SUPPORT THE 'STROS
6 best Houston bars and restaurants to cheer on the Astros
Oct 4, 2019, 9:04 am
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
This article originally appeared on CultureMap.
Having finished with the best record in baseball, the Astros are the odds-on favorite to win the World Series. As 2017's run to the team's first title demonstrated, Houstonians go baseball crazy when the 'Stros are in the playoffs.
Frankly, watching sports is more fun in a group. Sweating out every pitch and cheering every home run is just better when surrounded by people who are locked in on every moment.
With that in mind, consider this list of recently opened or significantly renovated options for watching sports (roughly in the last year or so). While the focus is on the Astros, they'll also be handy should the Texans get things figured out or if the Rockets' union of James Harden and Russell Westbrook proves to be as dominant as it has the potential to be.
Electric FeelGood
Yes, the neon signage and slide might lead some to believe Midtown's newest bar is just a party spot, but it's got legit sports bar amenities, including lots of TVs downstairs and a room upstairs with a panel that can display eight different games at once. During Astros games, the bar's specials include beer buckets ($15 for domestics and $20 for imports) and discounts on snacks ($6 potato bombs and $10 flatbreads).
The Dogwood, Electric FeelGood's sister concept, isn't new, but it has specials of its own, including $14 buckets of Miller Lite or Coors Light, $5 pours of Jim Beam, $5 bowls of queso, $6 pulled pork sandwiches, and a dozen wings for $12.
Jack & Ginger’s
The Irish pub will have its TVs tuned in to the 'Stros throughout the playoffs. In addition to its typical happy hour deals on wine, appetizers, and beer flights (Monday through Friday 11 am to 9 pm), the bar will run game day specials of $5 Karbach Crawford Bocks and $5 Irish chips and dip (potato chips with smoked cheddar and French onion dip).
Pitch 25
Sure, this EaDo spot has a soccer theme, but the massive beer garden works for watching more than the beautiful game. They'll open early for Friday's 1 pm start. With 100 taps of beer and wine, finding the perfect pairing for that smoked turkey sandwich is a cinch.
Continue on CultureMap to see three more great spots to watch the Astros.
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After dropping a frustrating series to the Chicago White Sox, the Houston Astros find themselves in a familiar position—searching for answers, but still within striking distance. Despite their inconsistency, Houston sits just three games behind the AL West-leading Mariners, who are currently 7 games over .500 and riding an 8-2 stretch. For as up-and-down as the Astros have been, the division remains tantalizingly close.
That inconsistency was on full display throughout the White Sox series. Jake Meyers and Zach Dezenzo each played the roles of both hero and heartbreaker. Dezenzo launched a massive home run in Game 3, a moment that energized the dugout and briefly shifted momentum. But his costly defensive error later in the game flipped the script. Meyers was a spark plug in Houston’s lone win, delivering a clutch performance at the plate, only to run the team out of a rally in the finale when he was picked off second—right before Jeremy Peña ripped what would have been an RBI single.
Jose Altuve’s struggles are quietly becoming more worrisome. He’s recorded just one multi-hit game since April 19 and has only one homer since April 8. On Sunday, he swung at the first pitch after Lance McCullers had grinded through a 33-pitch inning—a decision that raised questions about his awareness in a veteran moment. Should manager Joe Espada have reminded Altuve of the situation? Or is this on Altuve, who should have known what to do as one of the team leaders?
Signs of life
There are flickers of life from the bats. Last week, Houston's team OPS was an underwhelming .667 (23rd in MLB), with a slugging percentage of .357 (25th). They've nudged those numbers up to .684 (19th) and .370 (21st), respectively. It’s modest progress, but enough to suggest this offense might be trending in the right direction. Still, their 5-5 record over the last 10 games feels emblematic of who they are right now—a .500 team with both talent and flaws.
Looking ahead
The upcoming schedule could be a turning point. Three of the next five opponents have losing records, and none of them are elite. This stretch offers a prime opportunity for Houston to finally build momentum and close the gap in the division—assuming the Mariners cool off from their current tear, which seems inevitable given their unsustainable 8-2 pace.
McCullers is officially back!
Lance McCullers returned for the first time since 2022 and, despite being limited to 3.2 innings due to command issues (three walks and a hit batter), there were encouraging signs. His velocity was there, and the stuff looked sharp. It’s a start, and perhaps a step toward stabilizing a rotation that still needs length.
Steering the ship
Manager Joe Espada, however, continues to draw scrutiny. His decision-making in the finale raised eyebrows again. Giving Isaac Paredes a day off when Yordan Alvarez was already sitting left the lineup depleted. Rather than using promising young infielder/outfielder Cam Smith, he opted for Mauricio Dubón and Brendan Rodgers—a defensive combo that didn't inspire confidence. It feels at times like Espada isn’t prioritizing winning the final game of a series, a pattern that could haunt the team down the stretch.
The plot thickens
Meanwhile, Christian Walker’s slump is dragging on. He went 0-for-5 twice in the last two series and looks out of sync at the plate. The Astros need more from their power hitters if they hope to make a real run. And with Alvarez now heading to the IL with hand inflammation, runs will be even harder to come by.
All told, this team still feels like one hovering just above or below .500. But in a division that remains wide open, the path forward is clear: play better, hope the Mariners come back to earth, and capitalize on a soft schedule. The race is far from over—but it’s time for Houston to start acting like contenders.
We have so much more to discuss. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
*ChatGPT assisted.
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