After opening the season with a seven-game homestand, the Houston Astros will begin their first road trip of the season on Friday in Sacramento against the Athletics.
First pitch is scheduled for 8:40 p.m. Houston is heading out on the road at 5-2 after splitting a season-opening four-game series with the Los Angeles Angels, then sweeping the Boston Red Sox.
The Astros pitching has been good this season, as has the bullpen. The offense has been the surprise as it broke out big-time against the Red Sox.
Houston is averaging 8.6 runs per game during their five-game winning streak. They scored 23 runs in three games against Boston, and they did it against their top three pitchers. Ranger Suárez was roughed up in his Red Sox debut on Monday, before Brayan Bello was hit hard on Tuesday night. Houston got to ace Garrett Crochet early and often on Wednesday afternoon.
The Astors are beginning a 10-day road trip that will have stops against the Seattle Mariners and Colorado Rockies before they return home.
How to Watch Houston Astros First Road Game of 2026
Yordan Alvarez | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Houston Astros at Athletics
Time: 8:40 p.m.
Where: Sutter Health Park, Sacramento, CA
TV: Space City Home Network 2
Radio: KBME 790AM/94.5 FM HD-2, KTLN-TUDN 102.9 FM
Pitching Matchup
Cristian Javier | Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Houston: RHP Cristian Javier (0-0,11.57) vs. Athletics: LHP Jeffrey Springs (0-0, 3.38)
Even though it’s just Cristian Javier’s second start of the season, the Astros need a good bounce-back performance from him after he was roughed up in his first appearance. In 4.2 innings against the Angels, he allowed six earned runs on four hits, four walks, and two home runs.
Since that start, Houston’s starting rotation has been good and has gotten a lot of run support over that span. The bullpen is piecing things together without Hader at the backend, but so far, so good.
This is a road trip where the Astros can take advantage of the schedule with games against the Athletics and Colorado Rockies and continue to build momentum early in the season. The trip to Seattle will be a good measuring stick for manager Joe Espada to get a good read on his team.
Astros Injuries
10-Day Injured List: INF/OF Zach Dezenzo (right elbow soreness); 15-Day Injured List: Josh Hader (left bicep tendinitis, RHP Enyel De Los Santos (right knee strain), LHP Bennett Sousa (left oblique strain), RHP Nate Pearson (right elbow surgery recovery); 60-Day Injured List: LHP Brandon Walker (torn ulnar collateral ligament in left elbow).
