Houston Astros Taylor Trammell (26) reacts after lining out to end the eighth inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Yainer Diaz (21) reacts after striking out during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Jose Altuve (27) reacts after losing an ABS challenge during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Jose Altuve (27) reacts after losing an ABS challenge during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Jose Altuve (27) hits a double during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Isaac Paredes (15) draws a walk during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Carlos Correa (1) breaks his bat hitting a ground ball to end the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Isaac Paredes (15) is seen during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Taylor Trammell (26) reacts after fouling a pitch off his leg during the eighth inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Taylor Trammell (26) reacts after lining out to end the eighth inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros pitcher Kai-Wei Teng (17) delivers during the ninth inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros starting pitcher Ryan Weiss (51) delivers during the first inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros starting pitcher Ryan Weiss (51) delivers during the first inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros starting pitcher Ryan Weiss (51) is seen in the dugout during the first inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Jose Altuve (27) hits a single during the first inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez (44) hits an RBI single during the first inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Jose Altuve (27) scores on Yordan Alvarez’s RBI single during the first inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Jose Altuve (27) gets high-fives in the dugout after scoring on Yordan Alvarez’s RBI single during the first inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Cam Smith (11) is seen in the dugout during the first inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Isaac Paredes (15) reacts after striking out during the first inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Christian Walker (8) is hit on the hand by a pitch from Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen during the first inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Christian Walker (8) reacts after being hit on the hand by a pitch from Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen during the first inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Christian Walker (8) is checked on by a trainer alongside manager Joe Espada after being hit on the hand by a pitch from Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen during the first inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Joey Loperfido (10) hits an RBI single during the first inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez (44) gets a high-five from manager Joe Espada after scoring on Joey Loperfido’s RBI singleduring the first inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker’s left hand is wrapped after being hit by a pitch earlier in the game during the third inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker’s left hand is wrapped after being hit by a pitch earlier in the game during the third inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros starting pitcher Ryan Weiss (51) delivers during the third inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker’s left hand is wrapped after being hit by a pitch earlier in the game during the third inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros starting pitcher Ryan Weiss (51) reacts after walking his third batter in a row during the third inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) turns a double play off Colorado Rockies Tyler Freeman’s ground ball during the third inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) reacts after turning a double play off Colorado Rockies Tyler Freeman’s ground ball during the third inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros starting pitcher Ryan Weiss (51) reacts after giving up a solo home run to Colorado Rockies Hunter Goodman during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros right fielder Cam Smith (11) fields Colorado Rockies Troy Johnston’s single during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros starting pitcher Ryan Weiss (51) reacts after being pulled during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros starting pitcher Ryan Weiss (51) points to the sky after being pulled during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros manager Joe Espada (19) walks back to the dugout after pulling starting pitcher Ryan Weiss during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros pitcher Christian Roa (73) delivers during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Jose Altuve (27) is seen during the fifth inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros center fielder Taylor Trammell (26) fields sac-fly by Colorado Rockies Edouard Julien during the fifth inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (1) tries to get to a single by Colorado Rockies Tyler Freeman during the fifth inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros pitcher AJ Blubaugh (69) delivers during the sixth inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Isaac Paredes (15) draws a walk during the sixth inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Carlos Correa (1) hits double during the sixth inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Carlos Correa (1) reacts after hitting a double during the sixth inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Joey Loperfido (10) reacts after striking out during the sixth inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Cam Smith (11) reacts after striking out to end the sixth inning stranding a pair of runners during an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros pitcher AJ Blubaugh (69) is visited by pitching coach Josh Miller during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros pitcher AJ Blubaugh (69) waits for the results of a ABS challenge during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Thursday, April 18, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
In the sixth inning came a sign of life. Chase Dollander had suffocated the Houston Astros lineup since his entrance partway through the first. Triple-digit fastballs steamed from the Colorado Rockies right-hander. Contact against him seemed to count as a win.
Isaac Paredes opened the sixth with a walk. Carlos Correa then capitalized on a mistake. Dollander left a two-strike changeup over the plate. Correa pulled it on the ground but at 103.3 mph off his bat. The ball caromed off third baseman Kyle Karros and into left field.
Paredes pulled into third base, the potential tying run in a plodding game. Correa arrived at second after Houston’s first hit against Dollander. Forging a tie did not require another. The Astros still proved unable to pull even on a night marked by missed chances.
Article continues below this ad
Christian Walker’s groundout did not move Paredes. Walker tossed his gum in disgust after crossing first base. Dollander used three pitches to dispatch Joey Loperfido. In a 2-2 count, he flung a 99 mph fastball past Cam Smith to quell Houston’s threat.
It summarized the Astros’ evening. Their lineup stranded nine runners, totaled five hits and struck out a season-high 13 times in a 3-2 loss to the Rockies, who avoided being swept at Daikin Park. Houston had to settle for its first series win since its opening homestand.
Colorado sent a series of five right-handers to the mound. Three touched at least 99 mph. Victor Vodnik hit 100.6 mph in the ninth while closing out the game against the top of the Astros’ order, with Paredes’ two-out flyball dying on the warning track in left field.
Houston took a 2-0 lead against opener Juan Mejia. He ceded to Dollander with two outs in the first. It muzzled the Astros offense. Dollander lasted 5â…“ innings. He allowed one hit, walked two and struck out nine. Through five innings, the Astros put just one ball in play with an exit velocity above 91.6 mph.
Article continues below this ad
Colorado clawed ahead 3-2 in the fifth. Ryan Weiss did not finish the fourth in his first start for Houston. Hunter Goodman’s homer in the fourth tied the game. Tyler Freeman’s go-ahead single against Christian Roa in the fifth gave the Rockies their first lead.
Dollander touched 100.3 mph. He averaged 99.4 mph on his four-seamer and 98.8 mph with his sinker and mixed in four other pitches. Astros hitters whiffed on 14 of 39 swings against him. He finished the sixth inning with a one-run lead intact but at 86 pitches.
Jose Altuve’s diving play to end the top of the seventh with the bases loaded kept the deficit at one run. Houston had another chance to erase it in the bottom of the inning. Altuve struck a two-out double off Jaden Hill, who intentionally walked Yordan Alvarez, then walked Paredes.
Correa, in a 2-2 count, attacked a fastball away. It broke his bat and left him holding only the handle. His soft line drive found first baseman TJ Rumfield. Ten at-bats for Houston with a runner in scoring position to that point had yielded just two hits.
The Astros’ bullpen kept them close but in another taxing effort. Roa recorded four outs after Weiss’ exit. AJ Blubaugh threw 39 pitches over two scoreless innings. Kai-Wei Teng followed with two scoreless on 21 pitches to send a one-run game into the bottom of the ninth.
Article continues below this ad
First start for Weiss
Making his first start after opening the season in a bullpen role, Weiss figured to be on a pitch limit. In his previous two outings, Weiss had thrown 62 and 64 pitches. Manager Joe Espada lifted him after 76 pitches Thursday.
That did not get Weiss through the fourth inning. A third inning in which Weiss lost command drove up his count after he worked the first two frames scoreless on 34 pitches.
Weiss walked his first three hitters in the third. He threw nine consecutive balls at one point. The third walk prompted a visit from pitching coach Josh Miller and spurred action in the Astros’ bullpen. Weiss did limit the damage to one run, getting a double-play groundball and a pop-up.
He finished the third already at 62 pitches, though. He got ahead 0-2 on Hunter Goodman in the fourth but spun a sweeper inside that Goodman hammered 397 feet to left-center field, tying the score at 2-2. Troy Johnston’s two-out single brought Espada from the dugout.
Article continues below this ad
It marked the fifth time in 11 games the Astros received fewer than four innings from their starter. Weiss, who started the past two seasons in KBO, is a candidate to stay in the rotation amid its injuries but had a shaky first showing. He owns a 6.75 ERA in his first 14â…” innings in MLB.
Opening salvo
Colorado deployed an opener, hard-throwing right-hander Juan Mejia, for the series finale after pushing Tomoyuki Sugano back a day. It marked the first major-league start for the 25-year-old Mejia, who threw 30 pitches and did not complete the first inning.
Houston built a 2-0 lead against him. Jose Altuve struck a leadoff single and took second on a wild pitch. Yordan Alvarez fought a 98 mph fastball into shallow left field. Third-base coach Tony Perezchica waved Altuve in an aggressive send that worked for the game’s first run.
Mejia struck out Isaac Paredes and Carlos Correa but ran a 98 mph four-seamer that hit Christian Walker on the left hand. Walker was checked by a trainer and stayed in the game. Joey Loperfido flared a single that scored Alvarez and chased Mejia, who allowed one ball in play with an exit velocity above 72.3 mph.
Article continues below this ad
Big outs on the bases
With shortstop Jeremy Peña sidelined, the Astros have the luxury of playing Correa at his old position. The Rockies twice tempted fate on the basepaths in Thursday’s early innings, with Correa cutting both runners down with help.
In the second, Weiss issued a leadoff walk to Goodman. Mickey Moniak singled to right and Goodman rounded second base as Cam Smith unleashed a throw to his cut-off man. Correa intercepted it on the move and tagged Goodman as he tried to dive back into second.
After Freeman’s single made it 3-2 in the fifth, Goodman laced a double to left-center. Taylor Trammell corralled it at the wall and found Correa about 10 feet onto the outfield grass. His relay to home plate beat Freeman easily for the inning’s third out. Correa’s throw registered at 91.8 mph, per MLB.com.