The Houston Astros continued to assert themselves as contenders in the American League West, finishing a 12-game stretch between May 7 and May 19 with a 7–5 record. The team showcased both its offensive firepower and bullpen depth, even as star slugger Yordan Álvarez remained sidelined with a hand injury.
Houston kicked off the run with a commanding 9–1 road win over the Milwaukee Brewers on May 7. Left-hander Framber Valdez delivered a gem, pitching seven innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts. Shortstop Jeremy Peña sparked the offense with a home run and four RBIs.
The Astros then returned home for a six-game homestand, splitting a three-game set with the Cincinnati Reds before taking two out of three from the Kansas City Royals. Houston’s pitching staff was dominant in the bookend victories against Cincinnati, including a 3–0 shutout on May 9 and a 6–0 win on May 11. However, the Reds erupted for 13 runs in a wild game on May 10, handing the Astros their highest-scoring loss of the month.
Against Kansas City, Houston dropped the opener 7–5 but bounced back with tight victories on May 13 and May 14, winning 2–1 and 4–3 respectively. Clutch hitting and solid bullpen work played key roles throughout the series.
The road trip that followed tested the Astros further. In a four-game showdown with the division-rival Texas Rangers, Houston split the series 2–2. After being shut out 1–0 in the opener on May 15, the Astros responded with a 6–3 win the next day. Despite a 5–1 loss on May 17, Houston closed the series with a narrow 4–3 win on May 18 behind timely hitting and a strong bullpen performance.
The stretch concluded with a dramatic 4–3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on May 19. Center fielder Jake Meyers broke a 3–3 tie in the seventh inning with a solo home run—his second homer of the season. Peña remained hot at the plate, going 3-for-4. The bullpen trio of Bryan King, Bryan Abreu, and Josh Hader held the Rays scoreless over the final three innings. Hader notched his 12th save of the year.
Through 47 games, the Astros sit at 25–22 and second place in the AL West, continuing to weather injuries while maintaining a winning record.
Injury Watch:
Álvarez is continuing his recovery and is expected to return in the coming weeks. The team has not yet announced a definitive timeline.
Up Next:
The Astros continue their road trip with games against the Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners as they look to keep pace with the Rangers atop the division.