The Houston Astros can still wind up on top of the AL West, even after the ugly start that made that possibility feel absurd early on. But if this thing goes sideways again in 2026, the biggest culprit will probably be the pitching staff.
That’s where a lot of the blame lands on Dana Brown. His offseason work on the mound never really took hold, and the list of bets that went bust is long: Christian Roa, Roddery Muñoz, Ryan Weiss, and Nate Pearson all ended up DFA’d.
The bigger-name additions haven’t exactly saved the day, either. Mike Burrows was, at one point, the worst-qualified starter in the league by ERA before right elbow neuritis shut him down, while Tatsuya Imai has fallen so far that he’s been pulled from the starting rotation and barely pitches anymore.
The overall numbers tell the same story. Houston’s staff sits 25th in baseball with a 4.66 ERA, and its 4.59 FIP ranks 24th. Then came the trade deadline move that thinned the group even more, with Spencer Arrighetti sent away to bring back Dalton Varsho.
And yet one of the most irritating misses might be Pearson, because he’s thriving somewhere else now.
The Astros signed Pearson hoping to catch lightning in a bottle. He was once a first-round pick with real buzz, and Houston was betting he could finally turn that talent into help either in the rotation or out of the bullpen.
An injury slowed him down at first, but once he came back, he actually gave them decent work. In over 20 innings, he put up a 3.60 ERA, though the strikeout total wasn’t special and the walks were too high.
Even so, Houston moved on quickly. After DFA’ing him, the Astros found a trade partner in the Royals, and Pearson has been lights-out ever since. In 15 appearances for Kansas City, the 30-year-old has thrown 14 2/3 innings, allowed just seven hits and one run, and posted a 0.61 ERA with a 0.89 FIP.
That kind of production would look pretty handy on a pitching-starved roster.
To be fair, Houston’s bullpen has been strong since Josh Hader returned. But that doesn’t erase the fact that Pearson could have helped, whether in relief or as a rotation option. His presence might even have allowed the Astros to take a different shot with another arm.
Instead, they got impatient. That’s the frustrating part, especially for a team that has shown plenty of tolerance for other struggling pitchers even when the results were staring them in the face.
The Pearson call just adds another layer to a roster plan that looks shaky. The Astros had a useful, high-octane arm.
They let him go, and now the Royals are the ones enjoying the payoff.
In Other News...
Joe Espada Just Got The Astros Response He Desperately Needed
Joe Espada spent his 51st birthday in the middle of a rough stretch that has tested just about every part of the Astros operation. Houston is sitting at 69-68, the front office already has changed course by dismissing general manager Dana Brown, and the uncertainty around Espadas future has only added another layer to a season that has not gone the way the club envisioned.
Jim Cranes public support offered a needed dose of stability, even if it did not settle the bigger question hanging over the manager. With injuries and roster issues piling up, Espada has been navigating a difficult assignment, and the owners acknowledgment of how hard the year has been at least buys him some breathing room as Houston waits to see what comes next after this season. [Read more 🡒]
Dana Brown Just Gave Astros Fans A New Reason To Debate Jim Crane
Dana Browns first public remarks since being dismissed as Astros general manager offered a clear look at how he viewed his run in Houston and the power structure around it. Brown said he respected owner Jim Crane and credited him with giving him room to manage the club, while also acknowledging that not every move sat fully in the baseball operations departments hands. For a fan base already used to parsing the line between ownership and the front office, it was a familiar reminder that the job in Houston has never been a simple one.
Brown also went to bat for some of the offseason decisions that drew the sharpest second-guessing, including the additions of Tatsuya Imai and Mike Burrows. Both players underperformed, which only adds another layer to the debate over how much responsibility falls on the general manager and how much falls on the man signing off above him. Browns comments didnt reopen his tenure so much as leave it hanging in the air, giving Astros fans fresh reason to revisit what Crane wanted, what Brown could control and where the blame really belongs. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Shortstop Suddenly Enters A Trade Conversation Houston Fans Will Notice
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For Astros fans, that is the kind of rumor worth filing away. Pea has become the sort of player other clubs would covet if they decide to reshape their infield, and Atlantas interest suggests the market could get moving quickly if the Braves decide they want a steadier long-term fit rather than keep riding the current uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]