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 during 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 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. The Astros were recognized with the Best Team ESPY Award based on their play since the previous June. On August 19, Verlander became the 114th Major League pitcher—and second Astro—to record 200 career victories. The Astros drew 2,980,549 in home attendance, their highest figure since .
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 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.
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.
Offseason 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.
To commemorate their World Series victory, on January 9, the Astros commenced a 100-day celebration at the State Capitol in Austin, displaying the Commissioner's Trophy. Governor Greg Abbott attended.
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.
Transactions
November 2, 2017: The following players became free agents at the conclusion of the World Series: Carlos Beltrán (DH): Announced retirement from playing career on November 13, 2017. Tyler Clippard (RHP): Signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. Luke Gregerson (RHP): Signed two-year, $11 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, with a vesting option for the 2020 season, on December 13, 2017. Francisco Liriano (LHP): Signed one-year, $4 million contract with the Detroit Tigers. Cameron Maybin (OF): Signed one-year, $3.25 million contract with the Miami Marlins December 13: Signed free agent right-handed relief pitcher Joe Smith to a two-year contract worth $14 million.
Arbitration-eligible players Evan Gattis (C/DH) Houston Astros December 1, 2017 Tendered contracts Signed before arbitration date contract terms Ken Giles (RHP) Giles' figure of $4.6 million awarded
February 3, 2018 Houston Astros proposed $4.2 million Dallas Keuchel (LHP) Signed before arbitration January 12, 2018 1 year, $13.2 million Jake Marisnick (CF) Signed before arbitration date contract terms Lance McCullers Jr. (RHP) Signed before arbitration date contract terms Collin McHugh (RHP) Signed before arbitration date contract terms Brad Peacock (RHP) Signed before arbitration date contract terms George Springer (CF) Signed before arbitration date contract terms Mike Fiers (RHP) Houston Astros December 1, 2017 Did not tender contract Signed as free agent with Detroit Tigers December 8, 2017 1 year, $6 million
Trades December 20, 2017 To Houston Astros Player to be named later or cash considerations To Atlanta Braves Preston Tucker (LF) January 13, 2018 To Houston Astros Gerrit Cole (RHSP) To Pittsburgh Pirates Michael Feliz (RHRP), Jason Martin (OF), Colin Moran (3B), and Joe Musgrove (RHP)
Regular season Summary March—April
+ Opening Day starting lineup Player Position 4 George Springer Right fielder 2 Alex Bregman Third baseman 27 Jose Altuve Second baseman 1 Carlos Correa Shortstop 9 Marwin González First baseman 22 Josh Reddick Left fielder 11 Evan Gattis Designated hitter 6 Jake Marisnick Center fielder 16 Brian McCann Catcher 35 Justin Verlander Pitcher Venue: Globe Life Park • Final: Houston 4, Texas 1 Sources:
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; the blast was the 100th home run of Springer's career. Verlander pitched six shutout innings and struck out five. The Astros won by a final score of 4–1. This victory was the sixth in catenation on Opening Day for Houston, topping the club record of five from 1972 to 1977. This winning streak extended to ten through 2022, also tying an all-time Major League record established by the Boston Beaneaters, from 1887 to 1896.
On April 3, the Astros conferred World Series rings to players and coaching staff during a pre-game ceremony, and, on April 5, to team employees, including one to groundskeeper Willie Berry, the team's longest tenured employee. The team awarded 1,332 totals rings and paid the associated taxes for those presented to the employees. Berry had started with the Astros in 1970 as a janitor. During the April 3 contest, Josh Reddick connected for his first two home runs of the season and six RBI, including his sixth career grand slam. Reddick tied his career high in RBI, first accomplished on May 16, , as a member of the Oakland Athletics, and produced his first multi-homer game in an Astros uniform. Reddick's effort capped a 10–6 triumph over the Baltimore Orioles.
On April 13, Gerrit Cole struck out a then-career high 14. George Springer (3) homered twice off Cole Hamels of the Texas Rangers. During the top of the seventh inning, Gerrit Cole yielded home runs to Joey Gallo (4) and Robinson Chirinos (1), and departed to a 2-all tie. In the bottom of the eighth, Derek Fisher scored on Marwin González' base hit and error by center fielder Drew Robinson. Joe Smith (1–0) locked down the final out of the top of the eighth for the 3–2 victory, and Chris Devenski struck out the side in the top of the ninth to convert the save (1). Houston pitching totaled 17 whiffs.
On April 14, Charlie Morton tied his career-high with 12 strikeouts over 6 innings, having last done so April 28, 2017.
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.
Justin Verlander was named AL Player of the Week on April 15. In 15 innings over one start each versus the Rangers and Minnestota Twins, Verlander whiffed 20. allowed a .100 batting average against, and surrendered one earned run (0.60 earned run average (ERA)) and a 10.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio (K/BB). He garnered his first double-digit strikeout effort of the season (11 verses Texas). His seventh career weekly honor, Verlander had been recognized most recently on September 30, , as a member of the Detroit Tigers.
On April 21, Josh Reddick connected for a second multi-homer game of the month, including a grand slam, to cap a 10–1 win over the Chicago White Sox. Dallas Keuchel (1–3) allowed four hits over six innings to earn his first win of the season. His second grand slam of the month, Reddick became the first Astro since Jeff Bagwell in May 2001 to hit two during the same month. It was also Reddick's seventh career game of five or more RBI.
Early May On May 1, Justin Verlander tied his then-career high 14 strikeouts, yielding three hits and no walks over eight shutout innings. Verlander most recently had struck out 14 on August 6, 2012. Verlander's effort included a game score of 90 but received a no-decision after having departed the game with a scoreless tie. During the top of the ninth inning, the New York Yankees scored four times off reliever Ken Giles (0–1), capped by Gary Sánchez' three-run home run.
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. This was also the first one-hitter that Cole pitched. Cole's 16-strikeout performance was the first by an Astros pitcher since Randy Johnson fanned 16 on August 28, 1998, and just the fifth time in club history.
Moreover, 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