The Houston Astros are doing everything right to start 2026.
Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (1) is congratulated by Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) after hitting a three-run home run to left field against the Boston Red Sox during the fifth inning at Daikin Park. | Erik Williams-Imagn Images
They’re winning games. They’re piling up runs. They’re dominating statistically across the board. And yet, somehow, the recognition hasn’t followed.
One week into the season, Houston sits atop the AL West with a 5-2 record. More impressively, they lead the American League in several key offensive categories — including runs scored, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and RBIs — while also pacing all of MLB in hits, doubles, and even pitcher strikeouts.
It’s not just a hot streak. It’s a statement.
But the path to this point wasn’t smooth.
The Astros opened the season with back-to-back losses against the Los Angeles Angels, scoring just two runs combined. For a moment, it looked like lingering concerns from 2025 might carry over.
Then everything changed.
Houston responded by exploding offensively, putting up 20 runs over their next two games before sweeping the Boston Red Sox in dominant fashion. Since that slow start, the lineup has looked relentless — deep, balanced, and dangerous.
Several key players are fueling the surge.
Yordan Alvarez has returned to MVP-level form, hitting .417 with an eye-popping OPS to match. Christian Walker, Jose Altuve, and Carlos Correa have all contributed consistently, while younger pieces like Joey Loperfido are adding to the depth.
On the mound, there are still some question marks, but the top-end performances have been encouraging. Hunter Brown has allowed just one run across two starts, and Lance McCullers Jr. delivered one of his strongest outings in years, flashing the kind of form that once made him a frontline arm.
Given all of that, you’d expect the Astros to be near the top of early power rankings.
They’re not.
In fact, some national outlets have placed Houston squarely in the middle of the pack — a surprising position for a team that just swept a higher-ranked opponent and leads in multiple categories.
The explanation may lie in last season.
Houston missed the playoffs in 2025, snapping a decade-long postseason streak. Injuries played a massive role — a record number of players spent time on the injured list, including Alvarez, who appeared in just 48 games.
Even so, the Astros still managed 87 wins and narrowly missed out on a playoff spot.
That context seems to be shaping early perceptions.
Teams that made the postseason last year, like Boston, are receiving the benefit of the doubt despite struggling out of the gate. Meanwhile, Houston is being asked to prove that its resurgence is real — not just a short-term spike.
But there’s a flaw in that logic.
This version of the Astros looks much closer to the one that dominated the American League for years than the injury-riddled group from 2025.
And if that continues, the rankings will eventually catch up.
For now, though, Houston finds itself in a familiar position — producing at an elite level while being quietly underestimated.
That may not last much longer.
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