Houston vs. Everyone: Astros Record vs Every MLB Team: Part 1

The teams the Astros are over .500 against

With the 2024 MLB about to get underway, the second season of the new scheduling format will begin.

Last season MLB started a new scheduling format that made it so every team will face every other team. Whereas beforehand, interleague games were few and far between and they’d rotate the National League Divisions they played every year.

With this new scheduling format still in its infancy, I thought it’d be a fun exercise to look at the Astros’ record versus every other team ranked from best winning percentage against a certain team to worst winning percentage against a certain team.

This isn’t an attempt to predict how their in-season matchups will go, this is just for fun.

This will be in two parts. The first part will be teams that the Astros are over .500 against all time. 

1. Los Angeles Angels: 121-79 (.605)

The team that the Astros consistently dominate the most in the Los Angeles Angels. In the thirteen seasons that the Astros have played the Angels, they’ve taken the season series from LA/Anaheim ten times. Even then, two of the times they lost the season series were in 2007 when the Astros were still in the NL and the Angels took 2/3 against Houston, and the Covid-shortened 2020 where they went 4-6 against the Angels.

The only full season series that the Angels took from the Astros was in 2014, where they beat Houston 12 times and lost seven times. The Astros started to consistently beat the Angels when they moved to the AL West. They went 13-6 against the Angels four times before the schedule was changed (2016, 2018, 2021, and 2022).

Lastly, their best season against the Angels was in 2019 when they went 14-5 against them. 

Season with the best record vs Angels: 2019: 14-5 (.736)

Season with the worst record vs Angels: 2014: (.368)

*I excluded interleague series when listing the best and worst season records for every team because a three-game series is a much smaller sample size than a 12-19 game sample size

Source: https://stathead.com/baseball/vs/los-angeles-angels-vs-houston-astros

2.   Seattle Mariners: 122-81 (.601)

The team that the Houston Astros used to beat the most is the Seattle Mariners. In 14 seasons of playing the Mariners, the Astros have won the season series in nine of them. Even in most years that they’ve lost the season series to the Mariners, they were close to beating them (2002: 1-2, 2013: 9-10, 2014: 9-10, 2018: 9-10). 2023 was the year that the Mariners finally beat the Astros consistently as the Astros went 4-9 against them last year. The Mariners were originally the team that the Astros had the best winning percentage against until last year. Now onto the best seasons against the Mariners. The 2019 squad beat a lot of teams consistently, and they beat the Mariners the most times of all as they went an impressive 18-1 against Seattle that year. They also performed well against the Mariners in 2017 going 14-5. Lastly and most importantly, the Astros have beaten the Mariners where it matters most, in the playoffs. They swept the Mariners 3 games to 0 in the 2022 ALDS. 

Season with the best record vs Mariners: 2019: 18-1 (.947)

Season with the worst record vs Mariners: 2023: 4-9 (.307)

Source: https://stathead.com/baseball/vs/houston-astros-vs-seattle-mariners

3. Baltimore Orioles: 52-42 (.567)

The next team that the Astros perform best against is the Baltimore Orioles. Ever since moving to the American League, the Astros have never had a truly bad season series against the O’s as their worst season against them was going 2-4 in 2013. They also had a run of dominance in Baltimore from 2016-2018 where they went a combined 17-3 against the Orioles in those three years. These two facts make it easy to understand why the Astros are 10 games over .500 all-time against the O’s. 

Season with the best record vs Orioles: 2016/2018: 6-1 (.857)

Season with the worst record vs Orioles: 2013: 2-4 (.333)

Source: https://stathead.com/baseball/vs/baltimore-orioles-vs-houston-astros

4. Detroit Tigers: 46-36 (.560)

For both the Astros and the Tigers, there were short spurts of dominance. In 1998 and 1999 the Astros won six games in a row to begin their all-time matchup. Afterwards in 2000 and 2006 (they went six years without playing because they were in different leagues), the Tigers went 5-1 against Houston. In 2018 and 2019, the Astros went a combined 11-2 against the Tigers. The Tigers are one of the few AL East/AL Central teams that the Astros have swept in a season as they went 7-0 against the Tigers in 2022. It’s somewhat surprising the Astros are over .500 against the Tigers as they didn’t win a series in Detroit from 1999-2017, (7 straight series. 

Season with the best record vs Tigers: 2022: 7-0 (1.000)

Season with the worst record vs Tigers: 2013: 1-6 (.142)

Source: https://stathead.com/baseball/vs/detroit-tigers-vs-houston-astros

5. New York Mets: 318-261-1 (.549)

The National League team that the Astros have their best winning percentage against is their 1962  expansion brethren, the New York Mets. While the Mets unfortunately got the best of the Astros in the legendary 1986 NLCS, the Astros have almost consistently beat the Mets whether or not they were playing in the American League or the National League. From 1962-1983, the Astros split or took the season series from the Mets in 19 out of those 22 seasons. While it is true that the Mets began to beat the Astros in the mid-to-late 80s and early 90s, the Astros began to get the best of the Mets again in the 90s, with them beating or tying the Mets in the season series every year from 1993-1998. Fast forward to the Astros moving to the American League, the Astros have a 10-3 record against the Mets while playing in the AL, including winning nine of their last ten. 

Season with the best record vs Mets: 1993: 11-1 (.916)

Season with the worst record vs Mets: 2009: 1-5 (.200)

Source: https://stathead.com/baseball/vs/houston-astros-vs-new-york-mets

6. Colorado Rockies: 102-85 (.545)

The Rockies and Astros had a few interesting occurrences. First of all, despite being an expansion team, the Rockies had the Astros’ number in 1993 as Colorado went 11-2 against Houston. This is even more curious because the Astros went 85-77 that season, it’s not like they were a bad team in ‘93. The Astros have held their own since then, especially having a lot of success against the Rockies since they moved to the AL in 2013. They have gone 22-6 against the Rockies since 2013.

The Astros also had success against the Rockies in the early and mid 2000s going 5-1 against them in back-to-back years in 2004 and 2005. 

Season with the best record vs Rockies: 2004/2005: 5-1 (.833)

Season with the worst record vs Rockies: 1993: 2-11 (.154)

Source: https://stathead.com/baseball/vs/colorado-rockies-vs-houston-astros

7. Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos: 248-209 (.543)

Unfortunately in 2019, the Nationals got the best of the Astros, beating them in the World Series in seven games. However, the Astros have usually come out on top against the Nationals, and more so the Expos back when they were located in Montreal. In the first ten seasons of the Expos existence, the Astros won or tied the season series nine times.

Their best season came in the Expos expansion year in 1969 when the Astros went 11-1. The Astros also swept the Expos in the season series in 2001 (6-0). Ever since the Expos moved to Washington DC, the season series have been pretty even, with one big exception, in 2012 when the Nationals went 7-1 against Houston. 

Season with the best record vs Expos/Nationals: 1969: 11-1 (.916)

Season with the worst record vs Expos/Nationals 2012: 1-7 (.125)

Good Season vs Nationals Honorable Mention: 2001: 6-0 (1.000)

Bad Season vs Nationals Honorable Mention: 1991: 2-10 (.167)

Source:

https://stathead.com/baseball/vs/houston-astros-vs-washington-nationals

Colt .45s/Astros History: Ken Johnson Throws A No Hitter for the Houston Colt .45s... and Lost!

8. Kansas City Royals: 51-43 (.542)

Although many fans probably remember the Royals outplaying the Astros in the previous season, it hasn’t always been this way. Back in the late 90s and early 2000s when this was an interleague matchup, the Astros took the series from the Royals five straight times, sweeping them twice (from 1998-2005). The Royals would respond by taking 2/3 against the Astros in four straight series from 2006-2012. Ever since the Astros moved to the AL, the Royals have put up a decent fight against the Astros but a couple of 5-1 seasons against KC in 2018 and 2019 helped put the Astros over .500 in the all-time season. Unfortunately, the Royals have beaten the Astros where it counts as they won the 2015 ALDS in five games. 

Season with the best record vs Royals: 2018/2019: 5-1 (.833)

Season with the worst record vs Royals: 2023: 1-5 (.167)

Source: https://stathead.com/baseball/vs/houston-astros-vs-kansas-city-royals

9. Toronto Blue Jays: 39-33 (.541)

After the Astros swept Toronto in their first-ever matchup back in 2005, the season series between these two teams has always been relatively even. The only time any team won five or more games in the season series against each other was when the Astros went 2-5 against the Blue Jays in 2016. However, many 4-2 seasons (2018, 2019, and 2021) for the Astros have helped them barely have a winning record up in the great white North. 

Season with the best record vs BlueJays: 2018/2019/2021: 4-2 (.667)

Season with the worst record vs Blue Jays: 2016: 2-5 (.286)

Source: https://stathead.com/baseball/vs/houston-astros-vs-toronto-blue-jays

10. Oakland Athletics: 107-93 (.535)

Like most teams, the Astros struggled in the beginning of playing the A’s and have had lots of recent success.

From 2002-2014, the Athletics dominated the Astros, going 31-13 against Houston. The Astros have won the season series against the A’s in the last 8/9 years, with 2020 being the only outlier where the A’s went 7-3 against the Astros. The Astros also have beaten the Athletics in their only playoff matchup 3 games to 1 in the 2020 ALDS. 

Season with the best record vs Athletics: 2023: 10-3 (.769)

Season with the worst record vs Athletics: 2013: 4-15 (.210)

Source: https://stathead.com/baseball/vs/houston-astros-vs-oakland-athletics

11. Chicago Cubs: 383-334 (.534)

While the Astros have their best winning percentage against the Angels, they have the most total wins against the Cubs. This is mainly because the Astros and Cubs played together in the same division quite a bit. The Astros had a few periods where they dominated the Cubs. From 1980 to 1981 they had a 17-2 record against the Cubs. They also beat the Cubs in the season series every year from 1993-2002. While the Cubs did hold their own for a while when the Astros were in the heart of their nearly ten-season rebuild (2006-2014), the Astros are 5-1 in their last six games against the Cubs, sweeping them in 2023. 

Season with the best record vs Cubs: 1980: 11-1 (.916)

Season with the worst record vs Cubs: 1982/1991: 3-9 (.250)

Source: https://stathead.com/baseball/vs/chicago-cubs-vs-houston-astros

12. Minnesota Twins: 44-39 (.530)

The Astros have had a few very good years and a couple of good playoff series against the Twins. They went 5-2 against them in 2016, 5-1 in 2017, and 6-0 against them in 2022. The two playoff series against the Twins have been pretty recent wins for the Astros in 2020 and 2023. Just like for many other teams, the Twins’ best season against the Astros was in 2013 when the Astros went 1-5 against the Twins. 

Season with the best record vs Twins: 6-0 (1.000)

Season with the worst record vs Twins: 1-5 (.167)

Sources: https://stathead.com/baseball/vs/houston-astros-vs-minnesota-twins

13. Chicago White Sox: 46-41 (.528)

Another Chicago team, while over .500 against the White Sox, Chicago has given the Astros trouble in the past. In two of Chicago’s rebuilding years (2017 and 2019) the Astros lost the season series to them despite being a way better team on paper. In the 2015 season, the Stros also went 1-5 against the Sox despite making the Wild Card that season. That’s not to say the Astros have always struggled against the Sox. They’ve won the season series in the past three years and even swept Chicago in the season series in 2018 (7-0).

The Future: Joey Loperfido

The Astros and White Sox have matched up in the playoffs a couple of times. Chicago swept Houston in the 2005 World Series, ending their 88-year World Series drought. The Astros most recently got the better of the Sox in the 2021 ALDS where they won in four games. 

Season with the best record vs White Sox: 2018: 7-0 (1.000)

Season with the worst record vs White Sox: 2015: 1-5 (.167)

Source: https://stathead.com/baseball/vs/chicago-white-sox-vs-houston-astros

14. Milwaukee Brewers: 131-118 (.526)

Another former divisional rival, the Brewers beat the Astros 2/3 in 1997, then when the Brewers moved to the National League in 1998, the Astros began a nine-year stretch of dominance against the Brewers where they beat them in the season series every year. Of course, when the Astros began to rebuild, the Brewers started succeeding against Houston more. Ever since the Astros moved to the American League the matchup has been almost completely even as the Brewers have won seven games and the Astros have won six since 2013. 

Season with the best record vs Brewers: 1998: 9-2 (.818)

Season with the worst record vs Brewers: 2011: 3-12 (.200)

Source: https://stathead.com/baseball/vs/houston-astros-vs-milwaukee-brewers  

15. San Diego Padres: 318-291 (.522)

There is a lot less to say about the Padres. The Astros have had decent success against San Diego. The Padres were pretty bad at the beginning of their existence and the Astros beat them in the season series in eight straight years to begin San Diego’s existence as a team (1969-1976). The Padres had their own seven-season series winning streak from 1987-1992.

How the Astros do against the Padres in the American League is a tale of two eras. In 2015 and 2018, the Astros swept the Padres in one interleague series and took 2/3 in the other series. Then the Padres somewhat reversed it on the Astros, sweeping them in 2020, and taking 2/3 in two different series against Houston in 2021. Most recently, the Astros took 2/3 against the Padres in 2023. Unfortunately, in the only playoff series that the Astros have faced the Padres, the Padres beat them 3-1 in the 1998 NLDS, ending the Astros (at the time team record) 102-60 season early. 

Season with the best record vs Padres: 1999: 8-1 (.888)

Season with the worst record vs Padres: 1990: 4-14 (.777)

Good Season vs Padres Honorable Mention: 1972: 12-2 (.857)

Source: https://stathead.com/baseball/vs/houston-astros-vs-san-diego-padres

16. Miami Marlins: 85-81 (.512) 

There’s not very much to say about the Astros and Marlins all-time series. The Astros best season came during Miami’s expansion year where they went 9-3 against them.

The Marlins best season against the Astros came in 2011 when Houston went 1-6 against Miami. Ever since the Astros moved to the American League, the matchup has been dead even at six wins apiece for each team. 

Season with the best record vs Marlins: 9-3 (.750) 

Season with the worst record vs Marlins: 1-6 (.142)

Source: https://stathead.com/baseball/vs/miami-marlins-vs-houston-astros

Come back in a few days for Part 2 where we discuss all the teams that the Astros are under .500 against.