Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown (58) reacts after walking Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout during the third inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros relief pitcher Christian Roa delivers during the ninth inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros shortstop Nick Allen (20) is seen during the ninth inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) is seen during the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros left fielder Joey Loperfido (31) fields a fly ball by Los Angeles Angels Zach Neto (9) during the third inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown (58) delivers during the first inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown (58) delivers during the first inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai (45) runs into the field before a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Carlos Correa (1) reacts after flying out with the bases loaded to end the third inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros left fielder Joey Loperfido (31) fields an RBI single by Los Angeles Angels Oswald Peraza during the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros pitcher Bryan King (74) delivers during the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout, right, gets a high-five from Nolan Schanuel after hitting a solo home run off Houston Astros pitcher AJ Blubaugh during the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros pitcher AJ Blubaugh (69) is seen after giving up a solo home run to Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout during the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Joey Loperfido hits a double during the fourth inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Jose Altuve (27) reacts after flying out during the fourth inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros pitcher AJ Blubaugh (69) delivers during the fifth inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown (58) walks to the dugout after being pulled during the fifth inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown (58) reacts after a strike call during the fifth inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Carlos Correa (1) reacts after flying out with the bases loaded to end the third inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez (44) is walked during the third inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout (27) jokes with Houston Astros left fielder Joey Loperfido (31) after he caught a long fly ball during the third inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown (58) reacts after walking Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout during the third inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros left fielder Joey Loperfido (31) fields a fly ball by Los Angeles Angels Zach Neto (9) during the third inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros left fielder Joey Loperfido (31) fields a fly ball by Los Angeles Angels Zach Neto (9) during the third inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown (58) delivers during the third inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Isaac Paredes (15) reacts after striking out during the first inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez (44) reacts after striking out during the first inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (8) watches the reply after Yordan Alvarez’s fly ball is ruled out of play during the first inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Carlos Campos, 41, also known as “Hollywood” poses for a photograph during Astros Opening Day in Houston, Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
Crowds gather inside Daikin Park ahead of Opening Day between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels in Houston on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
Crowds gather inside Daikin Park ahead of Opening Day between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels in Houston on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
Young fans hope to be given a fly ball during warms ups ahead of ahead of Opening Day between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels at Daikin Park in Houston, Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
Stone Schloss pulled off a Houston sports doubleheader, attending Astros opening day in the afternoon at Daikin Park before walking over to Toyota Center to see University of Houston in the Sweet 16 on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
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Crowds gather inside Daikin Park ahead of Opening Day between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels in Houston on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
Crowds gather inside Daikin Park ahead of Opening Day between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels in Houston on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
Crowds gather inside Daikin Park ahead of Opening Day between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels in Houston on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
Crowds gather inside Daikin Park ahead of Opening Day between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels in Houston on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
Carlos Campos, 41, also known as “Hollywood” poses for a photograph during Astros Opening Day in Houston, Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
Young fans hope to be given a fly ball during warms ups ahead of ahead of Opening Day between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels at Daikin Park in Houston, Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
A young fan hopes to be given a fly ball during warms ups ahead of ahead of Opening Day between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels at Daikin Park in Houston, Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
The inside of Daikin Park is photographed during Opening Day between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels in Houston, Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
The inside of Daikin Park is photographed during Opening Day between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels in Houston, Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
A couple arrives early to take their seats ahead of Opening Day between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels at Daikin Park in Houston, Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
Guest past by the new center field mural on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Bobbie Orr wears a decorated Astros-themed hat with pins before MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
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Opening Day merchandise is seen before an MLB Baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Guest Services worker Lillie Jackson cleans the seats and hand rails before guest enter Daikin Park on Opening Day, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston. Jackson has worked the section for 18 of here 19 seasons. “I just try to take care of all my guest,” Jackson said paying particular attention to areas children put their hands. “I can’t get it all spotless, but I do my best so everyone has a great game experience.”
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Around Daikin Park, the trappings of opening day suggested a new start. On the field, the result recalled what the Houston Astros wanted to leave behind.
After an offseason of discourse about offensive identity and an overhaul of their hitting staff, the Astros opened their 2026 campaign with an ineffective showing at the plate that echoed last season all too closely.
Houston Astros Isaac Paredes (15) reacts after striking out during the first inning of a MLB baseball game on Opening Day at Daikin Park, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
A lineup missing only leadoff man Jeremy Peña mustered three hits against five pitchers for the Los Angeles Angels, a club that compiled the third-highest ERA in the majors last year, and squandered what scoring chances it did encounter in a 3-0 loss that drained Daikin Park of its opening day energy.
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ANGELS 3, ASTROS 0: How Houston lost on opening day
It was far from what the Astros envisioned from an offense meant to be invigorated. They were shut out on opening day for the sixth time in franchise history and first since 2008. Angels right-hander José Soriano had a significant hand in quieting it, hurling six scoreless innings with a high-octane arsenal.
“I think, especially with Soriano, we were swinging too much outside the zone,” said Carlos Correa. “He’s the kind of pitcher where the ball starts middle-middle and (ends up) a ball. So it’s like you’ve got to pick the inside of the plate for the sinker or the outside for the curveball. And it took us a little bit of time to make adjustments.”
Houston could not in any impactful way Thursday, nor did it come alive against a series of Angels relievers. Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, Isaac Paredes and Correa combined to go hitless in 13 at-bats. The full lineup went hitless in seven at-bats with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base.
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HUNTER BROWN: A strong start but work ahead
A summary arrived in the seventh inning. Mike Trout broke a scoreless tie in the top of the inning, hitting a fastball from AJ Blubaugh to the train tracks to give the Angels a 1-0 lead. Soriano ceded to his bullpen. Christian Walker hit Walbert Urena’s first pitch off the wall in left-center field for a double.
Nick Allen pinch-ran as the tying run on second base. Four ensuing hitters could not advance him 90 feet. Yainer Diaz struck out. Jake Meyers grounded out. Altuve worked a walk to bring up Alvarez. Kurt Suzuki, managing his first game in the majors, summoned right-hander Chase Silseth to face the slugger.
Silseth threw one pitch. Alvarez rolled his splitter over to the right side. The Angels tacked on single runs in each of the next two innings. Even that proved more insurance than needed.
“(The at-bats) got better as the game went on,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “We had an opportunity there. We started walking, we started seeing more pitches, we drove the pitch count up. But (Soriano) was able to settle down and make pitches when he needed to. You’ve got to give him some credit.”
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In his first opening day start, Hunter Brown held the Angels scoreless but did not escape the fifth inning, a high pitch count curtailing his afternoon. Soriano outpaced him in a match of fireballing right-handers, repeating his recent mastery of the Astros’ lineup.
In two starts against Houston last year, totaling 13⅔ innings, Soriano allowed one run and four hits and struck out 18. He did not beat another team twice during a season in which he posted a 4.26 ERA. He put his repertoire on display Thursday.
Soriano’s sinker sat at 98 mph. He bore it in on the seven right-handed hitters in the Astros’ lineup. His four-seamer — a new wrinkle, Espada said — touched 101.3 mph. In his six innings, the Astros struck two hits against him — both singles by Joey Loperfido, one of their two left-handed starters along with Alvarez.
Soriano induced 19 whiffs. Just five pitchers had more in a start against Houston last year. Two were Cy Young winners Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes. He blew through his first two innings on 25 pitches. He needed 27 to navigate a third in which Houston left the bases loaded.
Suzuki intentionally walked Alvarez with a runner on second and two out. Such aggression in the third inning of a scoreless game made a statement. The Angels did not intend to let Alvarez beat them.
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Others in Houston’s lineup must counter the strategy. Paredes drew a walk to load the bases, the kind of baton-passing outcome the Astros court. Correa lifted a 99 mph sinker but for a harmless flyout, fizzling the threat.
“Once some of those guys start barreling some balls, that will stop,” Espada said of the walk to Alvarez. “That inning could have gone a different way if Carlos hits that ball in the gap.”
Brown defused a similar jam in the fourth. He faced his first 13 batters without allowing a hit. A chopper over his head by Yoán Moncada negated any chance of a no-hitter. Jo Adell’s seeing-eye single and Logan O’Hoppe’s infield hit filled the bases with two out.
Oswald Peraza grounded a sinker to end the inning. Brown emerged from it at 83 pitches, though, with a reliever warming behind him. He returned for the fifth but did not complete it. Just once in 31 starts last season did Brown fail to finish five innings.
A walk to Trout — Brown’s fourth of the day and third to Trout — extended the inning. Brown’s last fastball in the at-bat arrived at 95.1 mph. He had touched 98.8 mph earlier in the game. One strike away from an escape, Brown spun a slider that Jorge Soler flared for a single.
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Of the Angels’ four hits against Brown, one carried an exit velocity above 75 mph. Nine balls put into play against him averaged just an 81 mph exit velocity. Soler’s still ended his start. Blubaugh fired a 98.8 mph fastball past Moncada for a strikeout to strand his runners.
Brown’s stuff looked strong. He struck out nine in 4⅔ innings. But his control was not pinpoint and the Angels were patient. They swung at 43 of 102 pitches he threw and whiffed just 11 times. Brown walked four batters for the first time since last June.
“I thought they had a pretty good approach against him,” Espada said. “They laid off some really tough pitches. That fastball up that they typically chase, they did a good job of laying off of it. And also they saw a lot of pitches, they fouled a bunch of pitches off. But his stuff was really good.”
Soriano’s command slipped, as well. He issued four walks in his first four innings. But Houston mustered one hit against him in that span, an opposite-field single from Loperfido. Soriano was efficient outside of the third inning. He worked his six innings on 91 pitches.
A swing that might have staked Brown to an early lead went for naught. Alvarez arced the second pitch he saw from Soriano toward deep right field. The baseball carried so high that it clanged off a bit of scaffolding on the Daikin Park ceiling and caromed foul into the seats.
Umpires ruled a foul ball. Alvarez looked around in askance. Espada emerged to talk with the umpiring crew, which reviewed and upheld the ruling, to the chagrin of an announced crowd of 41.321. A possible home run erased, Alvarez struck out.
“He pitched real well,” Alvarez said of Soriano, through an interpreter. “You’ve also got to recognize that. He did a great job out there. But tomorrow’s another day.”