This story was excerpted from Brian McTaggart’s Astros Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. Subscribe to receive it regularly in your inbox.
NEW YORK — The final month of the season will determine the pennant races and playoff positioning for October. The Astros, who lead the American League West, have 24 games remaining and will open September with nine of their first 12 games against teams currently in playoff position.
After going 8-18 in April, Houston has not had another losing month. The Astros went 15-14 in May, 16-11 in June, 13-10 in July and 14-13 in August. Last season, Houston went 12-13 in September and missed the playoffs by one game, ending an eight-year postseason streak.
Five Astros who will shape September
Yordan Alvarez
After being named the American League Player of the Month for July — the second time he won the award in 2026 — Alvarez cooled off in August. Through 27 games, he slashed .287/.415/.457 with two home runs and 12 RBIs, while being intentionally walked nine times.
Alvarez still held a lead in two of the three AL Triple Crown categories, with a .317 batting average and 94 RBIs. He was also tied with Junior Caminero for the Major League home run lead at 37. A strong finish could help Alvarez secure the AL Most Valuable Player Award while also delivering another division title for Houston.
Hunter Brown
Brown missed more than two months early in the season because of a right shoulder strain, so he should be fresh in September after throwing only 81 innings. He appeared to recapture his ace form in his final two starts of August, allowing two runs on 12 hits and four walks while striking out 14 batters over 12 1/3 innings.
With shortcomings in the Astros’ starting rotation, Houston will rely on Brown to provide quality starts. September is the only month in which Brown has posted a losing record during his career, going 5-8 with a 4.22 ERA in 18 games, including 15 starts.
Brandon Blubaugh
The rookie reliever is emerging as an important late-inning weapon for manager Joe Espada. Blubaugh combines a 98-mph four-seam fastball that he can blow by hitters with the ability to work multiple innings.
A closer in college, Blubaugh finished August with 12 consecutive scoreless innings across eight games. He leads the Major Leagues with 26 relief appearances of at least two innings, the most by an Astros pitcher since Dave Veres had 27 in 1995. Blubaugh also leads the Majors with 84 1/3 innings in relief. Opponents are hitting .200 against his fastball, while left-handed hitters have a .168 batting average against him.
Jose Altuve
Altuve began September six hits away from reaching 2,500 for his career, but the Astros’ offense needs the veteran second baseman to keep producing beyond that milestone. After slumping in June and July, Altuve posted an .813 OPS in August. He was given Monday off, which should be his final day off before the end of the season.
Altuve has settled into the cleanup spot for much of the past month, an important role with Houston’s top three hitters — Jeremy Peña, Alvarez and Isaac Paredes — batting first, second and third on most nights. The Astros’ .223 batting average from the cleanup spot ranks second-worst in MLB.
Carlos Correa
Tuesday will be an important day for Correa. He is scheduled to visit a doctor for a four-month checkup after undergoing peroneus brevis tendon repair surgery on his left ankle May 11.
The injury was initially expected to keep Correa out for the remainder of the season, but he began swinging the bat a month ago. A positive checkup Tuesday would allow him to begin running the bases and sliding, making a return more realistic.
Espada would have to find a way to manage five infielders with Alvarez starting at designated hitter most nights, but that would be a good problem to have. Correa’s presence on the field and in the clubhouse would be enough to energize the club.
Source: www.mlb.com
