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The Crawfish Boxes

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The biggest questions facing the 2026 Astros

Opening Day is finally here after the Astros’ longest offseason in nearly a decade. Following a disappointing 2025 season that ended after Game 162, the Astros remade a significant portion of their roster and coaching staff in an effort to reclaim their spot atop the American League West. Here are the four biggest questions I […]

OPENING DAY 2026! Astros vs. Angels Game Thread

This year marks the 65th season of Astros baseball and the 27th at Daikin Park. The Houston Astros open the 2026 season at Daikin Park as they welcome in the Los Angeles Angels on Opening Day! TODAY’S PITCHING MATCHUP: Today’s Opening Day matchup of RHP Hunter Brown vs. RHP José Soriano features a pair of […]

Astros “Opening Day” Memories

They might be the two best words in all of sports.  “Opening Day” “One of my favorite memories of Opening Day from the Astros was in 1980 when my dad opened the home game in the Astrodome after signing the first million dollar contract. It was the Astros vs. the Dodgers and my dad hit […]

Crawfish Boxes Staff Astros Predictions for 2026

Our staff gives their roster predictions, and some key players of note for them this season. Adam Spolane: 88-74. 2nd AL West, Wild Card Team Big season: Before last season, Yordan Alvarez had played 135+ games in three of four seasons since returning from his 2020 knee surgery, but a fractured hand and a sprained […]

Astros Announce Opening Day Roster

Today, the Houston Astros finalized their 26-man Opening Day Roster. The roster includes 13 pitchers and 13 position players. To finalize the Opening Day roster, the Astros made several roster moves official this morning: Following today’s roster moves, the Astros 40-man roster remains full. Several Astros have made their first career Opening Day rosters as […]

A Crucial Year Ahead for These Astros Prospects

As the 2026 season approaches, a handful of Astros prospects find themselves at a crossroads. Some are at a point where they need to produce to take the next step. Other will be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this winter. Below are a few prospects who need to put together a big year. Brice […]

Hope Springs Eternal: Astros Fans Embrace a New Season

Astros fans, the wait is finally over. The long offseason has come to an end, and with it arrives something that never goes out of style, hope. As Opening Day approaches, there’s a noticeable shift in the air. Months of dissecting roster flaws, questioning decisions, and wondering whether this team has done enough suddenly give […]

Jose Altuve’s Sweet 16 With the Astros

Sweet 16 is in the air in Houston.   It’s with the Houston Cougars at Toyota Center. It’s with Jose Altuve stepping into the batter’s box on Opening Day as he embarks upon his 16th year. Many fans will recall his homer on Opening Day five years ago against the A’s. Of course, every organizational […]

Astros Leadership Under the Microscope: A Defining Year for Dana Brown and Joe Espada

As the Houston Astros prepare for another season with championship expectations, two of the most important figures in the organization find themselves in uncertain territory. General manager Dana Brown and manager Joe Espada are both entering the final years of their contracts, and owner Jim Crane has offered little clarity about their futures. In an organization where the standard is not […]

Pena’s Back! Astros vs Space Cowboys Exhibition Game Thread 3/24/2026

Jeremy Pena will lead off tonight and play shortstop as the Houston Astros play their final exhibition game of the spring, hosting the Sugar Land Space Cowboys tonight at Daikin Park. RHP Lance McCullers Jr., who was named the Astros fifth starter yesterday, will get the start for the Astros tonight opposite prospect RHP Miguel […]

Four Big Questions With Former Astros GM Tim Purpura

A week after the All-Star Break in 2005, the Houston Astros were swept in St. Louis. The loss dropped them two under .500 and for all intents and purposes, left them dead in the water. Some fourteen weeks later, they’d shock the baseball world, appearing in their first World Series.      Tim Purpura was at the […]

Final Astros Roster Projection of Spring Training

One final look at who will be on the Opening Day Roster on March 26. As the Houston Astros prepare for their final two exhibition games of spring with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, we take on final look at projecting the Opening Day Roster. Starting Pitching: The Astros announced they would begin the season […]

Spencer Arrighetti Optioned to Sugar Land

The Houston Astros announced today that they have optioned SP Spencer Arrighetti to Triple-A Sugar Land. This move would seem to indicate that Arrighetti will be the sixth starter for the team when they move to the expanded rotation in mid-April. Having Arrighetti pitch in the starting rotation for the Space Cowboys will allow the […]

Astros vs. Space Cowboys Exhibition Game Thread

The Houston Astros will play the first of two exhibition games against their Triple-A team, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys today. RHP Tatsuya Imai will get the start tonight for the Astros in his final tune-up before the season opposite LHP Colton Gordon and the Space Cowboys. TONIGHT’S ASTROS STARTER: RHP Tatsuya Imai is back […]

In The Lab: A Final Look at Spring Numbers

In one of my last labs, I made a big deal about the fact that very little can be derived from looking at individual spring training numbers. There are a number of reasons for that. The most important reason is that a hitter may get to 40 plate appearances if they are being featured or […]

Should Astros Be Worried About Cristian Javier?

Javier’s results in spring have been solid, but his peripherals don’t back it up. Astros SP Cristian Javier just finished his final outing of the spring. His stat line was solid: 5 innings, 1 earned run, 4 hits, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, 1 solo HR. Threw 40 of his 70 pitches for strikes. You’d think […]

Astros vs. Cardinals Spring Training Game Thread 3/22/2026

The Houston Astros (11-13-3) host the St. Louis Cardinals (16-9-2) in their Grapefruit League finale. RHP Cristian Javier (0-0) will start for the Astros vs. Cardinals RHP Michael McGreevy (0-3). MR. CRISTIAN: Today will be RHP Cristian Javier’s third start of the Spring in an official game and his fourth start overall (includes his March […]

Are Astros Lining Up Tatsuya Imai to be the Fourth Starter?

Looking at the schedule and the Astros’ plan to open with a 5-man rotation, there are certainly clues. Back on January 5th, at the press conference introducing SP Tatsuya Imai, Astros manager Joe Espada said the team would likely employ a 6-man rotation frequently this season and that we would “probably see it from the […]

Astros News & Notes: Burrows, Walker, Imai, Smith, Matthews 3/21/2026

After he went 2×4 with a 3-run HR today, Astros manager Joe Espada said he believes Christian Walker’s bat is coming around: Espada raved about SP Mike Burrows, who has been better than advertised this spring: Burrows also said the ball he took off the leg is of no consequence: Did Espada hint that OF […]

AL West Primer With National MLB Writer Kyle Glaser

Here’s our mini primer on the A.L. West with longtime National MLB writer, Kyle Glaser.    We start of course with the Astros, who are looking to reclaim the division.    Has the Astros window for titles closed?  Has the window closed for Houston? I wouldn’t say the Astros are completely out of the running, […]

Astros to Open Season with 5 Man Rotation

Astros manager Joe Espada made the declaration before today’s spring training game vs. the Mets. Today, Houston Astros manager Joe Espada declared the team would open the season with a 5-man rotation, a reversal from earlier statements about using a 6-man rotation this season. While the Astros can still employ a 6-man rotation at various […]

Astros vs. Mets Spring Training Game Thread 3/21/2026

The Houston Astros (10-13-3) travel to Port St. Lucie to face the New York Mets (12-10-2) in Grapefruit League play. RHP Mike Burrows (1-0) will make his fifth start of the Spring as he takes on Mets RHP Jonah Tong (0-1). FIRST IMPRESSIONS: New addition RHP Mike Burrows has had an impressive Spring for the […]

Diesel Day! Astros vs. Marlins Spring Training Game Thread 3/20/2026

The Houston Astros (10-12-3) host the Miami Marlins (8-12-3) in Grapefruit League play. RHP Hunter Brown (0-0) will make his fourth start in an official Spring game tonight as he takes on Marlins RHP Eury Perez (0-1). BROTHER BROWN: In his three previous official Spring starts, RHP Hunter Brown has allowed one run and just […]