2022 Houston Astros season

The Houston Astros entered the 2022 MLB season as runners-up in the 2021 World Series championship, falling to the Atlanta Braves in six games. It was the Astros' third World Series appearance in five years, including a route to their fifth consecutive American League (AL) Championship Series. They had won the American League West division with 95–67 record, their fourth division championship in five seasons.

On November 3, 2021, seven Astros were declared free agents, including Carlos Correa, Yimi García, Marwin González, Kendall Graveman, Zack Greinke, Brooks Raley, and Justin Verlander.[3]

Pitching coach Brent Strom announced on November 2 that he was leaving the organization and would comtemplate retiring from professional baseball. Heralded as an essential architect of an era of increasingly-dominant Astros pitching,[4] the 73 year-old rejoined the Astros in 2014. Ably blending his experience and teaching with analytics, he coached Dallas Keuchel and Verlander in their Cy Young-winning seasons (2015 and 2019, respectively) and was credited with assisting Gerrit Cole and Charlie Morton in elevating their own success.[5] Club owner and chairman Jim Crane announced on November 5 that the Astros re-signed manager Dusty Baker for the 2022 season, to return for a third season with the club. Through the 2021 season, Baker had won 1,987 games in 24 seasons over his managerial career.[6]

Former manager Bill Virdon died at age 90 on November 23, 2021, and was survived by his wife of 70 years, Shirley. He was the Astros' franchise leader in wins by a manager, and guided them to their first playoff berth in 1980, when they fell one victory short of advancing to the World Series. He managed the Astros for eight seasons, from 1975 to 1982, and also led the New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Montreal Expos.[7] A former major league outfielder, Virdon hit .404 against the legendary Sandy Koufax, the highest average allowed by the Hall of Famer during his career.[8]

The expiration of the league's collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the Major League Baseball Players Association occurred on December 1, 2021 with no new agreement in place.[9] As a result, the team owners voted unanimously to lockout the players stopping all free agency and trades.[10][11]

The parties came to an agreement on a new CBA on March 10, 2022.[12]

Pursuant to the new CBA, several new rules were instituted for the 2022 season. The National League will adopt the designated hitter full-time, a draft lottery will be implemented, the postseason will expand from ten teams to twelve, and advertising patches will appear on player uniforms and helmets for the first time.[13][14]

Recovering from a right forearm strain suffered in the 2021 ALDS,[15] starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. was still unable to throw in spring training and missed the start of the regular season.[16]

On March 30, the Astros named Framber Valdez their Opening Day starter, scheduled versus the Los Angeles Angels, on April 7, 2022. Justin Verlander, who had previously handled the duties, was technically available. Due to the shortened spring training and his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery, he was instead scheduled to make his first start of the season on April 9.[17]

The Astros and closer Ryan Pressly agreed to terms on a new contract extension on April 5, worth $30 million guaranteed. A two-year contract, it covered the 2023 and 2024 seasons, with an option for 2025.[18]

Opening Weekend series versus Los Angeles Angels

On April 7, Astros left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez made his first career Opening Day start, opposite Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani, the reigning American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP). Rookie Jeremy Peña, making his major league debut, replaced at shortstop longtime franchise cornerstone Carlos Correa, who had departed via free agency. Valdez carried a shutout and had retired 15 consecutive batters until he pitched to Mike Trout in the bottom of the seventh inning. He reached on a throwing error by Peña, but Anthony Rendon grounded into a double play to deny the threat. Valdez, relying on his sinker in 50 percent of the pitches, got nine total ground ball outs. He recorded 6+2⁄3 scoreless innings pitched, while Ohtani allowed one run over 4+2⁄3 innings. Alex Bregman and Yordan Álvarez hit back-to-back home runs versus relief pitcher Ryan Tepera in the eighth inning. The Astros prevailed, 3–1, allowing Valdez to win his first start on Opening Day, and giving the club a record-tying 10th consecutive Opening Day win. The Boston Beaneaters first accomplished the feat from 1887–1896.[23][24]

The Astros won the second game of the season, 13–6, helped by Peña's first major league home run. Batting versus Mike Mayers in the seventh inning, he hit it 423 feet to left field while his parents, Cecilia and former major league second baseman Gerónimo Peña, were interviewed by Heidi Watney on Apple TV+. The home run ignited an eight-run inning. Peña totaled three hits for the day—including his first in the major leagues in the second inning. Right fielder Kyle Tucker homered twice, and José Altuve, Aledmys Díaz and Alex Bregman each homered as well.[25]

Ace Justin Verlander made his first start since July 24, 2020, on April 9 versus Los Angeles. He completed five innings, allowed trhee hits–yielding a home run to Jared Walsh–and struck out seven. Walsh's home privded all the offense in the game as the Angels handed the Astros their first defeat of the season in a 2–0 score.[26]

In the April 10 game versus Los Angeles, starting pitcher José Urquidy debuted for the season with five solid innings that helped Houston hold on to a 2–1 lead. Four relievers hurled one scoreless inning apiece. Over his first four games, Peña collected six hits in 16 at bats.[27] On April 10, 2022, third baseman Alex Bregman was named AL Player of the Week. Over the four games comprising MLB's Opening Weekend, he batted .429 (6-for-14) with two home runs, six RBI and a 1.286 OPS.[28]

Release of City Connect jerseys. On April 10, the Astros announced the release of their Nike MLB City Connect erseys to debut on April 20, 2022, and to be worn each Monday home game for the rest of the season. The theme of the uniform draws heavily on the city of Houston's connection with NASA, space and space travel. The nickname for the city, "Space City," was featured prominently in NASA-inspired orange worm lettering across the chest on an all-navy blue uniform. The sleeve featured a mission patch with the flag of Texas with the Houston Astros star-H logo superimposed on the star, and one of each of Houston's four area codes adjacent to the flag's corners. The right pant leg featured the unconventional placement of each player's uniform number.[29][30]

April 12–13 at Arizona Diamondbacks. At Chase Field on April 12, José Siri's home run in the fifth inning versus Arizona Diamondbacks starter Madison Bumgarner traveled a Statcast-projected 456 feet onto the left-center-field concourse with an exit velocity of 109.7 mph, his second-hardest hit in 24 big league games. Siri singled versus Mark Melancon into right center field in the ninth inning to spark a ninth-inning rally. Altuve then walked, and Michael Brantley followed with single into left field to score Siri for the game-winning run with a final score of 2–1.[31] Reliever Héctor Neris, a free agent acquisition, struck out two in a perfect eighth inning to earn in his first win in an Astros uniform.[32] The following game, Arizona and Houston combined for to strand 28 baserunners while batting 1-for-19 with runners on base. Houston pitching walked nine Diamondbacks and hit another three. Closer Ryan Pressly, pitching in back-to-back contests for the first time on the season, issued two walks in the tenth before Ketel Marte lifted a sacrifice fly to score Seth Beer for the game-winning run.[33]

April 15–17 at Seattle Mariners. The Astros' pitching staff had entered this game with a major league-leading 1.69 earned run average (ERA), but the Seattle Mariners won 11–1 at T-Mobile Park as the Astros' offense continued to struggle. Starter Jake Odorizzi allowed four earned runs in 4+1⁄3 innings, unable to command his fastball consistently nor find the feel for his secondary pitches. The lineup collected five total hits and Altuve and Tucker both were 0-for-4 and a combined 6-for-51 to start the season. Houston had scored five runs in their previous 28 innings.[34]

The Astros placed Álvarez on the injured list on April 15 for "health and safety protocols," although manager Dusty Baker noted that he had not tested positive for COVID-19, but that "he's still feeling under the weather" since missing both games versus Arizona. Joe Perez was recalled from the Corpus Christi Hooks to take Álvarez' place on the roster.[35] On April 16, Verlander shut out the Mariners for eight innings en route to his first win of the season and first since Opening Day, 2020. He struck out eight, walked none, and permitted no runner to advance past first base in a 4–0 score. He also become the 138th pitcher to pass the 3,000 innings pitched threshold. Caatcher Martín Maldonado hit his first home run of the season, scoring Jeremy Peña in the fifth inning.[36] Due to a case of knee inflammation, Ryan Pressley was placed on the 10-day injured list on April 16.[37]

• Tendered contracts to Framber Valdez, Rafael Montero, Ryne Stanek, Josh James Phil Maton, and Aledmys Díaz.[49]

• Agreed to 2-year extension with Ryan Pressly on April 5, 2022, worth $30 million guaranteed, for 2023 and 2024 seasons, with an option for 2025.[18]

• November 19, 2021: Sent catcher Garrett Stubbs to Philadelphia Phillies for minor league outfielder Logan Cerny.[50]

• November 19, 2021: Added infielders Jeremy Peña and Joe Perez, right-handed pitcher Shawn Dubin and left-hander Jonathan Bermudez to the 40-man roster.[51]
• November 19: Left-handed pitcher Kent Emanuel claimed off waivers by Philadelphia Phillies.[51]

• November 8, 2021: Alex Bregman underwent wrist surgery. His expected recovery time was two months.[52]
• November 10: Jake Meyers underwent surgery to repair the torn labrum in the left shoulder, which was anticipated to delay his start to the 2022 season.[53]

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