Astros remain promising as MLB season picks up
The Astros are neck-and-neck with the Seattle Mariners at the top of the American League West division as baseball season picks up steam.
Why it matters: We're almost halfway through the season, and Houston is already making noise.
Driving the news: The Astros (34-28) overtook the Mariners (32-29) in the standings last week and have won eight of their last 10 games.
Houston beat the Pittsburgh Pirates last night 8-2.
State of play: Here's how things stand so far this season.
Injuries
Yordan Álvarez: The team is perhaps most missing the big-hitting outfielder, who's been sidelined with a hand injury since early May.
Álvarez took a live batting practice last week to see how his recovery was coming along, but continued to feel discomfort.
Imaging tests after the practice showed his hand had a fracture that was only partially healed, backsliding his recovery until he's healthy again.
Ronel Blanco: The starting pitcher will undergo Tommy John surgery Friday after experiencing elbow soreness two weeks ago and will be out for the rest of the season.
He went 3-4 as a starter in 2025 and struck out 48 batters before being placed on the injured list.
Yes, but: Houston's starting rotation could get some needed help soon. Starting pitchers Cristian Javier, J.P. France, Spencer Arrighetti and Luis Garcia — all on the injured list — are throwing the ball in recovery, per ESPN.
Plus, outfielders Chas McCormick and Zach Dezenzo are both on the injured list and could return in the coming weeks ahead of the All-Star break.
Newcomers
Outfielder Cam Smith is proving his mettle as a rookie, getting on base 33% of the time with 18 RBIs, three home runs and a .245 batting average.
Newly minted Astro Christian Walker also continues to do damage at the plate with 27 RBIs, eight home runs — including an explosive walk-off bomb against the Mariners last month — and a .209 batting average.
And third baseman Isaac Paredes, playing his first year in Houston, leads the team with 14 home runs, 37 RBIs and a .252 batting average.
Veterans
It's the year of Jeremy Peña for the Astros. The shortstop has the most hits (75) and doubles (12), plus the highest batting average (.318) on the team.
Utility man Jose Altuve is also warming up as a hitter after switching positions, now occasionally playing left field.
After a poor start during his return to the mound, starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. is getting in a groove.
He struck out 12 batters in a victory over the Athletics on May 28 and wracked up seven strikeouts during his last start Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
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