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2018 Houston Astros season

The 2018 Houston Astros season was the 57th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 54th as the Astros, sixth in both the American League (AL) and AL West division, and 19th at Minute Maid Park. The first-time-ever defending World Series champions with a four-games-to-three decision over the Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston also won their first AL pennant and AL West division title. Their 101–61 record was the second 100-win regular season in franchise history.

Houston began the season on March 29 against their in-state rivals, the Texas Rangers, as ace Justin Verlander made his first Opening Day start as a member of the Astros. George Springer recorded the first six-hit performance in a nine-inning game in franchise history on May 7. Verlander recorded his 2,500th career strikeout on May 16, becoming the 33rd pitcher in MLB history to achieve the feat. From May 25–27, Jose Altuve recorded a base hit in each of 10 consecutive at bats, breaking his own club record.

In the amateur draft, the Astros' first round selection was first baseman Seth Beer at 28th overall, and in the third round, shortstop Jeremy Peña. The Astros were recognized with the Best Team ESPY Award based on their play since the previous June.

The Astros once again sent a league-high six players to the 2018 All-Star Game, including third baseman Alex Bregman, second baseman Altuve, outfielder Springer, and pitchers Verlander, Gerrit Cole and Charlie Morton. A. J. Hinch was manager for the American League. Bregman was recognized with the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award (MVP), the first Houston Astro so named.

Houston pitching combined to establish new MLB records with 1,687 strikeouts, 96 games with 10 or more strikeouts, and became the first team in history to strike out 5 or more batters in each of 162 games.

The Astros concluded the regular season on September 30 against the Baltimore Orioles, capping off an unprecedented second consecutive 100-win season and AL West championship. With a 103–59 record, this surpassed the 1998 club for the most regular-season wins in franchise history, which was exceeded the following year. This was the 12th postseason qualification and ninth division title overall in franchise history.

Houston swept the Cleveland Indians in the American League Division Series (ALDS) to advance to the American League Championship Series (ALCS), where they lost in five games to the Boston Red Sox.

Following the season, Altuve won his fifth consecutive Silver Slugger Award, and pitcher Dallas Keuchel won his fourth Gold Glove Award. Additionally, Verlander, who led the league with 290 strikeouts, and also had a 16–9 W–L, and 2.52 earned run average (ERA), finished as runner-up for the AL Cy Young Award for the second time in three years, and built upon a late-career renaissance.

Previous season

Summary

The Houston Astros entered the 2018 Major League Baseball season as defending World Series champions after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games. In addition to achieving their first-ever World Series championship, they claimed both their first American League (AL) pennant and AL West division championship. Center fielder George Springer was named the World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) and right-handed starting pitcher Justin Verlander was the American League Championship Series (ALCS) MVP. A number of regular season and multiple-sport awards went to second baseman Jose Altuve, including the AL MVP, Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year, Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year, and The Sporting News Major League Player of the Year awards, among others.

Offseason

On January 23, 2018, first baseman Jon Singleton and pitcher Dean Deetz were suspended after testing positive for substances violating MLB's drug policy. Singleton, a former Astros' number-one prospect, had tested positive for the third time and was banned for 100 games.

Roster moves

Regular season

Summary

March—April

Justin Verlander was the Opening Day starting pitcher for Houston at Globe Life Park in Arlington, versus Cole Hamels of the Texas Rangers. It was Verlander's tenth career Opening Day start and first with Houston, as all nine previous had come as a member of the Detroit Tigers. George Springer led the game off with a home run, becoming the first MLB player to lead off with a home run in consecutive Opening Days. He had homered off Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners in the first inning of Opening Day 2017 at Minute Maid Park. Verlander pitched six shutout innings and struck out five. The Astros won by a final score of 4–1.

Second baseman Jose Altuve reached 1,000 games played in his career on April 17, 2018, versus the Mariners. He became the 20th player to appear in 1,000 games for the Astros.

Verlander was named AL Player of the Week on April 17. In 15 innings over one start each versus the Rangers and Minnestota Twins, Verlander whiffed 20 and allowed a .100 batting average against.

Gerrit Cole's 16-strikeout game

Gerrit Cole whiffed a career-high 16 batters on May 4 to lead an 8–0, one-hit victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. This was Cole's first career shutout, eleventh contest of double-figures in strikeouts, and fifth since joining the Astros.

Cole's shutout was the 15th game in major league history that featured a game score of 100 or higher in nine innings or fewer (all fitting these criteria have been either no-hit or one-hit shutout victories), and first in franchise history. On October 2, 2015, Max Scherzer's no-hitter preceded Cole's effort, which was succeeded by Verlander, during his no-hitter on September 1, 2019.

George Springer's six-hit game

On May 7, 2018, Springer homered versus the Oakland Athletics during a dynamic offensive performance which saw him go 6-for-6, leading to a 16–2 annihilation of Oakland. He also belted a home run that traveled . Springer became the first in Astros franchise history to collect six hits in a nine-inning game. Joe Morgan owned the first six-hit output by an Astro, culminating his effort in a twelve-inning contest on June 8, 1965.

This was also the fourth individual performance in club history to feature at least five hits and 10 total bases during one game, succeeding Morgan's six-hit game, Lee May (April 29, 1974), and Brandon Barnes (July 19, 2013).

Justin Verlander's 2,500th strikeout

On May 16, 2018, Verlander threw a complete-game shutout against the Los Angeles Angels for his eighth career shutout and 24th complete game. He struck out Shohei Ohtani in the top of the ninth inning for his 2,500th career strikeout, becoming the 33rd pitcher in Major League history to cross that threshold. He was second among active leaders in strikeouts behind CC Sabathia.

Rest of May

Over three games versus the Cleveland Indians spanning May 25–27, Altuve recorded a base hit in each of 10 consecutive at bats, breaking his own club record of eight which he had set the year prior. The streak included three doubles, one triple, and one home run. In the finale on May 27, a pitching duel emerged between former UCLA teammates Cole and Trevor Bauer. However, each bullpen implodes in the eighth inning which results in a 10–9 decision for the Indians.

Verlander was named AL Pitcher of the Month for May, his fifth career award. In six starts, he produced a 0.86 ERA and .437 OPS against, allowed nine extra base hits, while striking out 50 over innings. He started and ended the month by dominating the Yankees—the only lineup in baseball with an OPS over .800—with 20 strikeouts in innings, eight hits, and one run allowed.

July

Lance McCullers Jr. started on July 6 by holding the Chicago White Sox hitless for the first innings on the way to setting a career-high with 12 strikeouts over 7 innings. He finished with 1 run allowed on 3 hits to lead an 11–4 win.

On July 13, 2018, Charlie Morton was added to the American League (AL) roster for the 2018 MLB All-Star game making the Astros the only MLB team at the time to have all of their starting pitchers having at least one selection to participate in the MLB All-Star game.

In late July, the Astros were recognized with the Best Team ESPY Award based on their play since the previous June.

September

On September 26, 2018, Houston won the AL West division title after the Oakland Athletics were defeated by the Seattle Mariners, following an Astros' 4–1 win against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Performance overview

Houston concluded the 2018 regular season with club-records of 103 wins, surpassing their 102-win season of 1998, and scoring to a plus-263 run differential, a figure which led Major League Baseball. Their road record was the second-best in Major League Baseball since 1961.

Astros pitchers set a new MLB record by striking out 1,687 opposing batters during the season. The team had 96 games in which they struck out 10 or more batters, also a record. In addition, they were the first team to strike out 5 or more batters in each of 162 games. The 534 runs surrendered by the pitching staff was the second-fewest by an AL club in a non-strike season since the implementation of the DH in 1973.

With Verlander (290), Cole (276), and Morton (201) each infiltrating the 200-strikeout threshold, this Astros team joined the 1969 squad as the second in franchise history to produce three such hurlers. Moreover, the only other teams in major league history to have previously registered three such pitchers included the 1967 Minnesota Twins and 2013 Detroit Tigers (also with Verlander on the roster). This year's Indians squad became the first to boast four such hurlers.

Meanwhile, the Astros' 63 errors committed set a franchise-record low over an entire season.

Bregman became the first primary third baseman in league history to attain both 50 doubles and 30 home runs in the same season. His 51 doubles led all of baseball, the eighth time in franchise history by an Astros hitter, and the 11th time overall within the club's assigned league. It was the first occasion by an Astros hitter since moving to the American League, and first since Miguel Tejada in 2009. Bregman was the seventh individual Astro to lead the league, while Craig Biggio led the most times overall for Astros hitters, with three (1994, 1998, and 1999).

Season standings

American League West

American League Wild Card

Record against opponents

Game log

Regular season

|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 1 || March 29 || @ Rangers || 4–1 || Verlander (1–0) || Hamels (0–1) || — || 47,253 || 1–0 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 2 || March 30 || @ Rangers || 1–5 || Fister (1–0) || Keuchel (0–1) || — || 35,469 || 1–1 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 3 || March 31 || @ Rangers || 9–3 || McCullers (1–0) || Moore (0–1) || — || 36,892 || 2–1 || W1 |-

|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 4 || April 1 || @ Rangers || 8–2 || Cole (1–0) || Minor (0–1) || — || 26,758 || 3–1 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 5 || April 2 || Orioles || 6–1 || Morton (1–0) || Tillman (0–1) || — || 42,675 || 4–1 || W3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 6 || April 3 || Orioles || 10–6 || Rondón (1–0) || Araújo (0–1) || — || 37,106 || 5–1 || W4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 7 || April 4 || Orioles || 3–2 || Peacock (1–0) || Castro (0–1) || — || 27,698 || 6–1 || W5 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 8 || April 6 || Padres || 1–4 || Perdomo (1–1) || McCullers (1–1) || Hand (2) || 41,138 || 6–2 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 9 || April 7 || Padres || 1–0 || Devenski (1–0) || Erlin (0–1) || — || 42,306 || 7–2 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 10 || April 8 || Padres || 4–1 || Morton (2–0) || Ross (1–1) || Peacock (1) || 37,093 || 8–2 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 11 || April 9 || @ Twins || 2–0 || Verlander (2–0) || Rogers (1–1) || Giles (1) || 15,521 || 9–2 || W3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 12 || April 10 || @ Twins || 1–4 || Odorizzi (1–0) || Keuchel (0–2) || Rodney (2) || 15,500 || 9–3 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 13 || April 11 || @ Twins || 8–9 || Rodney (1–1) || Peacock (1–1) || — || 15,438 || 9–4 || L2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 14 || April 13 || Rangers || 3–2 || Smith (1–0) || Jepsen (0–2) || Devenski (1) || 32,129 || 10–4 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 15 || April 14 || Rangers || 5–6 <small>(10)</small> || Kela (1–0) || Harris (0–1) || Claudio (1) || 40,679 || 10–5 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 16 || April 15 || Rangers || 1–3 <small>(10)</small> || Kela (2–0) || Rondón (1–1) || Diekman (1) || 31,803 || 10–6 || L2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 17 || April 16 || @ Mariners || 1–2 || Paxton (1–1) || Keuchel (0–3) || Díaz (7) || 12,923 || 10–7 || L3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 18 || April 17 || @ Mariners || 4–1 || McCullers (2–1) || Altavilla (1–2) || Devenski (2) || 15,382 || 11–7 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 19 || April 18 || @ Mariners || 7–1 || Cole (2–0) || Leake (2–1) || — || 14,643 || 12–7 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 20 || April 19 || @ Mariners || 9–2 || Morton (3–0) || Gonzales (1–2) || — || 16,927 || 13–7 || W3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 21 || April 20 || @ White Sox || 10–0 || Verlander (3–0) || Shields (1–2) || — || 14,211 || 14–7 || W4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 22 || April 21 || @ White Sox || 10–1 || Keuchel (1–3) || Giolito (0–3) || — || 23,902 || 15–7 || W5 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 23 || April 22 || @ White Sox || 7–1 || McCullers (3–1) || Bummer (0–1) || — || 17,167 || 16–7 || W6 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 24 || April 23 || Angels || 0–2 || Skaggs (3–1) || Cole (2–1) || Middleton (6) || 29,606 || 16–8 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 25 || April 24 || Angels || 7–8 || Johnson (2–0) || Smith (1–1) || Bedrosian (1) || 36,457 || 16–9 || L2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 26 || April 25 || Angels || 5–2 || Verlander (4–0) || Tropeano (1–2) || Giles (2) || 29,777 || 17–9 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 27 || April 27 || Athletics || 1–8 || Manaea (4–2) || Keuchel (1–4) || — || 32,636 || 17–10 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 28 || April 28 || Athletics || 11–0 || McCullers (4–1) || Mengden (2–3) || — || 41,493 || 18–10 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 29 || April 29 || Athletics || 8–4 || Harris (1–1) || Cahill (1–1) || — || 39,131 || 19–10 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 30 || April 30 || Yankees || 2–1 || Morton (4–0) || Gray (1–2) || Giles (3) || 30,061 || 20–10 || W3 |-

|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 31 || May 1 || Yankees || 0–4 || Robertson (2–1) || Giles (0–1) || — || 34,386 || 20–11 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 32 || May 2 || Yankees || 0–4 || Severino (5–1) || Keuchel (1–5) || — || 31,617 || 20–12 || L2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 33 || May 3 || Yankees || 5–6 || Shreve (1–0) || Harris (1–2) || Chapman (7) || 34,838 || 20–13 || L3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 34 || May 4 || @ D-backs || 8–0 || Cole (3–1) || Medlen (0–1) || — || 29,463 || 21–13 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 35 || May 5 || @ D-backs || 3–4 || Boxberger (1–2) || Devenski (1–1) || — || 39,154 || 21–14 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 36 || May 6 || @ D-backs || 1–3 || Koch (2–0) || Verlander (4–1) || Boxberger (11) || 35,632 || 21–15 || L2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 37 || May 7 || @ Athletics || 16–2 || Keuchel (2–5) || Anderson (0–1) || — || 7,360 || 22–15 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 38 || May 8 || @ Athletics || 4–2 || McCullers (5–1) || Manaea (4–4) || Giles (4) || 9,675 || 23–15 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 39 || May 9 || @ Athletics || 4–1 || Cole (4–1) || Mengden (2–4) || Giles (5) || 18,044 || 24–15 || W3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 40 || May 11 || Rangers || 0–1 || Hamels (2–4) || Verlander (4–2) || Kela (8) || 34,297 || 24–16 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 41 || May 12 || Rangers || 6–1 || Morton (5–0) || Fister (1–4) || — || 36,482 || 25–16 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 42 || May 13 || Rangers || 6–1 || Keuchel (3–5) || Moore (1–5) || — || 39,405 || 26–16 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 43 || May 14 || @ Angels || 1–2 || Heaney (2-2) || McCullers (5-2) || Anderson (1) || 28,229 || 26–17 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 44 || May 15 || @ Angels || 5–3 || McHugh (1–0) || Álvarez (2–1) || Giles (6) || 28,358 || 27–17 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 45 || May 16 || @ Angels || 2–0 || Verlander (5–2) || Richards (4–2) || — || 28,078 || 28–17 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 46 || May 18 || Indians || 4–1 || Morton (6–0) || Clevinger (3–1) || Giles (7) || 35,959 || 29–17 || W3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 47 || May 19 || Indians || 4–5 || Kluber (7–2) || Keuchel (3–6) || Allen (6) || 39,926 || 29–18 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 48 || May 20 || Indians || 3–1 || McCullers (6–2) || Carrasco (5–3) || Giles (8) || 30,770 || 30–18 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 49 || May 22 || Giants || 11–2 || Cole (5–1) || Suárez (1–4) || — || 35,638 || 31–18 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 50 || May 23 || Giants || 4–1 || Verlander (6–2) || Samardzija (1–3) || Giles (9) || 31,929 || 32–18 || W3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 51 || May 24 || @ Indians || 8–2 || Morton (7–0) || Clevinger (3–2) || — || 19,660 || 33–18 || W4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 52 || May 25 || @ Indians || 11–2 || Smith (2–1) || Miller (1–3) || — || 29,431 || 34–18 || W5 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 53 || May 26 || @ Indians || 6–8 || Carrasco (6–3) || McCullers (6–3) || Allen (8) || 30,639 || 34–19 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 54 || May 27 || @ Indians || 9–10 <small>(14)</small> || Otero (1–1) || Peacock (1–2) || — || 27,765 || 34–20 || L2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 55 || May 28 || @ Yankees || 5–1 || Verlander (7–2) || Germán (0–3) || — || 46,583 || 35–20 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 56 || May 29 || @ Yankees || 5–6 <small>(10)</small> || Chapman (2–0) || Peacock (1–3) || — || 45,458 || 35–21 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 57 || May 30 || @ Yankees || 3–5 || Severino (8–1) || Keuchel (3–7) || Chapman (12) || 45,229 || 35–22 || L2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 58 || May 31 || Red Sox || 4–2 || McCullers (7–3) || Pomeranz (1–3) || Giles (10) || 30,658 || 36–22 || W1 |-

|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 59 || June 1 || Red Sox || 7–3 || Cole (6–1) || Sale (5–3) || — || 37,244 || 37–22 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 60 || June 2 || Red Sox || 3–5 || Price (6–4) || Harris (1–3) || Kimbrel (19) || 38,640 || 37–23 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 61 || June 3 || Red Sox || 3–9 || Porcello (8–2) || Morton (7–1) || — || 33,431 || 37–24 || L2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 62 || June 5 || Mariners || 1–7 || Paxton (5–1) || Keuchel (3–8) || — || 35,646 || 37–25 || L3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 63 || June 6 || Mariners || 7–5 || Devenski (2–1) || Nicasio (1–3) || Rondón (1) || 30,361 || 38–25 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 64 || June 7 || @ Rangers || 5–2 || Cole (7–1) || Hamels (3–6) || — || 30,236 || 39–25 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 65 || June 8 || @ Rangers || 7–3 || Verlander (8–2) || Fister (1–7) || — || 31,722 || 40–25 || W3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 66 || June 9 || @ Rangers || 4–3 || Sipp (1–0) || Leclerc (1–2) || Rondón (2) || 38,068 || 41–25 || W4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 67 || June 10 || @ Rangers || 8–7 || Harris (2–3) || Kela (3–3) || Rondón (3) || 30,251 || 42–25 || W5 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 68 || June 12 || @ Athletics || 6–3 || McCullers (8–3) || Mengden (6–6) || Giles (11) || 11,742 || 43–25 || W6 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 69 || June 13 || @ Athletics || 13–5 || Cole (8–1) || Blackburn (1–1) || — || 9,164 || 44–25 || W7 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 70 || June 14 || @ Athletics || 7–3 || Verlander (9–2) || Montas (3–1) || — || 13,009 || 45–25 || W8 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 71 || June 15 || @ Royals || 7–3 || Morton (8–1) || Junis (5–7) || — || 27,603 || 46–25 || W9 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 72 || June 16 || @ Royals || 10–2 || Keuchel (4–8) || Duffy (3–7) || — || 20,657 || 47–25 || W10 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 73 || June 17 || @ Royals || 7–4 || Sipp (2–0) || Maurer (0–3) || Rondón (4) || 22,326 || 48–25 || W11 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 74 || June 18 || Rays || 5–4 || McHugh (2–0) || Romo (1–2) || — || 34,151 || 49–25 || W12 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 75 || June 19 || Rays || 1–2 || Snell (9–4) || Rondón (1–2) || Romo (4) || 37,414 || 49–26 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 76 || June 20 || Rays || 5–1 || Morton (9–1) || Eovaldi (1–3) || — || 43,409 || 50–26 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 77 || June 22 || Royals || 0–1 || Grimm (1–2) || Giles (0–2) || Hill (1) || 39,357 || 50–27 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 78 || June 23 || Royals || 4–3 <small>(12)</small> || McHugh (3–0) || Grimm (1–3) || — || 40,028 || 51–27 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 79 || June 24 || Royals || 11–3 || Cole (9–1) || Hammel (2–9) || — || 41,823 || 52–27 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 80 || June 25 || Blue Jays || 3–6 || Happ (10–3) || Verlander (9–3) || Oh (2) || 28,791 || 52–28 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 81 || June 26 || Blue Jays || 7–0 || Morton (10–1) || Borucki (0–1) || — || 38,700 || 53–28 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 82 || June 27 || Blue Jays || 7–6 || Harris (3–3) || Tepera (5–3) || — || 39,191 || 54–28 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 83 || June 28 || @ Rays || 1–0 || McCullers (9–3) || Yarbrough (7–4) || Rondón (5) || 12,305 || 55–28 || W3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 84 || June 29 || @ Rays || 2–3 || Font (2–3) || Cole (9–2) || Alvarado (2) || 15,797 || 55–29 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 85 || June 30 || @ Rays || 2–5 || Nuño (2–0) || Verlander (9–4) || Romo (7) || 18,378 || 55–30 || L2 |-

|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 86 || July 1 || @ Rays || 2–3 || Snell (11–4) || Morton (10–2) || Romo (8) || 19,334 || 55–31 || L3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 87 || July 3 || @ Rangers || 5–3 || Keuchel (5–8) || Bibens-Dirkx (1–2) || Rondón (6) || 40,165 || 56–31 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 88 || July 4 || @ Rangers || 5–4 <small>(10)</small> || McHugh (4–0) || Martin (1–2) || Giles (12) || 43,592 || 57–31 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 89 || July 5 || White Sox || 4–3 || Smith (3–1) || Soria (0–3)|| — || 34,955 || 58–31 || W3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 90 || July 6 || White Sox || 11–4 || McCullers (10–3) || López (4–6) || Peacock (2) || 38,153 || 59–31 || W4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 91 || July 7 || White Sox || 12–6 || Morton (11–2) || Shields (3–10) || — || 39,568 || 60–31 || W5 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 92 || July 8 || White Sox || 2–1 || Keuchel (6–8) || Giolito (5–8) || Rondón (7) || 41,654 || 61–31 || W6 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 93 || July 9 || Athletics || 0–2 || Montas (5–2) || Peacock (1–4) || Treinen (23) || 28,301 || 61–32 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 94 || July 10 || Athletics || 6–5 <small>(11)</small> || McHugh (5–0) || Treinen (5–2) || — || 34,585 || 62–32 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 95 || July 11 || Athletics || 3–8 || Bassitt (2–3) || McCullers (10–4) || — || 41,119 || 62–33 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 96 || July 12 || Athletics || 4–6 || Petit (3–2) || Devenski (2–2) || Trivino (4) || 38,900 || 62–34 || L2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 97 || July 13 || Tigers || 3–0 || Keuchel (7–8) || Fiers (6–6) || Rondón (8) || 38,843 || 63–34 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 98 || July 14 || Tigers || 9–1 || Cole (10–2) || Fulmer (3–9) || — || 40,405 || 64–34 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 99 || July 15 || Tigers || 3–6 || VerHagen (1–2) || Verlander (9–5) || — || 39,455 || 64–35 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbcaff;" | colspan="10" | 89th All-Star Game in Washington, D.C. |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 100 || July 20 || @ Angels || 3–1 || Keuchel (8–8) || Skaggs (7–6) || Rondón (9) || 42,422 || 65–35 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 101 || July 21 || @ Angels || 7–0 || Verlander (10–5) || Tropeano (3–5) || — || 44,264 || 66–35 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 102 || July 22 || @ Angels || 5–14 || Heaney (6–6) || McCullers (10–5) || — || 35,298 || 66–36 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 103 || July 24 || @ Rockies || 8–2 <small>(10)</small> || Rondón (2–2) || Davis (0–3) || — || 43,184 || 67–36 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 104 || July 25 || @ Rockies || 2–3 || Davis (1–3) || McHugh (5–1) || — || 40,948 || 67–37 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 105 || July 27 || Rangers || 2–11 ||Gallardo (5–1) ||Keuchel (8–9) || — || 42,592 || 67–38 || L2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 106 || July 28 || Rangers || 3–7 ||Jurado (1–1) ||Verlander (10–6) || — || 43,093 || 67–39 || L3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 107 || July 29 || Rangers || 3–4 ||Minor (7–6) ||McCullers (10–6) ||Kela (24) || 40,560 || 67–40 || L4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 108 || July 30 || @ Mariners || 0–2 || Paxton (9–4) || Cole (10–3) || Díaz (40) || 35,198 || 67–41 || L5 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 109 || July 31 || @ Mariners || 5–2 || Morton (12–2) || Leake (8–7) || Rondón (10) || 28,478 || 68–41 || W1 |-

|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 110 || August 1 || @ Mariners || 8–3 || Keuchel (9–9) || LeBlanc (6–2) || — || 34,575 || 69–41 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 111 || August 3 || @ Dodgers || 2–1 || Verlander (11–6) || Wood (7–6) || Rondón (11) || 53,598 || 70–41 || W3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 112 || August 4 || @ Dodgers || 14–0 || Peacock (2–4) || Maeda (7–7) || — || 53,119 || 71–41 || W4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 113 || August 5 || @ Dodgers || 2–3 || Buehler (5–4) || Cole (10–4) || Jansen (31) || 50,628 || 71–42 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 114 || August 6 || @ Giants || 3–1 || Osuna (1–0) || Smith (1–2) || Rondón (12) || 40,251 || 72–42 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 115 || August 7 || @ Giants || 2–1 || Smith (4–1) || Black (1–1) || Rondón (13) || 41,613 || 73–42 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 116 || August 9 || Mariners || 6–8 || Paxton (10–5) || Verlander (11–7) || Díaz (43) || 34,976 || 73–43 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 117 || August 10 || Mariners || 2–5 || Warren (1–1) || Cole (10–5) || Díaz (44) || 41,236 || 73–44 || L2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 118 || August 11 || Mariners || 2–3 || LeBlanc (7–2) || Morton (12–3) || Díaz (45) || 38,888 || 73–45 || L3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 119 || August 12 || Mariners || 3–4 <small>(10)</small> || Duke (5–4) || Osuna (1–1) || Díaz (46) || 40,048 || 73–46 || L4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 120 || August 14 || Rockies || 1–5 || Márquez (10–9) || Verlander (11–8) || — || 35,813 || 73–47 || L5 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 121 || August 15 || Rockies || 12–1 || Cole (11–5) || Anderson (6–5) || — || 29,967 || 74–47 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 122 || August 17 || @ Athletics || 3–4 <small> (10) </small> || Treinen (6–2) || Sipp (2–1) || — || 23,535 || 74–48 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 123 || August 18 || @ Athletics || 1–7 || Cahill (5–2) || Keuchel (9–10) || — || 32,204 || 74–49 || L2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 124 || August 19 || @ Athletics || 9–4 || Verlander (12–8) || Manaea 11–9) || — || 29,143 || 75–49 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 125 || August 20 || @ Mariners || 4–7 || Colomé (4–5) || McHugh (5–2) || Díaz (48) || 27,072 || 75–50 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 126 || August 21 || @ Mariners || 3–2 || Valdez (1–0) || Detwiler (0–1) || Rondón (14) || 25,415 || 76–50 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 127 || August 22 || @ Mariners || 10–7 || Morton (13–3) || Gonzales (12–9) || Osuna (10) || 31,062 || 77–50 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 128 || August 24 || @ Angels || 9–3 || Keuchel (10–10) || Heaney (7–8) || — || 42,788 || 78–50 || W3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 129 || August 25 || @ Angels || 8–3 || Verlander (13–8) || Barría (8–8) || — || 41,654 || 79–50 || W4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 130 || August 26 || @ Angels || 3–1 || Valdez (2–0) || Peña (1–4) || Osuna (11) || 37,530 || 80–50 || W5 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 131 || August 27 || Athletics || 11–4 || Cole (12–5) || Anderson (3–4) || — || 43,171 || 81–50 || W6 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 132 || August 28 || Athletics || 3–4 || Familia (8–4) || Osuna (1–2) || Treinen (33) || 33,136 || 81–51 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 133 || August 29 || Athletics || 5–4 || Osuna (2–2) || Familia (8–5) || — || 32,926 || 82–51 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 134 || August 30 || Angels || 2–5 ||Heaney (8–8) ||Verlander (13–9) || — || |30,371|| 82–52 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 135 || August 31 || Angels || 0–3 ||Barría (9–8) || Valdez (2–1) ||Parker (13)|| | 35,675 || 82–53 || L2 |-

|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 136 || September 1 || Angels || 7–3 || Smith (5–1) || Bedrosian (5–4) || — || 41,622 || 83–53 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 137 || September 2 || Angels || 4–2 || Cole (13–5) || Ohtani (4–2) || Osuna (12) || 41,506 || 84–53 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 138 || September 3 || Twins || 4–1 || Keuchel (11–10) || Gibson (7–12) || Peacock (3) || 39,559 || 85–53 || W3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 139 || September 4 || Twins || 5–2 || Verlander (14–9) || May (3–1) || Osuna (13) || 31,315 || 86–53 || W4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 140 || September 5 || Twins || 9–1 || Valdez (3–1) || Odorizzi (5–10) || — || 31,011 || 87–53 || W5 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 141 || September 7 || @ Red Sox || 6–3 || Pressly (2–1) || Kelly (4–2) || Osuna (14) || 36,930 || 88–53 || W6 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 142 || September 8 || @ Red Sox || 5–3 || Morton (14–3) || Rodríguez (12–4) || Osuna (15) || 36,684 || 89–53 || W7 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 143 || September 9 || @ Red Sox || 5–6 || Kimbrel (5–1) || Rondón (2–3) || — || 32,787 || 89–54 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 144 || September 10 || @ Tigers || 3–2 || Verlander (15–9) || Liriano (4–10) || Osuna (16) || 19,711 || 90–54 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 145 || September 11 || @ Tigers || 5–4 || Harris (4–3) || Zimmermann (7–7) || Osuna (17) || 19,432 || 91–54 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 146 || September 12 || @ Tigers || 5–4 || Cole (14–5) || Norris (0–4) || Pressly (1) || 22,666 || 92–54 || W3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 147 || September 14 || D-backs || 2–4 || Ziegler (2–6) || Rondón (2–4) || Hirano (2) || 36,924 || 92–55 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 148 || September 15 || D-backs || 10–4 ||Morton (15–3) || Godley (14–10)|| — || 38,345 || 93–55 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 149 || September 16 || D-backs || 5–4 ||Verlander (16–9) ||Greinke (14–10) ||Osuna (18) || 37,889 || 94–55 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 150 || September 17 || Mariners || 1–4 ||Cook (2–1) ||Rondón (2–5) ||Díaz (56) || 43,145 || 94–56 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 151 || September 18 || Mariners || 7–0 ||James (1–0) ||Leake (10–10) ||– || 35,715 || 95–56 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 152 || September 19 || Mariners || 0–9 ||Lawrence (1–0) ||Keuchel (11–11) || – || 31,229 || 95–57 || L1 |- style="background:#039;" | <span style="color:white;">153</span> || <span style="color:white;">September 21</span> || <span style="color:#cdf;">Angels</span> || <span style="color:white;">11–3</span> || <span style="color:#cdf;">Cole</span> <span style="color:white;">(15–5)</span> || <span style="color:#cdf;">Heaney</span> <span style="color:white;">(9–10)</span> || — || <span style="color:white;">39,977</span> || <span style="color:white;">96–57</span> || <span style="color:#cdf;">W1</span> |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 154 || September 22 || Angels || 10–5 ||McHugh (6–2) ||Buttrey (0–1) || — || 41,822 || 97–57 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 155 || September 23 || Angels || 6–2 ||Valdez (4–1) ||Skaggs (8–9) || — || 43,247 || 98–57 || W3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 156 || September 24 || @ Blue Jays || 5–3 || Keuchel (12–11) || Estrada (7–14) ||Osuna (19) || 23,463 || 99–57 || W4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 157 || September 25 || @ Blue Jays || 4–1 || James (2–0) || Gaviglio (3–9) || Osuna (20) || 28,440 || 100–57 || W5 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb |158 || September 26 || @ Blue Jays || 1–3 || Biagini (4–7) ||Devenski (2–3) ||Giles (25) || 22,828 || 100–58 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#ccc | — || September 27 || @ Orioles || colspan=8 | Postponed (rain). Makeup date: September 29. |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 159 || September 28 || @ Orioles || 2–1 ||Sipp (3–1) || Scott (3–3) ||Osuna (21) || 18,434 || 101–58 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 160 || September 29 <small>(1)</small> || @ Orioles || 4–3 || Harris (5–3) || Gilmartin (1–1) || Rondón (15) || 26,020 || 102–58 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 161 || September 29 <small>(2)</small> || @ Orioles || 5–2 ||Peacock (3–4) || Ramírez (1–8) ||Pressly (2) || 26,020 || 103–58 || W3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 162 || September 30 || @ Orioles || 0–4 || Fry (1–2) ||Peacock (3–5) || — || 24,916 || 103–59 || L1 |-

Player stats

Batting

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases; BB = Walks; AVG = Batting average; SLG = Slugging average

Source:https://baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/2018-batting.shtml

Pitching

Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts

Source:https://baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/2018-pitching.shtml

Postseason

|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 1 || October 5 || Indians || 7–2 || Verlander (1–0) || Kluber (0–1) || — || 43,514 || 1–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 2 || October 6 || Indians || 3–1 || Cole (1–0) || Carrasco (0–1) || Osuna (1) || 43,520 || 2–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 3 || October 8 || @ Indians || 11–3 ||McHugh (1–0) || Bauer (0–1) || — || 37,252 || 3–0 |-

|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc | 1 || October 13 || @ Red Sox || 7–2 || Verlander (1–0) || Kelly (0–1) || — || 38,007 || 1–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 2 || October 14 || @ Red Sox || 5–7 || Barnes (1–0) || Cole (0–1) || Kimbrel (1) || 37,960 || 1–1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 3 || October 16 || Red Sox || 2–8 || Eovaldi (1–0) || Smith (0–1) || — || 43,102 || 1–2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 4 || October 17 || Red Sox || 6–8 || Kelly (1–1) || James (0–1) || Kimbrel (2) || 43,277 || 1–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 5 || October 18 || Red Sox || 1–4 || Price (1–0) || Verlander (1–1) || Kimbrel (3) || 43,210 || 1–4 |-

Postseason rosters

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Roster

Awards and achievements

Awards
AL batting leaders
AL pitching leaders

Minor league system

Awards

See also

Notes

References

External links