Tuesday night Orioles game thread: vs. Astros, 6:35 pm
The O’s open another series against a bad team.
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 22: Yordan Alvarez #44 of the Houston Astros celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning during the game between the Houston Astros and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Grace Hoppel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images Tonight begins the third series in a row in which the O’s face a team currently sitting in last place in its division. It’s unusual to find the Astros resembling that remark , as they’ve been consistently good for the better part of a decade, making the playoffs eight times in the last ten years.
The problem for Houston this year is its pitching. They enter this series ranked last in the majors in ERA, with a 5. 97 team mark.
That comprises an especially bad 6. 31 bullpen ERA, but their rotation is also second-to-last in ERA, as well. That is a lot of bad pitching.
On the other hand, the Astros also have a league-leading 15 players on the IL. So there are reasons for the struggles. And a few stars are carrying the team, anyway.