Astros walks – Misryoum reports Houston’s pitching struggles include walking the No. 9 hitter more than any team, a key red flag early in 2026.
Houston’s 2026 problems may run deeper than results alone, with Misryoum highlighting a troubling trend in how the Astros have been pitching to the bottom of the order.
Entering their Saturday matchup against the Boston Red Sox. Houston carried an MLB-worst 5.93 ERA and. in one specific area. has been especially vulnerable: the Astros have walked the No.. 9 hitter in opposing lineups 20 times this season, more than any other team.. The pattern matters because even teams with deeper lineups need their pitchers to finish innings against the player often viewed as the weakest spot.
That’s the insight: walks at the bottom of the order can quietly snowball, turning routine outs into fresh at-bats for the hitters you really don’t want to face.
Injury issues have been a major storyline for Houston’s rotation.. Misryoum notes that Spencer Arrighetti has been the lone starting pitcher manager Joe Espada can rely on with confidence. and he has looked steadier than most early on.. While he has issued five walks against Boston. he limited the damage by allowing one run across five innings and posted a 1.96 ERA through four starts.
Meanwhile, Houston’s larger pitching picture remains unstable.. Hunter Brown and offseason addition Tatsuya Imai are working back from shoulder strain and arm fatigue. respectively. while Cristian Javier and Ronel Blanco have also been dealing with time on the injured list.. Even the bullpen’s leverage has not been immune. with closer Josh Hader recovering from left biceps tendinitis. leaving the Astros to navigate a season that has consistently tested depth.
Here’s why it matters: when key arms are unavailable, the margin for error shrinks, and command issues like free passes become harder to mask.
Still, Misryoum points out the Astros can’t attribute every problem to bad luck.. Big-league pitchers are expected to manage the No.. 9 hitter, not just avoid the damage—especially when the rest of the roster is already working around injuries.. If Houston keeps surrendering extra base runners to the bottom of the lineup. opponents can build innings with fewer outs and less resistance.
As the season moves forward. this is the kind of stat that can linger in a team’s psyche even when health improves. because it reflects daily execution. not just overall volume.. Misryoum will be watching closely to see whether Houston can tighten its approach and turn those bottom-of-the-order at-bats into outs again.