EssentiallySports / October 15

Astros Fire Manager Despite Winning Division Amid Growing Links With Mariners

Winning a division title was supposed to give a manager some job security. In Houston, however, it cost Joe Espada his job. After nine years with the Astros, his time in Houston is over, leaving him searching for his next chapter… and potentially opening the door to a rival team!

Daulton Varsho News / Houston Astros on SI / October 15

Astros Must Decide Whether Daulton Varsho’s Defensive Value Makes Up for His Bat

We analyzed how valuable Daulton Varsho could be for the Houston Astros next season, what his most recent struggles as a player have been, and how much his market value could increase in free agency.

Joe Espada News / Larry Brown Sports / October 14

Astros make decision on manager Joe Espada

The Houston Astros are officially in the hunt for a new manager. The Astros confirmed Wednesday that they will not renew the contract of manager Joe Espada.

Athletics News / Yardbarker

25 records that were broken during the 2026 MLB season

The 2026 MLB season was historic in many ways. These 25 records were broken during the season.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The '35-TD, 10-INT NFL seasons' quiz

The '100-yard, 1-rushing TD games' quiz

The 'Most 100-rushing-yard NFL games' quiz

The 'QB season rushing-TD leaders' quiz

Houston Astros News / Yardbarker / October 14

Five managerial candidates Astros should consider following Joe Espada firing

As Houston sets to embark on a pivotal offseason, here are five managerial candidates who should be on owner Jim Crane's radar.

Mariners reportedly set to meet with Joe Espada regarding manager job

The 'A.L. Batting Champions' quiz

Houston Astros News / Field Level Media / October 14

Astros part ways with manager Joe Espada

The Houston Astros parted ways with manager Joe Espada on Wednesday following three seasons and two quick playoff exits. He compiled a 256-229 record in the regular season but was 0-4 in the postseason, swept in the American League wild-card round by the Detroit Tigers in 2024 and the Chicago White Sox this season.

Houston Astros News / MLB on ClutchPoints / October 14

Astros set to move on from Joe Espada after underwhelming season

The Houston Astros are planning to move on from manager Joe Espada, per Jorge Castillo of ESPN. “As expected, the Astros announce they won’t renew manager Joe Espada’s contract when it expires at the end of the month,” Castillo reports.

Houston Astros News / MLB Trade Rumors / October 14

Joe Espada Will Not Return As Astros Manager

The Astros announced Tuesday that they will not renew manager Joe Espada’s contract, which was set to expire at the end of the month. Espada, who managed Houston from 2024-26, will become a free agent.

Houston Astros News / Crawfish Boxes / October 14

Single-A Fayetteville 2026 Season in Review

The Fayetteville Woodpeckers had a historic year in 2026 with standout performances and a big time playoff push. Let’s take a look. The Woodpeckers got off to a rough start going 3-12 over their first 15 games.

Houston Astros News / Houston Astros on SI / October 14

What a Successful Houston Astros Offseason Actually Looks Like

When people look back at the 2026 Houston Astros, they will think that the team had a decent year, as the Astros took back the AL West after missing the playoffs the year prior.

Joe Espada News / Yardbarker / October 13

Mariners reportedly set to meet with Joe Espada regarding manager job

The Seattle Mariners' next manager could be a familiar face from the opposing dugout.

Three questions facing the Seattle Mariners this offseason

The 'Active 150-hit MLB seasons' quiz

Tatsuya Imai News / Athlon Sports / October 9

Astros Have Intriguing Dilemma with Tatsuya Imai

The Houston Astros had high expectations for Tatsuya Imai after he signed a three-year, $54 million contract in January. However, the 28-year-old struggled to adjust to MLB hitting in his first full major league season.

Houston Astros News / Just Baseball / October 7

5 Things We Learned About the Astros in 2026

It’s not often that a playoff team has a fan base that is irate. You typically don’t see a GM change during a playoff season either. Yet both are true with the 2026 Houston Astros.

Houston Astros News / Just Baseball / October 7

Houston Astros Arbitration Projections and Tender Decisions

Once a team comes up with its projected salary for all of its arbitration-eligible players, it will begin a tender analysis to simply determine: “Are we comfortable guaranteeing Player X this much money?” If the answer is yes, the player will be tendered a contract prior to the mid-November Tender Deadline.

Houston Astros News / Just Baseball / October 3

Houston Astros’ Season Comes to Unceremonious End

Dynasties rarely announce when they are over. There is usually no clean ending, no obvious moment when a team goes from feared to vulnerable. The names are still familiar.

MLB News / Yardbarker / October 1

White Sox used specific formula to win wild-card series over Astros

The Chicago White Sox took early leads and relied on their bullpen to complete a two-game sweep of the Houston Astros in the American League Wild Card series.

White Sox sweep Astros for first postseason series win since 2005

Hagen Smith gave the White Sox exactly what they needed as Game 1 opener

Colson Montgomery becomes the second-youngest player in White Sox history to hit a postseason home run

Yankees humiliated Red Sox in more ways than one in wild-card series

The 'MLB Playoff hits leaders' quiz

MLB News / Yardbarker / September 30

Astros deserved boos from fans in wild-card series vs. White Sox

Astros deserved boos from their fans in wild-card series vs. White Sox

It took just two games for the Chicago White Sox to sweep the Houston Astros out of the American League Wild Card round and show that the AL West winners were never real postseason contenders.

Colson Montgomery becomes the second-youngest player in White Sox history to hit a postseason home run

Yankees ace Cam Schlittler's curveball destroys Red Sox in Game 1

Massachusetts natives Cam Schlittler, Ben Rice help Yanks defeat Red Sox

Biggest questions for each MLB wild-card series: What to look for in Red Sox-Yankees, Cubs-Padres and more

The 'A.L. Batting Champions' quiz

Daulton Varsho News / MLB Trade Rumors / September 30

Daulton Varsho Undergoes Wrist Surgery

The Astros announced Wednesday that outfielder Daulton Varsho underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left wrist. He’d been plagued by a pair of cysts in that wrist, which had become increasingly uncomfortable as the final stretch of the season inched toward its conclusion.

MLB News / Yardbarker / September 30

Sean Burke vs. Hunter Brown: How starters match up in White Sox-Astros Game 2

Game 2 between the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros should unfold significantly differently than Game 1.

Hagen Smith gave the White Sox exactly what they needed as Game 1 opener

Astros ask Hunter Brown to square series with White Sox

Colson Montgomery becomes the second-youngest player in White Sox history to hit a postseason home run

The 'MLB Playoff games with 10 K's, 0 BBs or runs' quiz

MLB News / Yardbarker / September 29

Hagen Smith gave White Sox what they needed in Game 1

Hagen Smith gave the White Sox exactly what they needed as Game 1 opener

Rookie Hagen Smith pitched three innings, allowing no runs on two hits with one strikeout in a 6-3 Chicago White Sox win at the Houston Astros in the first game of the wild-card series on Tuesday.

Colson Montgomery homers as White Sox beat Astros 6-3 in Game 1

Colson Montgomery becomes the second-youngest player in White Sox history to hit a postseason home run

One question to answer about every MLB wild-card team

The 'MLB active wins leaders' quiz