The Houston Astros hit the road and kick off their series with the Baltimore Orioles this week after picking up a win in the final game of their series against the New York Yankees.
With a rough start to the season, a big win like the one against the Yankees is the kind of momentum they need heading into this road trip.
This is another series that could easily get away from them. While Baltimore is a strong team, they have shown some inconsistencies. If Houston can build off its recent win and find its rhythm, the Astros have a chance to take the series.
However, if they continue to struggle on the mound or let key plays slip away, they could quickly watch the series get out of reach.
Kai-Wei Teng will be the starting pitcher to begin the series against Baltimore. Teng has made 11 appearances so far this season, all as a relief pitcher. Tuesday will be his first start of the 2026 season. He enters the game with a 2.16 ERA and 16 strikeouts over 16 2/3 innings, per MLB. With Houston dealing with pitching struggles, Teng has been one of the more reliable arms on the roster this season.
So far this season, when the Astros get solid pitching, the rest of the team tends to follow, making them a dangerous group. Limiting bullpen usage will be a key focus once again.
The road has been a struggle for the Astros this season. Their first road trip resulted in an eight-game losing streak. They responded better in Cleveland last time out, and now look to carry that momentum forward.
As for the lineup, here is what you can expect to see:
Astros Starting Lineup (April 28):
Carlos Correa (R) — SS
Yordan Alvarez (L) — DH
Isaac Paredes (R) — 3B
Jose Altuve (R) — 2B
Christian Walker (R) — 1B
Yainer Diaz (R) — C
Dustin Harris (L) — LF
Cam Smith (R) — RF
Brice Matthews (R) — CF
The Astros have an opportunity in front of them to build on their win over the Yankees and turn it into something bigger. A strong showing against Baltimore would be another step toward putting their slow start behind them. If Houston can get quality pitching, support Teng in his first start, and continue to find timely offense, they have a chance to leave this road trip with momentum moving in the right direction.