Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Burrows (50) reacts after giving up a two-run home run to Los Angeles Angels Josh Lowe during the second inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Looming behind each pitcher who takes the mound at Daikin Park is a left-field wall that can comfort or confound. The first pitch Mike Burrows threw in a Houston Astros uniform Friday introduced him to the havoc the Crawford Boxes can create.
Zach Neto lofted Burrows’ sinker to left field. Metrics deemed it a routine fly ball in most major-league stadiums. Statcast gave it an expected batting average of .010. Yordan Alvarez drifted to the wall, leapt and heard the ball clang off the out-of-town scoreboard above his outstretched glove.
A leadoff double for Neto would lead to the game’s first run. An inning later, Josh Lowe laced another fastball from Burrows into the left-field bleachers, the contrast concentrated in that area distilling the right-hander’s Astros debut.
Article continues below this ad
A mixture of balky batted-ball luck and damaging blasts burned Burrows, the offseason trade addition making his first start for Houston. The Los Angeles Angels scored five runs against him and handed the Astros a 6-2 defeat, their second straight to begin the season.
Both showcased a lineup still looking to get on track. Houston struck eight hits Friday but just one that drove in a run — Yordan Alvarez’s solo home run off Yusei Kikuchi to open the fifth inning. Astros hitters went 1-for-7 with men in scoring position and left nine runners on base.
Houston Astros center fielder Brice Matthews (0) reacts after striking out during the fourth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros center fielder Brice Matthews, left, watches as right fielder Cam Smith fields Los Angeles Angels Yoán Moncada’s line out during the third inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros right fielder Cam Smith (11) throws toward the infield after catching Los Angeles Angels Yoán Moncada’s line out during the third inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) fields a fly ball by Los Angeles Angels Jo Adell in front of center fielder Brice Matthews during the third inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Yainer Diaz (21) hits a single during the fourth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez (44) hits a solo home run during the fifth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Jose Altuve (27) hits a single during the fifth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Jose Altuve (27) beats the throw to first for a single during the fifth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Jose Altuve (27) jokes with players in the dugout after beating a throw to first for a single during the fifth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Los Angeles Angels second baseman Oswald Peraza (2) stretches to try and make a play as Houston Astros Jose Altuve steals second during the fifth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston. Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe was charged with an error on the play.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Cam Smith (11) reacts after lining out to Los Angeles Angels third baseman Yoán Moncada during the fifth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros pitcher Roddery Muñoz (46) delivers during the sixth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Christian Walker (8) reacts after grounding out during the sixth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Christian Walker (8) reacts after grounding out during the sixth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Christian Walker (8) reacts after grounding out during the sixth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros pitcher Roddery Muñoz (46) challenges a ball call on a full count against Los Angeles Angels’ Nolan Schanuel during the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston. The call was confirmed.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros pitcher Roddery Muñoz (46) reacts after his challenge of a ball call on a full count against Los Angeles Angels’ Nolan Schanuel is confirmed during the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros manager Joe Espada (19) is seen during the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros pitcher Steven Okert (48) delivers during the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) tries to turn a turn a double play as Los Angeles Angels Yoán Moncada reaches base during the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) reacts after his high throw allowed Los Angeles Angels Yoán Moncada to reach base during the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz (21) gives relief pitcher Steven Okert (48) a fist-bump after striking out Los Angeles Angels Jo Adell to end the top of the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Isaac Paredes (15) reacts after a strike call during the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Jose Altuve (27) reacts after being called out on strikes on a full count during the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Jose Altuve (27) reacts after being called out on strikes on a full count during the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Cam Smith (11) strikes out during the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Astros fans cheer during the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Yainer Diaz (21) reacts after striking out end the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros pitcher Ryan Weiss (51) is seen after giving up a solo home run to Los Angeles Angels Zach Neto during the ninth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros pitcher Ryan Weiss (51) delivers during the ninth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros pitcher Ryan Weiss (51) delivers during the ninth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Jeremy Peña (3) hits a single during the second inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Brice Matthews (0) reacts after hitting a double during the second inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Brice Matthews (0) loses his helmet hitting a double during the second inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Brice Matthews (0) loses his helmet hitting a double during the second inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Brice Matthews (0) loses his helmet hitting a double during the second inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Brice Matthews (0) loses his helmet hitting a double during the second inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Cam Smith (11) reacts after striking out to end the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros baseman Carlos Correa point to the dugout after hitting a single during the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Jeremy Peña (3) scores on a win pitch from Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi during the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Jeremy Peña (3) reacts after sliding into second base during the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez (44) reacts after flying out during the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Jeremy Peña (3) reacts after hitting a single during the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Jeremy Peña (3) hits a single during the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros center fielder Brice Matthews (28) fields Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout’s single during the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Burrows (50) delivers during the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Burrows (50) delivers during the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros pitcher Josh Hader (71) is seen before an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (8) is seen before an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
The MLB logo is painted on grass before an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña (3) is seen before an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña (3) is seen before an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
They played from behind for most of the night. Houston slotted Burrows, acquired from the Pirates this winter, second in its season-opening rotation following his excellent spring. One start will not erase that impression, but the Angels handed the right-hander a rough debut.
Burrows allowed nine hits in his 5⅔ innings. Some were vexing. Mike Trout followed Neto’s double in the first with a flare single to center field. Neto took third and scored when Burrows induced a double-play groundball that helped him stem the inning.
Article continues below this ad
His second was costlier. After a leadoff walk and a bloop single by Jo Adell, Josh Lowe jumped on a first-pitch fastball and sent it 374 feet for an opposite-field home run into the Crawford Boxes. Trout, in the fifth, tattooed a solo blast over the Boxes, his second in as many days.
Burrows allowed just an 84.1 mph average exit velocity on 18 balls put in play against him. The Angels also whiffed on just 10 of 45 swings against Burrows, who walked two batters and struck out six. They took a 4-1 lead in the second inning and did not look back.
Off the hook
Houston had traffic on the basepaths in each of Kikuchi’s innings. The left-hander allowed eight hits and a walk before exiting with one out in the fifth. Seven of his runners were stranded, a series of unfulfilled chances for the Astros, who again lacked timely hits.
Article continues below this ad
Kikuchi struck out Cam Smith on an elevated fastball to strand two runners in the first. Jeremy Peña had the Astros’ lone hit in five at-bats with a man in scoring position against Kikuchi in the second. It did not produce a run. Brice Matthews doubled. Peña sent a chopper up the middle.
Second baseman Oswald Peraza’s backhanded stab left him no play but kept Matthews at third. Peraza then knocked down a 113 mph scorcher by Alvarez and recovered to throw him out. Houston first-base coach Dave Clark threw up his hands in exasperation.
Alvarez lined a full-count slider into the right-field seats leading off the fifth inning. An infield single by Jose Altuve ended Kikuchi’s night. Chase Silseth replaced him and induced lineouts from Carlos Correa and Smith to leave Altuve at third, where he stood after a stolen base and errant throw.
After making Kikuchi throw 30 pitches in the first inning, the Astros saw 42 pitches over the next three frames. They averaged a 94.9 mph exit velocity on 18 batted balls in play against him — 95 mph is hard-hit. But that quality of contact did not yield the results they coveted.
From the top
Peña, making his season debut after sitting out opening day, delivered an early reminder of the dynamic he brings to Houston’s lineup.
Article continues below this ad
Peña lined a low changeup from Kikuchi for a leadoff single in the first inning, then stole second base. On a pitch to Jose Altuve that caromed off catcher Logan O’Hoppe, Peña sprinted for third. O’Hoppe’s throw bounced past the third baseman Moncada and Peña jogged home with the Astros’ first run of the 2026.
Though manager Joe Espada indicated pregame Peña could still face staggered starts in his return from a fractured right ring fingertip, Peña struck two of Houston’s hits and played all nine innings. Correa struck two hits, as well. No other Astros starter had more than one. Their lineup struck out 10 times.
Challenge denied
Espada declared no mandates this spring for his players regarding the ABS challenge system, but he did suggest some preferences. Among them, Espada said he would rather his pitchers not challenge calls, leaving that up to catchers, and that players consider leverage of the situation in deciding whether to challenge.
Article continues below this ad
Neither of Houston’s two challenges Friday, both unsuccessful, followed those guidelines closely. Catcher Yainer Diaz challenged an 0-0 pitch to Jorge Soler in the first inning that was ruled a ball. ABS showed the pitch missed the zone by 1.9 inches. Teams have two challenges per game and keep successful ones. The Astros had one challenge after Diaz’s miss.
Reliever Roddery Muñoz used it in the seventh inning. With one out and the bases empty, Muñoz threw a full-count slider to Nolan Schanuel that was called ball four. Muñoz challenged it, and ABS showed the pitch missed low by 1.3 inches. Muñoz walked three of five batters he faced — throwing 10 of 26 pitches for strikes — before Espada removed him.