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Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (1) celebrates with second baseman Jose Altuve (27) after beating the Boston Red Sox 6-4 during a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Houston.<\/p>\n
Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
One of the league\u2019s top left-handers stood between the Houston Astros<\/a> and a sweep Wednesday. Their lineup got to Garrett Crochet, scoring five runs against last year\u2019s AL Cy Young runner-up to complete a one-sided series against the Boston Red Sox and a strong opening homestand.<\/p>\n The Astros outscored the Red Sox by a 23-7 total in their three-game set, hitting eight home runs in the series, and left Houston on the heels of five consecutive wins. Their offense totaled 43 runs and 52 hits <\/a>across those five games after two listless losses to the Los Angeles Angels.<\/p>\n \u201cLike I said in spring training, when all the guys in the lineup are healthy, this lineup is very dangerous,\u201d said Carlos Correa<\/a>. \u201cAnd we\u2019ve shown that the first week of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Houston\u2019s first road trip is a lengthy one, starting with three games against the A\u2019s in West Sacramento. Three games at Coors Field and four against the Seattle Mariners, who unseated the Astros atop the AL West last season, will follow. First, here are three takeaways from Houston\u2019s opening homestand:<\/p>\n Houston Astros pitcher Bryan Abreu reacts as catcher Yainer Diaz comes to talk with him after giving up a 3-run home run to Los Angeles Angels Nolan Schanuel during the ninth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Houston.<\/p>\n Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n A bounce-back for Bryan Abreu<\/p>\n Though a tiny sample, Bryan Abreu\u2019s first two appearances<\/a> this season perhaps prompted concern. The Astros\u2019 fill-in closer allowed four runs in 1\u2153 innings against the Angels, walking as many batters (four) as he retired.<\/p>\n In his second outing, a save situation, Abreu walked two of three batters faced and showed diminished velocity. He averaged 93.2 mph and topped out at 94.8 mph on a dozen fastballs thrown in that outing. His fastball averaged 97.3 mph last year.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The next day, manager Joe Espada deemed the reason for Abreu\u2019s velocity dip \u201cmore mechanical than anything.\u201d<\/a> Abreu said Wednesday the mechanical issue was \u201ca simple thing\u201d \u2013 he was \u201crotating east to west\u201d in his delivery and \u201cway swinging\u201d open with his front leg and side.<\/p>\n Most of Abreu\u2019s fastball misses in his second outing were high or to his arm-side. He said he improved his direction toward home plate in a more effective showing Wednesday against Boston.<\/p>\n Abreu drew the ninth inning with a three-run lead. After Roman Anthony beat an 0-2 slider for a pinch-hit home run, Abreu struck out his next three batters to record his first save of the season with velocity that was more characteristic.<\/p>\n Abreu averaged 96.1 mph on six fastballs he threw and hit 97.4 mph. Ten of his 16 pitches were sliders. He generated six whiffs on seven swings against the slider, finishing all three strikeouts with the pitch.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cJust attack the strike zone, trust the delivery I\u2019ve been working on the past few days and keep moving forward,\u201d Abreu said afterward.<\/p>\n Closer Josh Hader threw multiple bullpen sessions during the homestand, but it remains unclear when he might face hitters in his recovery from biceps tendinitis. General manager Dana Brown voiced hope on opening day that Hader could face hitters by \u201cmid-April,\u201d indicating his return is still weeks away.<\/p>\n Abreu will anchor the bullpen until it occurs. He acknowledged Wednesday that a rebound against the Red Sox was valuable after a rocky start.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is part of baseball,\u201d Abreu said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to have some bad outings and all this stuff. Just try to improve and fix all that as soon as we can.\u201d<\/p>\n Houston Astros’ Brice Matthews, right, celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox in Houston, Monday, March 30, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n Ashley Landis\/Associated Press<\/p>\n A youthful platoon<\/p>\n The first homestand followed a pattern with two of the Astros\u2019 youngest hitters. Joey Loperfido<\/a> started against the three right-handed starting pitchers Houston faced and Brice Matthews<\/a> started against four opposing lefties.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Loperfido and Matthews each made one start in center field, on days Yordan Alvarez started in left. But they mostly formed a platoon in left field, the clearest spot for both Loperfido and Matthews to playing time on the current roster.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you\u2019re a young player, especially (on) a roster like ours, you have to kind of wait for your turn,\u201d Espada said. \u201cThese players, they know their role. But it doesn\u2019t mean that\u2019s their role forever.\u201d<\/p>\n Espada has often shared his view that young players need everyday playing time for their development. But Houston\u2019s roster provides no clear path to creating it for all of Matthews, Loperfido and Cam Smith, the regular right fielder. Espada has mixed-and-matched in left and center so far to keep all involved.<\/p>\n \u201cSome of these guys, it\u2019s just that\u2019s how you establish yourself in the big leagues,\u201d Espada said. \u201cAs a manager, it\u2019s putting them in a spot where they can have some success, make sure they\u2019re facing the right pitcher right now so they can continue that success. Once they start getting going, now you can put a longer leash and let them go.\u201d<\/p>\n Houston Astros center fielder Joey Loperfido hauls in a fly ball to left by Los Angeles Angels Zach Neto 00during the ninth inning of a Major League Baseball game at Daikin Park in Houston, Sunday, March 29, 2026.<\/p>\n Brett Coomer\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n Loperfido\u2019s early major-league career has comprised of mostly platoon matchups. The left-handed hitter entered Wednesday with 306 of 382 career plate appearances against right-handed pitchers and his .720 OPS against righties was nearly 150 points higher than his mark against lefties. He is 5-for-16 this season, with Espada noting he is hitting the ball to all fields.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n For Matthews, who had an .884 OPS against lefties and a .794 OPS against righties at Triple-A last year, a part-time role is relatively new. Moreover, Matthews is playing defensive positions in left and center field where he started zero and eight games in the minors, respectively.<\/p>\n Helping Matthews adapt to his role is incumbent on Houston\u2019s staff. Matthews said he learns the night before where he\u2019ll play the next day, if he is starting, and focuses pre-game work on practicing reads at that position. He continues to get reps around the infield to remain an option at those spots.<\/p>\n On days he isn\u2019t starting, and might enter midgame, Matthews said he keeps the same routine shifted later and does cage work in-game to prepare for possible matchups where the Astros may deploy him. Both Matthews and Loperfido came off the bench after pitching changes on the homestand.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, the adrenaline kind of takes over the body,\u201d Matthews said. \u201cBut making sure I\u2019m mentally prepared and staying confident in myself that whatever happens, I know I feel comfortable getting the job done.\u201d<\/p>\n Though left field is relatively new to him, Matthews has not looked out of place there. Monday, he nearly threw out Trevor Story trying to stretch a double from the left-field corner; Story eluded Jose Altuve\u2019s tag with a neat slide. Matthews also hit a 434-foot home run in that game. He is 2-for-13 in five games so far with nine strikeouts, still exhibiting swing-and-miss tendencies.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s playing with a lot of confidence,\u201d Espada said. \u201cHe knows that he belongs, he knows that there\u2019s room for him on this roster. And I\u2019ve got to get creative and get him in there because once he figures it out, man, he can do some damage.\u201d<\/p>\n The early schedule has afforded Espada opportunities. Houston is slated to face two more left-handed starters in the upcoming series against the A\u2019s, perhaps creating more. A broken toe sustained by Zach Cole at Triple-A last weekend may have strengthened Matthews\u2019 spot on the major-league roster, even should the Astros face a run of right-handed pitching.<\/p>\n \u201cI have the utmost trust in our staff and them putting me in the right position,\u201d Matthews said. \u201cSo I just show up ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n Houston Astros Christian Walker (8) hits a RBI single during the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Houston.<\/p>\n Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n A good start for Christian Walker<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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