The Houston Astros are battling injuries, and they have taken a big hit. Carlos Correa is out for the season with a left ankle tendon injury. Losing a key contributor and veteran presence is a big blow, but even with the Astros sitting at 15–22, they were able to defeat one of the best teams in the league and take control of the series on Tuesday.
After losing the first game on Monday, 8–3, a win was the momentum the Astros needed. As they take on the Dodgers today for the final game of the series with one win apiece, the question is, can they take the series?
Wins for the Astros usually come down to pitching, and yesterday they got a strong outing from their starter Peter Lambert. When they control the mound, they are a completely different team.
For the final game, Lance McCullers Jr. is the starting pitcher. McCullers has had some strong starts, but also a few rocky moments. If he can replicate his impressive 2026 debut performance, the Astros should find themselves in a good position to take the series.
A couple guys stepped up in the win, with key hits and solid pitching helping carry the team. It was more of a full-team effort than anything else.
With injuries still piling up, including Correa, a win like this matters. It shows the Astros can still respond, even at 15–22, when things start clicking.
Now it shifts to the final game of the series against the Dodgers, where they’ve got a chance to build momentum or split the set and keep things moving in the right direction.