Splitsville
Astros split four game series with Angels to open 2026
It’s finally time for the first update of the season, four games into a 162-game slog.
Remember - it’s early - something I had to tell myself repeatedly this weekend.
In fact, 4 games is just 2.5% of the way through a season, and any comments I make below should be kept with that - and the fact that 97.5% of the regular season remains - in mind.
First, the updated projections.
Season Projections
Field Notes
Random takeaways from the weekend, but remember to take these lightly at this point in the season.
Christian Walker looks much better with 3 doubles and 3 RBI over the weekend and only 1 strikeout over 16 plate appearances, along with a hard hit % of 66.7% and 95.6 average exit velo.
Yordan looks healthy. Let’s hope it stays that way. He was a big piece of the missing power from last year, but that said, no other Astro homered in the series.
Still concerned about the outfield, though Joey Loperfido was solid, and everyone had their moments.
Isaac looked smooth at second base, though there will be balls he can’t get to over the course of the season. Some of the offseason commentary led me to believe he would be a disaster there, and time will tell, but he played fine.
Yainer did not look interested in batting.
Jose Altuve seeing 78 pitches and walking 5 times over 18 plate appearances was something.
It looks like Espada is going to play everybody and not waste a spot (last season, he had players that would barely play over two weeks). Three different starting centerfielders in four games (yay), Isaac at second base, Loperfido at multiple positions, pinch running, etc.
The rotation was ineffective and inefficient - guess which team leads the MLB in walks? Houston. Yikes.
Abreu’s Sunday velocity is a huge red flag.
Don’t understand Roddery Munoz at all. It’s like he’s learning how to pitch at the MLB level. Feels like a wasted spot that will cost the Astros a game at some point. This is something a rebuilding team would do.
Bullpen in general is a huge question mark, but Okert and King look solid.
Astros Expected Wins
When you go .500 and are outscored, this is what you get early in the season.
Expected Wins - AL West
I’ll have these for all divisions eventually, but right now they are so wonky (Giants projected to go 2-160) they’re pretty useless.
These will fluctuate wildly early in the season. Just don’t be the Giants.
Thanks for reading, more on Friday.