The 2019 Houston Astros season was the 58th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 55th as the Astros, seventh in both the American League (AL) and AL West division, and 20th at Minute Maid Park. They entered the season as having set a franchise record with 103 wins, defending two-time AL West champions, both with 100 or more wins, an unprecedented feat for Houston. Having reached a second consecutive American League Championship Series (ALCS), their 2018 season ended in a 4-games-to-1 loss to the eventual World Series champion Boston Red Sox.
On March 28, Justin Verlander made his second Opening Day start for the Astros at Tropicana Field, who defeated the Tampa Bay Rays, 5–1. For the third consecutive season, six players represented Houston at the All-Star Game held at Progressive Field in Cleveland, the most in baseball, including four starters: Alex Bregman, Michael Brantley, Justin Verlander, and George Springer; pitchers Gerrit Cole and Ryan Pressly were also selected.
In his Astros debut on August 3, pitcher Aaron Sanchez started a combined no-hitter versus the Seattle Mariners, winning 9–0. On August 18, Zack Greinke earned his 200th career victory. On September 1, Verlander hurled his third career no-hitter, as 2–0 victors over the Toronto Blue Jays. Tying a major league record by a team in one season, the no-hitters were the 12th and 13th in club history. On September 18, the Astros clinched a postseason berth against the Texas Rangers, becoming the first team since the 2004 New York Yankees to assemble three successive 100-win campaigns, and, on September 22, captured a third consecutive division title.
Greinke came within two outs of a third no-hitter on September 25 as the Astros claimed a club-record 104th victory. Verlander recorded both his 3,000th career strikeout and 300th of the season on September 28, who, along with Cole, formed the second teammate duo to register 300 strikeouts, joining Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling of the 2002 Arizona Diamondbacks. Verlander led the AL in wins (21), while Cole led in strikeouts (326) and earned run average (2.50 ERA). For the first time in franchise history, the Astros led baseball with the best regular-season record of 107–55, while qualifying for their 13th playoff appearance—the fourth since moving to the American League—and 10th division title.
In the American League Division Series (ALDS), Houston prevailed over Tampa Bay by a margin of three-games-to-two. Next, the Astros dispatched New York in the ALCS, four-games-to-two, capped by ALCS Most Valuable Player Jose Altuve's deep series-ending, walk-off home run. Hence, the Astros earned their third league pennant and second World Series entrance in three years. However, the Washington Nationals surmounted Houston in seven games.
Following the season, Verlander became the fourth Astro to garner the Cy Young Award, and second of his career. The Astros led the league with a record six players selected to the inaugural All-MLB Team, including Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, Bregman, Cole, Greinke and Verlander. Bregman, Greinke, and Springer were each honored with Silver Slugger Awards, Greinke also earned a Gold Glove, and Alvarez was opted as the AL Rookie of the Year.
This was the Astros' final season with A. J. Hinch as manager and Jeff Luhnow as general manager; both were fired in January 2020 after MLB investigators confirmed that the team had used electronics to steal opponents’ signs back in the 2017 regular season.
Off-season The Astros concluded the 2018 season with an record, as AL West division champions, and six games ahead of the runners-up Oakland Athletics. In the playoffs, Houston advanced to the American League Championship Series (ALCS) prior to their season ending in a 4-games-to-1 defeat to the eventual World Series champion Boston Red Sox. This was the Astros' second consecutive entrance into the ALCS, and sixth League Championship Series (LCS) qualification overall, as their first four, in 1980, 1986, 2004 and 2005, all occurred while they were members of the National League.
Following the 2018 season, the Houston Astros announced that their weekly night games would air on KTRH 740.
On March 24, 2019, the Astros signed right-handed pitcher Justin Verlander to a two-year, $66 million contract extension to keep him with Houston through the 2021 season.
The Astros unveiled their team Hall of Fame on March 25, 2019, located in Home Run Alley at Minute Maid Park. The inaugural induction class enshrined a total of sixteen members, including fourteen players and two broadcasters. Each were individually honored during a pre-game ceremony the following August 3 with their plaques mounted within the Hall of Fame exhibit. Among the oldest artefacts on display included Dizzy Dean's cleats from when he played for the Houston Buffaloes during the 1930s and home plate from Buffalo Stadium. The cleats and home plate accounted for two of more than 2,000 items pertaining to baseball in Houston assembled by team historian Mike Acosta, which would go into a future Houston baseball museum.
Regular season Summary March—April
+ Opening Day starting lineup Player Position 4 George Springer Right fielder 27 Jose Altuve Second baseman 2 Alex Bregman Third baseman 23 Michael Brantley Left fielder 10 Yuli Gurriel First baseman 13 Tyler White Designated hitter 28 Robinson Chirinos Catcher 16 Aledmys Díaz Shortstop 6 Jake Marisnick Center fielder 35 Justin Verlander Pitcher Venue: Tropicana Field • Final: Houston 5, Tampa Bay 1 Sources:
For Opening Day on March 28, the Tampa Bay Rays hosted the Astros at Tropicana Field, where Justin Verlander made his second Opening Day start for Houston, and 11th overall in his career.. Opposite Verlander was reigning Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell. The Astros won, 5–1, as each of George Springer (third inning), Michael Brantley (fourth), and Jose Altuve (fifth) all homered to back Verlander, who earned the victory. Verlander pitched 7 innings, surrendered 3 hits and struck out 9, earning a game score of 75. Springer's longball was his third in successive on Opening Day. Moreover, the triumph garnered a seven-Opening Day winning streak for Houston, a club-record, which extended to ten through 2022, tying an all-time Major League record.
On April 3 versus the Texas Rangers, Carlos Correa collected the 500th hit of his career. Correa doubled off Mike Minor for the milestone hit; however, the Rangers scored thrice off Gerrit Cole (0–2) and shut out the Astros, 4–0, who fell to 2–5.
In April 9 game against the New York Yankees, Jose Altuve connected for his 100th career home run off Jonathan Loáisiga in a 6–3 win. Altuve became the 16th player in Astros history to reach 100 home runs.
On April 12, the Astros connected for two grand slams in a single game, the third time in franchise history they had done so, to power a 10–6 triumph over the Seattle Mariners. George Springer hit a two-run home run in during the top of the third inning for the Astros' first runs. During the top of the sixth inning, Altuve connected for the second grand slam of his career, a go-ahead play for a 6–3 Houston advantage, and Yuli Gurriel hit the fourth of his career in the top of the eighth. Altuve for his first grand slam since August 17, 2014, while Gurriel's was his first since September 21, 2018.
Altuve swatted another home run the next night off Félix Hernández on April 13, homering for the fifth consecutive game and sixth home run in that span. Altuve was the first Astro to hit a home run in five consecutive games since Morgan Ensberg's franchise-record six consecutive games in 2006. Verlander, the starting pitcher, struck out eight of the first 10 batters that he faced and 11 of 20 overall. He allowed one run in six innings.
From April 20–30, Alex Bregman tied a club record by drawing at least one base on balls in each of 11 consecutive contests. Bregman drew 13 total walks with this active streak, while slashing .229 / .440 / .457 / .897. He also slammed 2 home runs. First achieved by Jimmy Wynn from July 6–15, 1969, Joe Morgan replicated the feat for Houston from July 6–20, 1970.
During the month of April, Gerrit Cole recorded 65 strikeouts, the most in the major leagues since Clayton Kershaw also stuck out 65 in May 2016.
May With rain seeping through the roof on Minute Maid Park on May 9, Josh Reddick singled in the game-tying run that led to a 4–2 win over Texas. Further, he robbed former Astro Hunter Pence of an imminent three-run blast. George Springer went 5-for-5 on May 12, including clubbing two home runs to lead a 15–5 win over the Rangers. The performance also helped Houston pull off a four-game sweep of Texas. Springer recorded five tallies for the second time in his career, and first since May 26, 2014. The five-hit, multi-homer bout was first of this type for Springer, the third five-hit contest of his career, and first since his six-hit performance on May 7, 2018.
From May 6 to 12, George Springer batted .510 (14-for-27) / .563 on-base percentage (OBP) / 1.148 slugging percentage (SLG) / 1.711 on-base plus slugging (OPS), 10 runs scored, five home runs, 10 RBI, and 31 total bases. Springer collected four multi-hit games. He was named American League (AL) Player of the Week for the week ended May 12.
On May 22, the Chicago White Sox routed the Astros, 9–4, including roughing up Gerrit Cole (4–5, 4.11 earned run average, ERA) for six runs over six frames, which saddled him with the loss. However, this was Cole's final defeat for remainder of the 2019 regular season, also Houston's 50th game of the year. Just twice over his final 22 starts did he yield more than two runs (four each). Cole was not charged with another defeat until Game 1 of the World Series later in the year, his fourth start in the playoffs, after having won each of the first three.
Closer Roberto Osuna converted his 25th consecutive save on May 24, breaking a club record. The streak had started the previous August 18, surpassing Brad Lidge (24 consecutive from June 21–September 28, 2005). Osuna's feat remained the franchise longest until Josh Hader converted 29 consecutive from April 7 to August 29, 2024.
On May 28, A. J. Hinch obtained his 500th win as manager, as the Astros toppled the Chicago Cubs, 9–6. Chicago blasted five home runs, but Houston answered with five doubles—two by Jake Marisnick (8)—and two home runs by Alex Bregman (17). Bregman collected three RBI, and Michael Brantley had two hits and two RBI as Houston scored four times in the bottom of the fourth. Josh James (2–0) picked up the victory in relief while surrendering three runs over frames.
With injuries stacking up, on May 29 shortstop Carlos Correa sustained a bruised rib during a massage session. He was forced to join fellow All-Stars Springer and Jose Altuve on the injured list (IL) and expected to miss four to six weeks.
June
On June 9, Yordan Alvarez made his major league debut versus the Baltimore Orioles. He went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in his debut. Alvarez' home run ignited a 4–0 shutout victory. In his first plate appearance during the bottom of the second inning, Alvarez flied out versus Dylan Bundy. With Yuli Gurriel aboard in the bottom of the fourth, Alvarez launched a Bundy offering deep to left center field for his first home run and break a scoreless tie. Wade Miley (6–3) tossed six inning to earn the win. With two runners on base and two out during the top ninth, Roberto Osuna entered and induced a ground ball out from Rio Ruiz to himself to earn the save (17). The following game, Alvarez again homered, this time versus Matt Albers of the Milwaukee Brewers. He became the first Astro to homer in both of his first two games.