How scrappy Astros can redefine team as tight division race enters critical stretch
STONE COLD 'STROS
14 August
The upcoming schedule is very favorable for the Astros. Composite Getty Image.
The Astros got a little revenge on the Red Sox this week, taking the series after Boston swept them at the start of August. Hunter Brown delivered exactly what Houston needed — a dominant start that saw him hold Boston to one run over 6.2 innings. Yainer Díaz stayed hot, launching a two-run homer that gave the pitching staff some breathing room and tilted the game in Houston’s favor. Even with Carlos Correa getting the day off on Wednesday, the Astros still secured the series win, and he’ll get the benefit of Thursday’s off day as well.
The series also gave us our first look at Houston’s bullpen without Josh Hader, who’s on the shelf with a shoulder strain. Bennett Sousa stepped up, keeping the lead intact so Bryan Abreu could slam the door in the ninth. Espada hasn’t officially called Abreu the closer, which signals the Astros may be going matchup-first with Hader out. That said, the bullpen as a whole took a hit in the series, allowing 11 runs — nine of them from regular bullpen arms in Game 2. Even Hector Neris, who was just released, might be looking at the box scores, thinking he wasn't that bad.
Health remains the other big piece to the Astros’ postseason picture. Spencer Arrighetti and Cristian Javier are both back in the rotation, with Javier impressing in his first start back from Tommy John. Luis Garcia is close behind, showing more velocity in his rehab outings for Sugar Land. It appears he's close to returning.
Luis Garcia, who maxed out at 92.5 mph in his Aug. 7 rehab start for Triple-A Sugar Land, has touched 94.7 mph tonight.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 14, 2025
Jake Meyers is working his way back from a calf injury in Florida, but the big question is Yordan Alvarez. He’s set to take live BP soon, and this time the hope is that he avoids any discomfort that might set him back again.
Now comes the chance to create some breathing room in the AL West. The schedule ahead — Orioles, Tigers, Orioles again, Rockies, Angels — offers only one truly tough matchup in that stretch. On paper, it’s an ideal runway to put some distance between themselves and the Mariners. Sure, the A’s sweep earlier this season proves nothing is automatic, but this is a different Astros team than the one that stumbled back then. Since being swept by Boston, they’ve reeled off three straight series wins over the Marlins, Yankees, and Red Sox. Correa’s return hasn’t just been a nostalgia play — he’s producing at an elite level, taking pressure off guys like Christian Walker and Yainer Díaz, and setting a tone that’s carried through the lineup. If the chemistry keeps building, this soft stretch could be the spark that shapes their September push.
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José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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