The Houston Astros have a 5-2 record after the first two series of the season. This is actually a new spot to be in for the Astros, who have not gotten off to the best of starts in the last few years. After winning five straight games, the Astros have gotten out to their best seven-game start since the 2021 season.
Astros Offense on a Roll to Start the Season
Houston was 3-4 last year at this time, and a lot has looked different so far. It didn’t start off all that pretty, but the belief is back in H-Town. The Astros got shut out on Opening Day in a 3-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels before they fell 6-2 the next day. While the Astros scored just two runs in the first 18 innings of the season, it all suddenly changed halfway through the third game of the series.
Offensive Breakout
In what was looking like a complete disaster again as the Astros were down 6-0 halfway through Game Three against the Angels, all the momentum started to shift in the bottom of the fifth. The Astros got two singles from Jake Meyers and Jose Altuve, but still had two outs in the inning when Isaac Paredes came up to the plate. He came through in a huge way with a two-RBI double off the manual scoreboard in left field.
The Astros added one more run on an RBI single from Carlos Correa. The next inning was special. While it started off with two outs, Meyers and fan favorite Joey Loperfido both reached base. The Astros got lucky with a couple of throwing errors, but Correa was in the thick of the action with an infield single that tied the game at 6.
Christian Walker came through with an RBI single, followed up by a two-run single from Yainer Diaz with the bases loaded. The Astros batted all the way around in the inning as Meyers hit a two-run double. It was an eight-run explosion in the inning as Houston came back and won 11-9.
Piling on Hits
The Astros’ offense has not stopped since then. They scored four runs in the second inning the next day and piled up nine runs. Everyone in the lineup has chipped in at some point. While base hits did the job in the first series, the power showed up against the Red Sox.
The Astros hit four home runs and won 8-1 in the first game of the series on Monday. That included two homers and four hits from Altuve, while Yordan Alvarez crushed one into the second deck. Newcomer Brice Matthews also hit a 434-foot blast, the longest in the majors at the time.
This is the first time the Astros have scored at least eight runs in four consecutive games since July 26-30, 2021.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) April 1, 2026
Houston got off to quick starts in each of the games against the Red Sox. Walker was a key part of that, as well as Alvarez, who hit another homer into the second deck. Alvarez is one of the greatest hitters against the Red Sox all-time, with the highest OPS ever of 1.305 as an opposing hitter against Boston.
Cam Smith added his first home run of the season. The Astros closed out the series sweep with six runs. Walker and Paredes took over early. Correa hit his first home run at Daikin Park since 2021, and it was a monster three-run blast that proved to be the winning hit.
Astros Offense Taking Over
While the pitching was certainly solid during various stretches, it was the Astros offense that completely took over. The Astros are currently one of the best offenses in baseball, with the highest team OPS in the American League at .830. Houston has scored the most runs in baseball at 45 through seven games.
Astros are slashing .319/.417/.551 (.968 OPS) in their past four games with six homers and 37 runs (9.3 runs per game).
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) April 1, 2026
They also have the highest OBP (.366), slugging (.464), and RBI total (39) in the AL. The 63 hits are second in MLB, but tops the AL as well. The 10 home runs and 32 walks are tied for second most in baseball. The Astros have 19 doubles, which is by far the most in MLB.
What changed? It was the mindset and delivering on that. Correa spoke on that after the sweep of the Red Sox.
“I see everyone buying into the culture of what we’ve done for a long time at the highest level, and that’s having a collective approach where everyone’s grinding at-bats and tiring pitchers out. You see a lot of 3-2 counts and making good decisions. That’s what Astros baseball is all about,” Correa said.
Carlos Correa a 3-RUN HR as the #Astros beat the Red Sox 6-4
He talked with @JuliaMorales after the @astros WIN#ChaseTheFight pic.twitter.com/1BMqiMzYl3
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) April 1, 2026
Discipline at the Plate
The Astros’ golden era culture is still thriving. Houston always used to be good at getting starting pitchers out of games and not wildly swinging. The discipline at the plate has significantly improved, and that is demonstrated in the walks. Houston had the fifth fewest walks last season. Besides that, veteran first baseman Christian Walker has looked great to start the year. It’s a big difference. He’s currently hitting .320 with a .913 OPS.
His seven RBI are tied for the team lead with Correa. Walker’s eight hits are second on the team with Correa and Altuve. The young outfielders in Loperfido and Meyers have been productive. Christian Vasquez has done well.
Alvarez has started the year healthy and leads the team in hits, homers, average, and OPS. What’s key for the Astros is Altuve. He’s looked a lot more disciplined at the plate, and that has resulted in elite production. Altuve’s eight walks are a team high. It’s the best start he’s ever had when it comes to walks. It’s the highest walk total of his career through six games.
Jose Altuve walked eight times in the Astros’ first seven games of the season. It is the first time he’s walked eight times in any seven-game stretch of the regular season since July of 2022 – https://t.co/1Z7CYrghJj
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) April 2, 2026
New Coaches
The veterans are coming through while everyone around them is getting timely hits.
The Astros offense is crushing balls at high velocity when it’s there to be hit. While there’s something to be said about the new hitting coaches in Victor Rodriguez, Anthony Iapoce, and Dan Hennigan, it’s the Astros getting back to what’s worked for them over the years. It’s possible that a new voice as a hitting coach gets more attention. Whatever they are preaching is working right now.
An aspect of the game that seems to be emphasized more is base stealing. The Astros were among the bottom 10 teams in that area for two seasons under Joe Espada. They have seven stolen bases through seven games, which is tied with the Kansas City Royals for the most in the AL.
Main Photo Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
