MLB Network: Here are the biggest reasons Houston Astros will continue to “ascend”
GAINING MOMENTUM
22 February 2023
One of the biggest factors that helped the Astros win a World Series title last season had to be the brilliant pitching. Both the starters and the bullpen paved the way for Houston to hoist the trophy at the end of the year.
But as we look to the 2023 season, how much will the loss of Justin Verlander impact the Astros? Any team that loses the previous year's Cy Young winner is likely to experience a bit of regression. However, no team is more equipped than the Astros to move on from a future Hall of Famer and not miss a beat.
Framber Valdez: 2.82 ERA, Cristian Javier: 2.54 ERA, Lance McCullers: 2.27 ERA, Luis Garcia: 3.72 ERA, Jose Urquidy 3.94 ERA, Hunter Brown: 0.89 ERA (only 20.1 innings pitched).
What makes this Astros staff so impressive starts with the amount of high leverage playoff experience these pitchers have already experienced. Even rookie pitcher Hunter Brown has dealt with some big moments with a lot on the line. The other factor that the crew from MLB Network points out, is the entire rotation is approaching or in the prime of their careers.
And let's not forget about the best bullpen in baseball. All the key pieces are coming back for the Astros, which has the team poised for another deep playoff run.
When you consider the overall strength of the Astros pitching staff, they conclude that the Astros are on a trajectory to “ascend” despite losing Verlander to the Mets.
Be sure to check out the video above to watch the full breakdown!
Nick Chubb will make a great addition to Houston's backfield. Photo via: Wiki Commons.
Over the weekend, reports emerged linking the Texans and four-time Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb, with mutual interest in a potential deal.
Nick Chubb has passed his Texans physical, per source. https://t.co/bJ3C0BucGn
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) June 9, 2025
The contract is expected to be a one-year, incentive-heavy deal, but it’s contingent on Chubb passing a physical. He’s working his way back from a severe knee injury suffered in 2023, followed by a broken foot that sidelined him for the final three games of the 2024 season.
According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, Chubb has passed his physical, so a deal should be official in short order.
Impact on the offense
If Chubb can return to anything close to the player he was before the knee injury, this will give the Texans offense a tremendous lift. Chubb, still only 29 years old, is one of the best backs in the league when he's right. Chubb rushed for 996 yards in his rookie season, and then ripped off four-straight seasons with over 1,000 yards. With his best year in 2022 (1,525 yards) before blowing out his knee in Week 2 of 2023.
Pairing Chubb with Joe Mixon could create a dynamic duo in Houston's backfield. And should Mixon miss time like he did in 2024 with an ankle injury, Chubb could step in without the offense missing a beat.
Chubb could also make a big impact in goal line situations. At 227 pounds, he's a big load for defenders to take down.
One thing is for sure, if the Texans make this deal official, nobody can say the front office isn't doing their best to surround CJ Stroud with top level talent this season. With a revamped offensive line and a slew of new playmakers, we should expect the Texans to get the offense back on track in 2025 and beyond.
Official!
It's a done deal, per KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson. A one-year contract worth up to $5 million.
#Texans deal for four-time Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb has maximum value of $5 million, per a league source @KPRC2
Passed physical and good to go for defending AFC South champions https://t.co/p2E6k1v00E
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) June 9, 2025
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