It’s safe to say the Houston Astros’ Opening Day matchup against the Los Angeles Angels did not go as planned.
Starting the season with a 3-0 loss is far from the kickoff they were hoping for and certainly not the comeback reminiscent of 2025 they had in mind. Watching the game, there were flashes of 2025 Astros offensive PTSD, which is not exactly a comforting sight. That said, it is just one game and the season is far from over.
After all of the new additions, they were still looking like the 2025 Astros, but again just one game. They have 161 more games to get it together. The Astros struggled with runners in scoring position and left several runners on base, missing scoring opportunities. Yordan Alvarez also hit a deep foul ball off the Daikin Park roof, which could have been a home run.
However, they will be facing the Boston Red Sox next, and they have a much more solid lineup compared to the Los Angeles Angels. So how are the Astros going to hold up against a team that is even stronger?
That being said, maybe they are just working through new additions and growing pains, but there are many things they need to improve before they can take on another team confidently.
Starter Hunter Brown kept Houston in the game through 4 ⅔ scoreless innings, striking out nine and limiting the Angels to soft contact, though the bullpen allowed runs late in the game.
What they are doing with Jeremy Peña is smart; rushing him back would be a mistake. But this offense needs Peña, and hopefully he will be back soon.
Carlos Correa and Yordan Alvarez were active but could not produce, showing the offense still has work to do. Players like Brice Matthews and Joey Loperfido give flexibility in the field, but consistent hitting is essential for the team to take advantage of these opportunities.
It’s early, and the team is still adjusting to offseason changes. With 161 games left, there’s plenty of time to shake off Opening Day jitters, find offensive cohesion, and show that the 2026 Astros are more than a replay of 2025.
Tonight the Astros will have another chance to redeem themselves against the Angels. If they can stay focused and learn from this opener, the rest of the season still holds plenty of promise.