Three potential paths forward for the Astros: From...
Key takeaways
- Some call it a dynasty; some believe you need to win back-to-back championships to earn that label.
- When Jose Altuve recently landed on the injured list because of an oblique strain -- the latest in an interminable string of injuries over the past two seasons -- it felt like a symbolic denouement.
- If the losing continues -- and there won't be any tears shed from baseball fans across the country if that happens -- the Astros will face some difficult choices at the trade deadline.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Stay the course, build around Yordan Alvarez or start from scratch? The 2026 Houston Astros have a decision to make. Houston Astros/Getty Images David Schoenfield May 22, 2026, 07:00 AM ETClose Covers MLB for ESPN.com Former deputy editor of Page 2 Been with ESPN.com since 1995Multiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions From 2015 to 2025, the Houston Astros made the playoffs nine times, captured seven American League West titles, won two World Series, reached two additional World Series, lost twice in Game 7 of the ALCS and won more games than any team except the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Some call it a dynasty; some believe you need to win back-to-back championships to earn that label. No matter what the description, it has been a decade of astounding success -- even after the franchise's sign-stealing scandal.
When Jose Altuve recently landed on the injured list because of an oblique strain -- the latest in an interminable string of injuries over the past two seasons -- it felt like a symbolic denouement. A loss Wednesday dropped the Astros to 20-31, the most games under .500 they've been since the end of the 2014 season. They're tied with the Baltimore Orioles for the second-most runs allowed in the majors; only the Los Angeles Angels and Colorado Rockies have a worse record.