1986 Houston Astros season

The 1986 Houston Astros season was the 25th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in Houston, Texas. For the second time in team history, the Astros won the National League West division; it was their third postseason appearance the past seven seasons, and it would be their last for eleven years.

1986 Houston Astros
National League West Champions
Major League affiliations
Location
Results
Record96–66 (.593)
Divisional place1st
Other information
Owner(s)John McMullen
General manager(s)Dick Wagner
Manager(s)Hal Lanier
Local televisionKTXH
HSE
Local radioKTRH
(Gene Elston, Milo Hamilton, Larry Dierker, Jerry Trupiano, Bill Worrell)
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Offseason

Regular season
  • Kevin Bass had a twenty-game hit streak during the season.
  • Dave Smith set a club record with 33 saves in one season.
  • September 23, 1986: Jim Deshaies set a record for the most strikeouts to start a game. Deshaies started the game with 8 strikeouts versus the Los Angeles Dodgers[2]
  • September 25, 1986: Mike Scott threw a no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants to help the Astros win the National League West. The final score was 2–0 and Scott struck out 13 Giants batters.

Scott was the first pitcher in the National League and the second overall to throw a no-hitter to clinch a pennant. The first was New York Yankees pitcher Allie Reynolds, who accomplished the feat on September 18, 1951.[3]

Opening Day starters

All-Star Game

The 1986 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 57th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League (AL) and National League (NL), the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 15, 1986, at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, the home of the Astros. The game resulted in the American League defeating the National League 3–2.

Season standings
NL West W L Pct. GB Home Road
Houston Astros 9666 0.593 — 52–29 44–37
Cincinnati Reds 8676 0.531 10 43–38 43–38
San Francisco Giants 8379 0.512 13 46–35 37–44
San Diego Padres 7488 0.457 22 43–38 31–50
Los Angeles Dodgers 7389 0.451 23 46–35 27–54
Atlanta Braves 7289 0.447 23½ 41–40 31–49

Record vs. opponents
1986 National League Records

Sources:
Team ATL CHC CIN HOU LAD MON NYM PHI PIT SD SF STL
Atlanta —9–36–125–1310–84–74–84–85–712–67–116–6
Chicago 3–9—5–74–86–68–106–129–87–116–66–610–7
Cincinnati 12–67–5—4–1410–87–54–87–510–29–99–97–5
Houston 13–58–414–4—10–88–45–76–66–610–89–97–5
Los Angeles 8–106–68–108–10—5–73–95–78–46–128–108–4
Montreal 7–410–85–74–85–7—8–108–1011–74–85–79–9
New York 8–412–68–47–59–310–8—8–1017–110–27–512–6
Philadelphia 8-48–95–76–67–510–810–8—11–76–69–36–12
Pittsburgh 7–511–72–106–64–87–111–177–11—8–44–87–11
San Diego 6–126–69–98–1012–68–42–106–64–8—8–105–7
San Francisco 11–76–69–99–910–87–55–73–98–410–8—5–7
St. Louis 6–67–105–75–74–89–96–1212–611–77–57–5—

Notable transactions
  • June 2, 1986: 1986 Major League Baseball draft
    • Ryan Bowen was drafted by the Astros in the 1st round.[4]
    • Karl Rhodes was drafted by the Astros in the 3rd round. Player signed June 10, 1986.[5]
    • Trenidad Hubbard was drafted by the Astros in the 12th round of the 1986 amateur draft. Player signed June 16, 1986.[6]
    • Ed Whited was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 18th round of the 1986 amateur draft. [7]
    • Eric Anthony was drafted by the Astros in the 34th round. Player signed June 7, 1986.[8]
  • June 30, 1986: Matt Keough was signed as a free agent by the Astros.[9]

Roster
1986 Houston Astros
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

 Outfielders Manager

Coaches

Game log

Regular season
1986 Game Log: 96–66 (Home: 52–29 ; Away: 44–37)
April: 14–6 (Home: 6–4; Away: 8–2)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
1April 8Giants3–8Mike Krukow (1–0)Nolan Ryan (0–1)Mark Davis (1)22,9350–1
2April 9Giants1–4Scott Garrelts (1–0)Mike Scott (0–1)Greg Minton (1)6,8750–2
3April 10Giants4–0Bob Knepper (1–0)Vida Blue (0–1)—6,0701–2
4April 11Braves2–1Charlie Kerfeld (1–0)David Palmer (0–1)Dave Smith (1)9,3572–2
5April 12Braves4–3Nolan Ryan (1–1)Rick Mahler (1–1)Dave Smith (2)19,8033–2
6April 13Braves7–8Joe Johnson (1–0)Mike Scott (0–2)Gene Garber (1)8,7393–3
7April 15@ Giants8–3Bob Knepper (2–0)Vida Blue (0–2)Charlie Kerfeld (1)46,6384–3
8April 16@ Giants4–1Nolan Ryan (2–1)Roger Mason (0–1)Dave Smith (3)3,5905–3
9April 18@ Reds6–4Mike Scott (1–2)Mario Soto (1–1)Dave Smith (4)26,1266–3
10April 19@ Reds4–3Bob Knepper (3–0)Tom Browning (0–1)Dave Smith (5)17,5647–3
11April 20@ Reds6–4Mike Madden (1–0)Bill Gullickson (0–1)Charlie Kerfeld (2)17,8788–3
12April 21@ Braves2–8Joe Johnson (2–0)Nolan Ryan (2–2)—5,3618–4
13April 22@ Braves4–3Charlie Kerfeld (2–0)Duane Ward (0–1)—6,3169–4
14April 23@ Braves3–2Julio Solano (1–0)Zane Smith (1–1)Dave Smith (6)7,66610–4
15April 24Reds0–3Mario Soto (2–1)Mike Madden (1–1)—10,24510–5
16April 25Reds3–1Nolan Ryan (3–2)Tom Browning (0–2)—16,29611–5
17April 26Reds1–0Mike Scott (2–2)Bill Gullickson (0–2)—38,44212–5
18April 27Reds6–0Bob Knepper (4–0)John Denny (1–2)—12,18513–5
19April 29@ Phillies4–12Shane Rawley (3–1)Nolan Ryan (3–3)—16,31313–6
20April 30@ Phillies1–0Mike Scott (3–2)Kevin Gross (1–3)Dave Smith (7)17,13414–6
May: 13–13 (Home: 6–6; Away: 7–7)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
21May 2@ Expos6–3Bob Knepper (5–0)Floyd Youmans (0–3)Dave Smith (8)6,78115–6
22May 3@ Expos6–7 (10)Jeff Reardon (3–2)Frank DiPino (0–1)—11,76915–7
23May 4@ Expos6–7Jeff Reardon (4–2)Dave Smith (0–1)—13,81015–8
24May 6@ Mets0–4Dwight Gooden (5–0)Bob Knepper (5–1)—41,72215–9
25May 7@ Mets2–3Sid Fernandez (4–0)Nolan Ryan (3–4)Jesse Orosco (6)26,95615–10
26May 9@ Pirates3–2Charlie Kerfeld (3–0)Jim Winn (1–1)Dave Smith (9)17,29616–10
27May 10@ Pirates6–3Bob Knepper (6–1)Rick Rhoden (2–2)Frank DiPino (1)13,34417–10
28May 11@ Pirates3–4 (12)José DeLeón (1–0)Charlie Kerfeld (3–1)—13,17017–11
29May 12Phillies1–5Shane Rawley (4–3)Jim Deshaies (0–1)—8,35417–12
30May 13Phillies3–2 (11)Julio Solano (2–0)Dave Rucker (0–1)—7,08718–12
31May 14Mets6–2Bob Knepper (7–1)Bob Ojeda (5–1)—11,62619–12
32May 15Mets2–6Ron Darling (4–0)Nolan Ryan (3–5)—13,85619–13
33May 16Cubs9–6Julio Solano (3–0)Jay Baller (1–2)Dave Smith (10)17,80220–13
34May 17Cubs5–1Mike Scott (4–2)Steve Trout (2–1)—37,48321–13
35May 18Cubs2–5Guy Hoffman (1–1)Bob Knepper (7–2)Lee Smith (5)14,48321–14
36May 20Pirates2–4Bob Walk (2–0)Nolan Ryan (3–6)—8,71121–15
37May 21Pirates1–2Rick Rhoden (3–3)Mike Scott (4–3)—6,99021–16
38May 22Pirates4–0Bob Knepper (8–2)Rick Reuschel (3–4)—4,78422–16
39May 23@ Cubs1–4Rick Sutcliffe (2–6)Julio Solano (3–1)—20,53222–17
40May 24@ Cubs3–4George Frazier (2–3)Dave Smith (0–2)Lee Smith (6)33,35522–18
41May 25@ Cubs3–1 (11)Charlie Kerfeld (4–1)Lee Smith (0–2)Dave Smith (11)36,00023–18
42May 26@ Cardinals4–1Jim Deshaies (1–1)Bob Forsch (3–3)Frank DiPino (2)20,09924–18
43May 27@ Cardinals5–4Dave Smith (1–2)Ken Dayley(0–3)—20,14625–18
44May 28@ Cardinals4–3 (11)Charlie Kerfeld (5–1)Todd Worrell (3–3)—17,58226–18
45May 30Expos0–1Bryn Smith (4–4)Mike Scott (4–4)Jeff Reardon (12)13,85426–19
46May 31Expos4–3Frank DiPino (1–1)Tim Burke (2–1)Dave Smith (12)25,83127–19
June: 14–15 (Home: 9–6; Away: 5–9)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
47June 1Expos8–4Bob Knepper (9–2)Joe Hesketh (3–4)—13,32528–19
48June 2Cardinals2–9John Tudor (5–3)Mike Madden (1–2)—11,66928–20
49June 3Cardinals1–3Greg Mathews (1–0)Jim Deshaies (1–2)Todd Worrell (8)6,43028–21
50June 4Cardinals4–2Mike Scott (5–4)Ray Burris (2–2)Dave Smith (13)11,39629–21
51June 5@ Dodgers0–1Rick Honeycutt (3–3)Manny Hernández (0–1)Ken Howell (3)32,54529–22
52June 6@ Dodgers2–3Ken Howell (2–2)Bob Knepper (9–3)—38,99129–23
53June 7@ Dodgers7–5Aurelio López (1–0)Ken Howell (2–3)Dave Smith (14)32,90230–23
54June 8@ Dodgers3–2Mike Scott (6–4)Fernando Valenzuela (8–4)Dave Smith (15)47,40431–23
55June 9@ Padres5–3Jim Deshaies (2–2)Eric Show (3–4)Aurelio López (1)19,16732–23
56June 10@ Padres12–1Bob Knepper (10–3)Dave Dravecky (5–6)—13,96633–23
57June 11@ Padres7–11Lance McCullers (2–1)Frank DiPino (1–2)—13,68633–24
58June 12Giants4–1Manny Hernández (1–1)Mike Krukow (8–4)Dave Smith (16)16,34234–24
59June 13Giants1–3Mark Davis (2–3)Mike Scott (6–5)—23,35234–25
60June 14Giants7–3Jim Deshaies (3–2)Terry Mulholland (0–1)Aurelio López (2)32,47735–25
61June 15Giants2–7Vida Blue (4–3)Bob Knepper (10–4)—22,95835–26
62June 17@ Reds4–5Chris Welsh (2–1)Manny Hernández (1–2)John Franco (11)16,82435–27
63June 18@ Reds2–3Ron Robinson (5–0)Dave Smith (1–3)—17,42635–28
64June 19@ Reds6–2Jim Deshaies (4–2)Mario Soto (3–7)—25,92036–28
65June 20@ Giants1–3Vida Blue (5–3)Bob Knepper (10–5)Juan Berenguer (2)25,11636–29
66June 21@ Giants1–2Scott Garrelts (6–6)Mark Knudson (0–1)Juan Berenguer (3)24,92736–30
67June 22@ Giants2–4Mike Krukow (9–4)Manny Hernández (1–3)—N/A36–31
68June 22@ Giants2–3Juan Berenguer (1–0)Dave Smith (1–4)Chuck Hensley (1)47,03036–32
69June 23Reds7–6Larry Andersen (1–0)Ted Power (3–5)—12,95337–32
70June 24Reds8–4Nolan Ryan (4–6)Tom Browning (5–7)—17,48738–32
71June 25Reds3–4 (10)John Franco (1–4)Aurelio López (1–1)—13,31338–33
72June 27Dodgers5–0Mike Scott (7–5)Jerry Reuss (2–6)—25,76039–33
73June 28Dodgers6–4Jim Deshaies (5–2)Bob Welch (3–6)Aurelio López (3)34,25240–33
74June 29Dodgers2–1Manny Hernández (2–3) Fernando Valenzuela (10–5) Frank DiPino (3)32,72341–33
75June 30Padres2–9Dave Dravecky (7–7)Bob Knepper (10–6)—11,14141–34
July: 16–11 (Home: 11–5; Away: 5–6)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
76July 1Padres4–7Eric Show (7–4)Mark Knudson (0–2)Goose Gossage (14)13,86641–35
77July 2Padres8–1Mike Scott (8–5)Andy Hawkins (5–5)—10,14842–35
78July 3@ Mets5–6 (10)Jesse Orosco (4–4)Frank DiPino (1–3)—48,83942–36
79July 4@ Mets1–2Dwight Gooden (10–3)Dave Smith (1–5)—28,55742–37
80July 5@ Mets2–1Charlie Kerfeld (6–1)Roger McDowell (7–1)—50,93943–37
81July 6@ Mets3–5Sid Fernandez (11–2)Mark Knudson (0–3)Roger McDowell (8)31,01743–38
82July 7@ Expos12–1Mike Scott (9–5)Dennis Martínez (0–1)—17,69444–38
83July 8@ Expos4–1Nolan Ryan (5–6)Jay Tibbs (4–5)Charlie Kerfeld (3)16,38245–38
84July 9@ Expos1–2Floyd Youmans (9–5)Bob Knepper (10–7)—15,31645–39
85July 10Phillies11–4Mark Knudson (1–3)Charles Hudson (4–9—18,28946–39
86July 11Phillies1–4Don Carman (4–2)Mike Scott (9–6)Steve Bedrosian (11)18,04746–40
87July 12Phillies4–3Nolan Ryan (6–6)Shane Rawley (11–5)Dave Smith (17)17,49147–40
88July 13Phillies4–5 (11)Steve Bedrosian (6–3)Dave Smith (1–6)—20,59747–41
ASGJuly 15AL @ NL3–2Roger ClemensDwight GoodenDon Aase45,774—
89July 17Mets2–13Bob Ojeda (11–2)Nolan Ryan (6–7)—21,53647–42
90July 18Mets3–0Bob Knepper (11–7)Ron Darling (9–3)—22,90648–42
91July 19Mets5–4Dave Smith (2–6)Roger McDowell (7–3)—44,50249–42
92July 20Mets9–8 (15)Bob Knepper (12–7)Roger McDowell (7–4)—23,90050–42
93July 21Expos8–7Charlie Kerfeld (7–1)Jeff Reardon (6–5)—13,75351–42
94July 22Expos1–0 (10)Dave Smith (3–6)Floyd Youmans (10–6)—19,27152–42
95July 23Expos4–3 (11)Aurelio López (2–1)Tim Burke (7–4)—15,36453–42
96July 24@ Phillies9–3Mike Scott (10–6)Shane Rawley (11–7)—31,09454–42
97July 25@ Phillies2–4Charles Hudson (6–9)Jim Deshaies (5–3)Steve Bedrosian (13)23,38754–43
98July 26@ Phillies2–3Don Carman (5–2)Mark Knudson (1–4)Dan Schatzeder (2)34,07554–44
99July 27@ Phillies3–2Nolan Ryan (7–7)Kevin Gross (6–8)Aurelio López (4)33,19255–44
100July 28Braves4–2Bob Knepper (13–7)Doyle Alexander (6–7)Dave Smith (18)24,59756–44
101July 29Braves0–1David Palmer (7–8)Mike Scott (10–7)Gene Garber (13)26,61056–45
102July 30Braves4–2Jim Deshaies (6–3)Jim Acker (3–5)Dave Smith (19)34,10257–45
August: 16–12 (Home: 8–4; Away: 8–8)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
103August 1@ Padres6–3Bob Knepper (14–7)LaMarr Hoyt (5–7)Dave Smith (20)22,10858–45
104August 2@ Padres5–4Mike Scott (11–7)Eric Show (7–5)Dave Smith (21)28,61259–45
105August 3@ Padres1–5Andy Hawkins (8–7)Mark Knudson (1–5)Goose Gossage (18)21,85059–46
106August 4@ Dodgers3–7 Fernando Valenzuela (15–6) Charlie Kerfeld (7–2)—32,18259–47
107August 5@ Dodgers10–2Aurelio López (3–1)Ken Howell (4–7)Dave Smith (22)45,52560–47
108August 6@ Dodgers4–7Rick Honeycutt (8–6)Matt Keough (2–3)Tom Niedenfuer (7)40,70960–48
109August 8Padres5–0Mike Scott (12–7)Lance McCullers (5–6)—31,14261–48
110August 9Padres6–2Jim Deshaies (7–3)Andy Hawkins (8–8)Charlie Kerfeld (4)38,16962–48
111August 10Padres3–5Dave Dravecky (8–9)Bob Knepper (14–8) Goose Gossage (19) 20,83962–49
112August 11Dodgers7–6Dave Smith (4–6)Ken Howell (4–8)—23,20663–49
113August 12Dodgers3–0Nolan Ryan (8–7)Rick Honeycutt (8–7)Charlie Kerfeld (5)37,97364–49
114August 13Dodgers3–5Orel Hershiser (12–8)Mike Scott (12–8)Tom Niedenfuer (8)33,32764–50
115August 14Dodgers3–2Larry Andersen (2–0) Fernando Valenzuela (15–8) Dave Smith (23)42,11865–50
116August 15@ Braves3–0Bob Knepper (15–8)Jim Acker (4–6)—26,62566–50
117August 16@ Braves7–4Matt Keough (3–3)Rick Mahler (11–12)Dave Smith (24)31,86267–50
118August 17@ Braves3–4Cliff Speck (2–0)Larry Andersen (2–1)Gene Garber (18)17,61867–51
119August 18@ Pirates3–0Mike Scott (13–8)Bob Walk (5–7)—7,96568–51
120August 19@ Pirates1–0Jim Deshaies (8–3)Mike Bielecki (6–9)Dave Smith (25)9,12869–51
121August 20@ Pirates1–4Rick Rhoden (14–7)Bob Knepper (15–9)—16,99769–52
122August 22@ Cardinals5–6John Tudor (13–6)Nolan Ryan (8–8)Todd Worrell (28)33,91869–53
123August 23@ Cardinals1–7Danny Cox (8–10)Mike Scott (13–9)—40,94469–54
124August 24@ Cardinals5–1Jim Deshaies (9–3)Tim Conroy (3–8)Aurelio López (5)33,68770–54
125August 25Cubs3–2Charlie Kerfeld (8–2)Lee Smith (8–8)Dave Smith (26)24,21171–54
126August 26Cubs3–5Ed Lynch (4–3)Danny Darwin (6–9)Lee Smith (25)22,57971–55
127August 27Cubs7–1Nolan Ryan (9–8)Jamie Moyer (5–4)Charlie Kerfeld (6)24,19872–55
128August 29Pirates3–2Mike Scott (14–9)Rick Reuschel (8–15)Dave Smith (27)22,80173–55
129August 30Pirates3–13Rick Rhoden (15–7)Jim Deshaies (9–4)—30,59873–56
130August 31Pirates2–8Bob Walk (7–7)Bob Knepper (15–10)—25,40573–57
September: 18–9 (Home: 9–3; Away: 9–6)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
131September 1@ Cubs6–4Danny Darwin (7–9)Ed Lynch (4–4)Dave Smith (28)25,54774–57
132September 2@ Cubs8–7 (18)Danny Darwin (8–9)Greg Maddux (0–1)—10,50175–57
133September 3@ Cubs8–2Mike Scott (15–9)Scott Sanderson (7–11)—7,05176–57
134September 5Cardinals5–8Ray Soff (2–0)Aurelio López (3–2)—23,54776–58
135September 6Cardinals7–6Charlie Kerfeld (9–2)Todd Worrell (8–10)—21,80277–58
136September 7Cardinals6–3Jeff Calhoun (1–0)Greg Mathews (10–5)Dave Smith (29)20,77378–58
137September 8Reds3–1Nolan Ryan (10–8)Chris Welsh (5–6)Charlie Kerfeld (7)26,99779–58
138September 9Reds9–2Mike Scott (16–9)Tom Browning (12–12)—22,71180–58
139September 10@ Dodgers1–5Orel Hershiser (13–10)Jim Deshaies (9–5)—27,53480–59
140September 11@ Dodgers6–14 Fernando Valenzuela (19–9) Bob Knepper (15–11)—34,81680–60
141September 12@ Padres5–3Charlie Kerfeld (10–2)Lance McCullers (8–8)Dave Smith (30)11,31981–60
142September 13@ Padres3–4Craig Lefferts (8–7)Dave Smith (4–7)—32,72981–61
143September 14@ Padres2–3Craig Lefferts (9–7)Mike Scott (16–10)—13,27981–62
144September 16@ Reds6–1Bob Knepper (16–11)Bill Gullickson (13–11)Larry Andersen (1)16,92782–62
145September 17@ Reds6–1Danny Darwin (9–9)Chris Welsh (6–7)—15,19583–62
146September 18@ Reds5–3Matt Keough (4–3)Tom Browning (13–13)Aurelio López (6)11,82584–62
147September 19Padres5–4Charlie Kerfeld (11–2)Dave LaPoint (4–9)Dave Smith (31)23,80585–62
148September 20Padres10–6Mike Scott (17–10)Ray Hayward (0–1)—36,87886–62
149September 21Padres0–5Jimmy Jones (1–0)Bob Knepper (16–12)—23,38586–63
150September 22Dodgers2–9 Fernando Valenzuela (20–10) Danny Darwin (9–10)—27,64186–64
151September 23Dodgers4–0Jim Deshaies (10–5)Dennis Powell (2–7)—27,73487–64
152September 24Giants6–0Nolan Ryan (11–8)Mike LaCoss (10–13)—37,61188–64
153September 25Giants2–0Mike Scott (18–10)Juan Berenguer (2–3)—32,80889–64
154September 26@ Braves4–5Doyle Alexander (11–10)Matt Keough (4–4)Zane Smith (1)6,75489–65
155September 27@ Braves4–0Danny Darwin (10–10)David Palmer (11–10)—13,54590–65
156September 28@ Braves2–0Jim Deshaies (11–5)Jim Acker (5–11)Dave Smith (32)6,28091–65
157September 30@ Giants5–6Mark Davis (5–7)Aurelio López (3–3)—13,35891–66
October: 5–0 (Home: 3–0; Away: 2–0)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
158October 1@ Giants5–0Danny Darwin (11–10)Mike Krukow (19–9)—9,88192–66
159October 2@ Giants2–1Matt Keough (5–4)Jeff Robinson (6–3Dave Smith (33)8,65693–66
160October 3Braves6–2Nolan Ryan (12–8)Jim Acker (5–12)—25,06894–66
161October 4Braves3–2Jim Deshaies (12–5)Zane Smith (8–16)Aurelio López (7)17,31495–66
162October 5Braves4–1Bob Knepper (17–12)Rick Mahler (14–18)—37,53196–66

Player stats

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
CAlan Ashby12031581.257738
1BGlenn Davis158574152.26531101
2BBill Doran145550152.276637
SSCraig Reynolds11431378.249641
3BDenny Walling130382119.3121358
LFJosé Cruz141479133.2781072
CFBilly Hatcher127419108.258636
RFKevin Bass157591184.3112079

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
Phil Garner10731383.265941
Dickie Thon10627869.248321
Terry Puhl8117242.244314
Mark Bailey5715327.176415
Jim Pankovits7011332.28317
Davey Lopes379823.235113
Tony Walker849020.222210
John Mizerock448115.18516
Ty Gainey265015.30016
Bert Peña15296.20702
Dan Driessen17247.29213
Eric Bullock6211.04801
Robbie Wine9123.25000
Louie Meadows662.33300

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Bob Knepper40258.017123.14143
Mike Scott37275.118102.22306
Nolan Ryan30178.01283.34194
Jim Deshaies26144.01253.25128
Mark Knudson942.2154.2220

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Danny Darwin1254.1522.3240
Mike Madden1339.2124.0830
Matt Keough1035.0323.0925
Manny Hernández927.2233.909

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L SV ERA SO
Dave Smith5456.047332.7346
Charlie Kerfeld6193.211272.5977
Aurelio López4578.03373.4644
Larry Andersen3864.22112.7833
Frank DiPino4140.11333.5727
Julio Solano1632.03107.5921
Jeff Calhoun2026.21003.7114
Tom Funk88.10006.482
Rafael Montalvo11.00009.000

National League Championship Series
Main article: 1986 National League Championship Series

Game 1

October 8 (Astrodome, Houston, Texas)

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
New York 000 000 000 050
Houston 010 000 00X 171
WP: Mike Scott (1–0)  LP: Dwight Gooden (0–1)
HR: NYM – None.; HOU – Glenn Davis (1)

Game 2

October 9 (Astrodome, Houston, Texas)

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
New York 000 230 000 5100
Houston 000 000 100 1102
WP: Bob Ojeda (1–0)  LP: Nolan Ryan (0–1)
HR: NYM – None.; HOU – None.

Game 3

October 11 (Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York)

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Houston 220 000 100 581
New York 000 004 002 6101
WP: Jesse Orosco (1–0)  LP: Dave Smith (0–1)
HR: HOU – Bill Doran (1); NYM – Darryl Strawberry (1), Lenny Dykstra (1)

Game 4

October 12 (Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York)

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Houston 020 010 000 341
New York 000 000 010 130
WP: Mike Scott (2–0)  LP: Sid Fernandez (0–1)
HR: HOU – Alan Ashby (1), Dickie Thon (1); NYM – None.

Game 5

October 14 (Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York)

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 R H E
Houston 000 010 000 000 191
New York 000 010 000 001 240
WP: Jesse Orosco (2–0)  LP: Charlie Kerfeld (0–1)
HRs: HOU – None. NYM – Darryl Strawberry (2)

Game 6

October 15 (Astrodome, Houston, Texas)

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 R H E
New York 000 000 003 000 0103 7110
Houston 300 000 000 000 0102 6111
WP: Jesse Orosco (3–0)  LP: Aurelio López (0–1)
HRs: NYM – None. HOU – Billy Hatcher (1)

Game 6 was one for the ages, in more ways than one. The game went 16 innings with the Mets coming out on top 7–6. It was the highest scoring game of the series; in fact, the 16th inning alone featured more runs than three of the previous five games had in their entirety.

The Astrodome hosted what some consider to be one of the greatest games of all time that October and it will forever be remembered.

The big story of Game 6 was that it was most nearly a must-win for both teams. The Astros obviously had to have it because they were facing elimination. Even though they were up 3–2 in the series, the Mets regarded it as a must-win because they were scheduled to face Mike Scott again in Game 7. Scott had given up a grand total of 1 run in his first two starts of the series, and had dominated the Mets so completely that even the most optimistic Mets fans knew their chances of beating him in a potential Game 7 were small. The end result was one of the greatest games in baseball history.

The Astros broke through first, and for a low scoring series like this, they broke through big, scoring three runs off a possibly tired Bob Ojeda in the bottom of the first. He settled down after that, however, and the Astros wouldn't score again for the next 12 innings. Meanwhile, Astros starter Bob Knepper was brilliant from the very first pitch, and the game headed to the 9th still 3–0.

Just when it looked like the Mets would have to face the mighty Scott, however, their bats suddenly came to life. After pitching almost perfectly for the first eight innings, Knepper clearly tired in the 9th. He allowed three hits and recorded only one out, and left with the Astros clinging to a 3–2 lead. The decision by Lanier not to bring in Smith to start the inning was talked about for years to come. Smith was their closer, but had blown a save earlier in the series. When Smith finally did appear, he was ineffective, walking two batters to load the bases and then allowing the tying run to score on a sacrifice fly by Ray Knight. In a matter of minutes, the previously raucous crowd of 45,718 had been almost completely silenced and extra innings had soon begun.

In the 14th, the Mets made their first bid to win. After Gary Carter opened with a single, a walk to Darryl Strawberry put two runners on with nobody out. After Knight forced Carter at third, Wally Backman drove a single to right. When Kevin Bass' throw to the plate sailed high over Alan Ashby's head to the screen, Strawberry scored. It looked like the end for the Astros, as Orosco came in to close them down.

With one out in the bottom of the 14th and the Houston fans with their heads in their hands, Billy Hatcher shocked everyone with a line drive home run off the left field foul pole. It was the first earned run allowed by the Mets bullpen in the entire series. Hatcher went 3 for 7 in the game, and his homer meant the Astros would be kept alive for at least one more inning. Both teams failed to score in the 15th, and the game went to the 16th inning, the most innings in playoff history at that time.

The 16th inning would be the deciding factor, and it was not an easy 16th for either pitching staff. The Mets appeared to take control of the game once again, this time coming up with 3 runs in the top half of the inning. The rally began with Strawberry receiving a gift double when Billy Hatcher and Bill Doran misplayed his towering fly ball with one out. When Knight followed with a single to right, a poor throw to the plate by Kevin Bass allowed the tiebreaking run to score, just as it had in the 14th. A walk, two wild pitches, and a single by Lenny Dykstra brought in two more runs, putting the Mets up 7–4. This sent some of the Houston faithful for the exits; those who stayed, however, almost witnessed the unthinkable.

Orosco struck out Craig Reynolds to open the inning, but a walk and two singles later, Houston had a run in and the tying run on base. Orosco induced Denny Walling to hit into a force play at second for the second out, but Glenn Davis singled home another run, bringing the Astros within a run. People everywhere were quiet as they watched Orosco face right fielder Kevin Bass with two outs and the tying run on second, and the winning run on first.

It was all up to Bass to drive in a run and tie the game. Orosco threw Bass six straight sliders; when Bass swung and missed the last of them, the epic series was over. Orosco was awarded the victory, marking the first time in postseason history a reliever won three games in a series. It would be a long winter for the Astros, but for the Mets, an even bigger trial awaited them. After taking two days off to recover from the exhausting series against Houston, the Mets began a legendary World Series against the Boston Red Sox, a series in which they would pull off one of the greatest comebacks of all time.

The Mets had won the series with a .189 batting average, the lowest average recorded by a winning team in a postseason series. Their pitching had been the key.

Awards and honors
  • Kevin Bass – National League Player of the Month, June
  • Mike Scott – National League Leader ERA Champion (2.22)
  • Mike Scott – National League Leader in Innings Pitched (275.1)
  • Mike Scott – National League Leader in Shutouts (5)
  • Mike Scott – National League Leader in Strikeouts (306)
  • Mike Scott – NLCS Most Valuable Player
  • Mike Scott – The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year, National League
  • Mike Scott – Cy Young Award, National League
  • Hal Lanier – National League Manager of the Year
  • Hal Lanier, Associated Press Manager of the Year

All-Star Game

Farm system
See also: Minor League Baseball
Level Team League Manager
AAA Tucson Toros Pacific Coast League Carlos Alfonso
AA Columbus Astros Southern League Dave Cripe, Chuck Taylor and Gary Tuck
A Osceola Astros Florida State League Tom Wiedenbauer
A Asheville Tourists South Atlantic League Ken Bolek
A-Short Season Auburn Astros New York–Penn League Keith Bodie
Rookie GCL Astros Gulf Coast League Julio Linares

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Columbus

References
  1. Mike Richardt at Baseball-Reference
  2. "Los Angeles Dodgers at Houston Astros Box Score, September 23, 1986".
  3. Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p.142, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, ISBN 978-0-451-22363-0
  4. Ryan Bowen at Baseball-Reference
  5. Karl "Tuffy" Rhodes at Baseball-Reference
  6. "Trent Hubbard Stats".
  7. "Ed Whited: Career Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  8. Eric Anthony at Baseball-Reference
  9. Matt Keough at Baseball-Reference
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