2018 Houston Astros season

The 2018 Houston Astros season was the 57th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in Houston, Texas, their 54th as the Astros, sixth in both the American League and American League West, and 19th at Minute Maid Park. The Astros were the defending World Series champions, after winning the 2017 World Series four games to three over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Houston began the season March 29 against the Texas Rangers and finished the season on September 30 against the Baltimore Orioles, capping off an unprecedented second consecutive 100-win season.

They repeated as American League West champions and swept the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS to advance to the ALCS, where they lost in five games to the Boston Red Sox.

The Astros once again sent a league-high six players to the 2018 All-Star Game. Additionally, ace Justin Verlander finished as runner-up for the American League Cy Young Award for the second time in three years.

Summary
The Houston Astros entered the 2018 Major League Baseball season as defending World Series champions after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games. In addition to achieving their first-ever World Series championship, they claimed both their first American League (AL) pennant and AL West division championship. Center fielder George Springer was named the World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) and right-handed starting pitcher Justin Verlander was the American League Championship Series (ALCS) MVP. A number of regular season and multiple-sport awards went to second baseman José Altuve, including the AL MVP, Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year, Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year, and The Sporting News Major League Player of the Year awards, among others.

Offseason
On January 23, 2018, first baseman Jon Singleton and pitcher Dean Deetz were suspended after testing positive for substances violating MLB's drug policy. Singleton, a former Astros' number-one prospect, had tested positive for the third time and was banned for 100 games.

Roster moves

 * November 2, 2017: The following players became free agents at the conclusion of the World Series:
 * Carlos Beltrán (DH): Announced retirement from playing career on November 13, 2017.
 * Tyler Clippard (RHP): Signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.
 * Luke Gregerson (RHP): Signed two-year, $11 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, with a vesting option for the 2020 season, on December 13, 2017.
 * Francisco Liriano (LHP): Signed one-year, $4 million contract with the Detroit Tigers.
 * Cameron Maybin (OF): Signed one-year, $3.25 million contract with the Miami Marlins
 * December 13: Signed free agent right-handed relief pitcher Joe Smith to a two-year contract worth $14 million.

Regular season
Justin Verlander was the Opening Day starting pitcher for Houston at Globe Life Park in Arlington, versus Cole Hamels of the Texas Rangers. It was Verlander's tenth career Opening Day start and first with Houston, as all nine previous had come as a member of the Detroit Tigers. George Springer led the game off with a home run, becoming the first MLB player to lead off with a home run in consecutive Opening Days. He had homered off Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners in the first inning of Opening Day 2017 at Minute Maid Park. Verlander pitched six shutout innings and struck out five. The Astros won by a final score of 4–1.

Second baseman José Altuve reached 1,000 games played in his career on April 17, 2018, versus the Mariners. He became the 20th player to appear in 1,000 games for the Astros.

Verlander was named AL Player of the Week on April 17. In 15 innings over one start each versus the Rangers and Twins, he struck 20 and allowed a .100 opponents' batting average.

On May 7, 2018, Springer homered versus the Oakland Athletics and became the first player in Astros franchise history to record six hits in a nine-inning game. Joe Morgan had six hits in a twelve-inning game for the Astros on June 8, 1965.

On May 16, 2018, Verlander threw a complete-game shutout against the Los Angeles Angels for his eighth career shutout and 24th complete game. He struck out Shohei Ohtani in the top of the ninth inning for his 2,500th career strikeout, becoming the 33rd pitcher in Major League history to cross that threshold. He was second among active leaders in strikeouts behind CC Sabathia.

Over three games versus the Cleveland Indians spanning May 25–27, Altuve recorded a base hit in each of 10 consecutive at bats, breaking his own club record of eight which he had set the year prior. The streak included three doubles, one triple, and one home run.

Verlander was named AL Pitcher of the Month for May, his fifth career award. In six starts, he produced a 0.86 ERA and .437 OPS against, allowed nine extra base hits, while striking out 50 over $41 2/3$ innings. He started and ended the month by dominating the Yankees—the only lineup in baseball with an OPS over .800—with 20 strikeouts in $14 2/3$ innings, eight hits, and one run allowed.

On July 13, 2018, Charlie Morton was added to the American League roster for the 2018 MLB All-Star game making the Astros the only MLB team at the time to have all of their starting pitchers having at least one selection to participate in the MLB All-Star game.

On September 26, 2018, Houston won the American League West division title after the Oakland Athletics were defeated by the Seattle Mariners, following a 4–1 win against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Astros pitchers set a new MLB record by striking out 1,687 opposing batters during the season. The team had 96 games in which they struck out 10 or more batters, also a record. In addition, they were the first team to strike out 5 or more batters in each of 162 games.

Batting
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases; BB = Walks; AVG = Batting average; SLG = Slugging average Source:

Pitching
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts Source: