The 2024 Houston Astros season was the 63rd season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 60th as the Astros, 12th in both the American League (AL) and AL West division, and 25th at Minute Maid Park. They entered the season as three-time defending AL West champions with a 90–72 record and runners-up of the American League.
The 2024 season was the first for the Space City Home Network (SCHN) to televise Astros games, who, with the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA), created after acquiring and rebranding the regional sports network AT&T SportsNet Southwest from Warner Bros. Discovery. The Astros promoted bench coach Joe Espada as the 25th manager in franchise history, succeeding Dusty Baker.
On April 1, pitcher Ronel Blanco threw the 17th no-hitter in Astros history against the Toronto Blue Jays. It was also the earliest date a no-hitter has been thrown in MLB history. More history was made as the no-hitter marked Espada's first career win as manager, the first occurrence in MLB history where a manager got his first win with a no-hitter.
The Astros had a slow start to the season, as they fell to 12–24 after their first 36 games. The largest deficit by which the Astros trailed in the AL West was 10 games on June 18, when their record was 33–40.2024 ASTROS TAKE FANS ON A ROLLERCOASTER RIDE: 5 DEFINING MOMENTS OF THE UNLIKELY DIVISION CHAMPS, ABC 13 Houston, September 29, 2024 Following a seven-game winning streak, on June 26, the Astros claimed their 40th win to reach .500 for the first time on the season.[https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5595090/2024/06/26/houston-astros-500-record/ The Astros are finally .500 but there's 'no sense of relief', The Athletic, June 16, 2024
Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, and Kyle Tucker were each named to the AL All-Star team. Walker Janek, a catcher from Sam Houston State, was the Astros' top selection from the 2024 MLB draft, at number 28 overall. On July 21 at T-Mobile Park, Alvarez hit for the cycle, the tenth occurrence in franchise history. The Astros' pitching staff produced a record-setting August and threw three additional no-hit bids of innings or more, including one by starting pitcher Spencer Arrighetti, who was named AL Rookie of the Month. Meanwhile, closer Josh Hader was AL Reliever of the Month.
On September 13, the Astros beat the Los Angeles Angels to attain the 5,000th win in franchise history, becoming only the second expansion team to do so.
On September 24, the Astros clinched the AL West division title for the fourth consecutive season and the seventh in the past eight seasons. They also clinched a postseason berth for the eighth consecutive season and the ninth in the past 10 seasons. On September 29, the Astros season finale against the Cleveland Guardians was canceled due to weather concerns. As such, the Astros finished with an 88–73 record and did not play the season finale. The Astros were the fifth team to start 22–28 and win their division in MLB history. The Astros were swept by the Detroit Tigers in the 2024 American League Wild Card Series, ending their streak of consecutive ALCS appearances at seven (2017–2023), which was the most in the American League and the second-most consecutive LCS appearances after the Atlanta Braves' consecutive NLCS appearances of eight (1991–1999, excluding 1994 that was not played due to a players' strike).Tigers rally to sweep Astros in wild-card series, end Houston's seven-year ALCS streak, USA Today, October 3, 2024 The Astros were also swept in a postseason series for the first time since the 2005 World Series.Hader, Astros Trolled by Fans After Being Swept Out of MLB Playoff Bracket by Tigers, Bleacher Report, October 2, 2024
Following the season, Alex Bregman won his first career Gold Glove Award, Altuve won his seventh career Silver Slugger Award, while Altuve, Alvarez, and Opening Day starting pitcher Framber Valdez were each named to the All-MLB Team Second Team. Altuve's ninth career All-Star selection and seventh Silver Slugger both extended franchise records.
Offseason October 2023
The Houston Astros finished the 2023 season as runner up for the American League (AL) pennant behind the defending World Series champions Texas Rangers. The Astros entered the offseason with uncertainty at the managerial position as Dusty Baker had completed the last year of his contract and had expressed to multiple people inside and outside the organization that 2023 was to be his last year managing the club.
On October 25, it was announced that Baker would retire as manager of the Astros. The Astros posted a record with Baker as manager, winning a World Series (2022) and two AL pennants (2021, 2022).
November 2023 On November 13, it was announced that bench coach Joe Espada, who had been with the organization since the 2018 season, would be named the new manager of the Astros.
December 2023 On December 6, the Astros announced that they had acquired right-handed pitcher Dylan Coleman from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for minor league pitcher Carlos Mateo.
The following day, the team officially announced that they had signed catcher Víctor Caratini to a two-year contract worth $12 million.
January 2024 On January 16, the team announced that reliever Kendall Graveman was set to miss the entire 2024 season after undergoing surgery on his shoulder.
Six days later, on January 22, the team announced that they had signed left-handed pitcher Josh Hader to a five-year contract worth $95 million.
On January 31, the Astros acquired Trey Cabbage from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for minor league pitcher Carlos Espinosa.
February and March 2024 On February 6, the team announced that they had extended 2nd baseman Jose Altuve for five years and $125 million.
Per Forbes, the Astros' net value was estimated at $2.425 billion, ranking 11th MLB. The Astros partnered with the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) to acquire regional sports network AT&T SportsNet Southwest and rebrand it as Space City Home Network (SCHN). The network was launched to the public on October 3, 2023, the 2024 season was the first season for the Astros to broadcast on SCHN. The moves implied a loss of an estimated $23 million of revenue; however, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) had announced they would discontinue broadcasts for Houston, the Colorado Rockies, Texas Rangers, and other clubs, leaving no airing of home games for those respective clubs.
Transactions November 2023 RHPs Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek, LF Michael Brantley and C Martín Maldonado elected free agency RHP Héctor Neris elected free agency after declining player option.
December 2023 Kansas City Royals traded right-handed pitcher Dylan Coleman to Houston Astros for right-handed pitcher Carlos Mateo Astros signed catcher Víctor Caratini to a 2 year, $12 million contract
January 2024 Astros signed left-handed pitcher Josh Hader to a 5 year, $95 million contract Los Angeles Angels traded infielder/outfielder Trey Cabbage to Houston Astros for right-handed pitcher Carlos Espinosa
February 2024 Astros signed 2nd baseman Jose Altuve to a 5 year, $125 million contract extension
Departures Outfielder Michael Brantley announced his retirement from professional baseball on January 5, 2024. Catcher Martín Maldonado and the Chicago White Sox officially agreed on a one-year contract worth $4.25 million on January 5, 2024. Right-handed pitcher Héctor Neris and the Chicago Cubs officially agreed on a one-year contract worth $9 million with a team option for the 2025 season on February 1, 2024.
Additions
Dylan Coleman was acquired by the Houston Astros from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for minor league pitcher Carlos Mateo. Signed catcher Víctor Caratini to a two-year contract worth $12 million. Signed left handed reliever Josh Hader to a five-year contract worth $95 million. Trey Cabbage was acquired by the Houston Astros from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for minor league pitcher Carlos Espinosa.
Spring training The Astros kicked off their spring training against the Washington Nationals on February 24.
Right handers Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis García entered the 2024 season rehabilitating elbow injuries. García was recovvering from ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (UCL reconstruction, also known as Tommy John surgery), for an injury sustained early in May 2023. He was expected to miss the start of the 2024 season. McCullers was recovering from a flexor tendon strain first sustained in the 2021 American League Division Series (ALDS) and had not appeared in a major league game since the 2022 World Series. In February 2023, he strained it again and elected for season-ending surgery the following June.
Three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander also missed the start of the season due to right shoulder inflammation.
Regular season Summary March—April By making the Opening Day roster and playing for the Astros, right-handed relief pitcher Tayler Scott became the first South African to play for Houston. Also the first South African pitcher in MLB history, he made his MLB debut in 2019, pitched for six teams, and an additional two years in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), before joining Houston.
Opening Series March 28 – 31 vs New York Yankees: HOU lost series, 0–4 + Opening Day starting lineup Player Position 27 Jose Altuve Second baseman 12 44 Yordan Alvarez Designated hitter 4 30 Kyle Tucker Right fielder 4 2 Alex Bregman Third baseman 8 79 José Abreu First baseman 2 20 Chas McCormick Left fielder 2 21 Yainer Díaz Catcher 2 3 Jeremy Peña Shortstop 3 6 Jake Meyers Center fielder 2 59 Framber Valdez Pitcher 3 Venue: Minute Maid Park • Final: New York (AL) 5, Houston 4 Sources:
The Astros dropped their Opening Day game, March 28, to the New York Yankees, 5–4. In the ninth inning, Kyle Tucker singled with Mauricio Dubón and Yordan Alvarez on base. However, right fielder Juan Soto delivered an accurate throw to home plate that allowed catcher Jose Trevino tag out Dubón to preserve the Yankees' lead and eventual victory.
The Yankees swept the opening 4-game series, led by Soto's 9-for-17 (.529 batting average) and 4 runs batted in (RBI). The Astros' seventh loss in a row to the Yankees, it was the first time they dropped their first four to begin a season since 2011 (0–5).
Ronel Blanco's no-hitter On April 1, Ronel Blanco (1–0) no-hit the Toronto Blue Jays to lead a 10–0 rout for Astros' first win of the season, the first win for Joe Espada as manager and the earliest calendar-date no-hitter in MLB history. The eighth career major league start and first of the season for Blanco, it was the 17th no-hitter in franchise history. Espada became the first manager to earn his premier major league victory via the no-hitter, per the Elias Sports Bureau (ESB). Kyle Tucker led Houston's offense with two home runs.
Blanco's no-hitter signified the third consecutive season in which Astros pitching had tossed a no-hitter, tying an American League record for the fifth time overall. The most recent American League club to pitch no-hitters over three successive campaigns were the 1973 to 1975 California Angels. Each of the Angels' no-hitters during that span was pitched by Nolan Ryan, who later tossed another for the Astros on September 26, 1981. Blanco's no-hitter succeeded Framber Valdez' effort on August 1, 2023, as the most recent by an Astros moundsman.
Rest of April