It’s the return of the series preview!
We made it to game one (and two and three).
The end of the myriad of offseason developments — trade rumblings, rumors, half truths, and wild stabs all take a back seat to game action for the first time since Detroit polished the Astros off in the 2024 wildcard series.
Today at 3:10 PM CT, the Astros will host the New York Mets in the first game of a three game series at Daikin Park. This is the first and only series this season between Houston and the Mets. Historically, the Astros have won 55 percent of common games between the two, going 320 and 262 with one unfinished tie. Of course, that doesn’t include Houston’s 2-4 postseason mark against the Amazin’s — to wit, the 1986 NLCS. That 55 percent mark represents Houston’s seventh-best winning percentage against an opponent, just behind their 55.5 percent clip against the Colorado Rockies and just ahead of their 54.5 rate versus the Kansas City Royals. Over the past four seasons, Houston owns an 11-2 mark against the Metropolitans.
The last time Houston and the Mets faced off was from June 28 through June 30 last season, culminating in a 10-5 Houston win in 11 innings. The victory put Houston’s record at above .500 for the first time in the season, at 42-41. Yainer Díaz led Houston’s offense with a pair of singles, a double, and a fourth-inning RBI. Jon Singleton also had a trio of hits, including his sixth homer of the season, while Jose Altuve and Trey Cabbage also finished with multiple hits. Seven Houston pitchers combined for the win, led by Shawn Dubin, who kept the Mets scoreless over 3 2⁄3 innings despite surrendering three walks. He gave up no hits and struck out a pair as Houston pitching scattered five hits for an opposing in-game slashline of .132/.267/.211. For context, Houston had a mark of .341/.370/.500.
Houston is 33-30 on Opening Day since their inception. Although the Astros have lost the last two, they preceded that with 10 straight wins from 2013 through 2022. The Mets, who debuted with Houston in 1962, is 40-23 to open the year, including 10 wins in their last 13.
GameTimes and Probable Starting Pitchers (Note: the asterisk means it’s unconfirmed)
Thursday, 3:10 PM CT: Clay Holmes (24-22, 3.71) vs. Framber Valdez (68-41, 3.30)
Friday, 7:10 PM CT: Tylor Megill (21-21, 4.56) vs. *Hunter Brown (24-22, 4.06)
Saturday, 6:15 PM CT: Griffin Canning (25-34, 4.78) vs. *Ronel Blanco (15-7, 3.31)
Elsewhere in the AL West (today)
Red Sox at Arlington, 3:05 PM CT: Garrett Crochet (9-19, 3.29) vs. Nathan Eovaldi (91-81, 4.07)
Angels at Chicago White Sox, 3:10 PM CT: Yusei Kikuchi (41-47, 4.57) vs. Sean Burke (2-0, 1.42)
Athletics at Seattle, 9:10 PM CT: Luis Severino (65-44, 3.81) vs. Logan Gilbert (41-30, 3.60)
Houston’s minor league update
Oklahoma City Dodgers vs. Sugar Land Space Cowboys, Friday 7:05 PM CT
Oklahoma City Dodgers vs. Sugar Land Space Cowboys, Saturday, 6:05 PM CT
Oklahoma City Dodgers vs. Sugar Land Space Cowboys, Sunday, 2:05 PM CT