There has been plenty of discussion about Hunter Brown anchoring the pitching staff in 2026, but it is now official. The Astros have named Brown their Opening Day starter, marking the first Opening Day start of his career. While it may not come as a surprise, it is no longer speculation.
Here’s a look at the key pitchers on the Astros’ 2026 roster, including the rotation anchors and the main bullpen contributors:
Starting Pitchers
Hunter Brown
Named the Astros’ 2026 Opening Day starter, Brown’s fastball and breaking pitches make him a tough matchup.
Spencer Arrighetti
Arrighetti continues developing as a rotation option. He can strike out plenty of hitters, and this spring he’ll be competing for consistent innings.
Cristian Javier
Javier returns after a strong previous season, known for his deceptive delivery and high-spin fastball.
Lance McCullers Jr.
McCullers brings veteran experience and postseason history. Staying healthy will be key for him to stabilize the rotation.
Tatsuya Imai
Imai brings a fastball, a slider, and a competitive mound presence. He joins the Astros aiming to help the team contend for a championship.
Nate Pearson
A hard-throwing right-hander, Pearson adds strikeout potential and power to the rotation.
Ryan Weiss
Weiss comes from the KBO and brings experience, innings, and consistency to Houston’s staff. The team will see how he handles the AL hitters.
Mike Burrows
A young right-hander with promise, Burrows could see rotation innings early and is part of Houston’s long-term plans.
Miguel Ullola
Ullola adds depth and could emerge later in the season, either in the rotation or the bullpen. Spring performance will likely decide his role.
Bullpen
Josh Hader
Hader anchors the bullpen as Houston’s closer. His strikeout ability is elite, and he’ll be counted on to shut down games late. He is being monitored for his shoulder injury from last season.
Bryan Abreu
Abreu remains a key setup arm. He’s effective in high-leverage spots and can dominate with his fastball and slider combination.
Bryan King
King gives the Astros depth from the left side. He might see multiple innings in middle-relief situations.
Steven Okert
Okert is another left-handed option, adding experience to the late-inning mix.
Bennett Sousa
Sousa can handle middle-inning matchups, and his sidearm delivery can be tricky for hitters.
Kai-Wei Teng
Teng can work in relief or spot-start. Houston will explore the best way to use him this season.
Roddery Muñoz
Muñoz is a high-upside bullpen arm who can miss bats. As a Rule 5 pick, he has a real chance to earn a role if he performs well in camp.