Astros manager Joe Espada's job security is in question as the team struggles. Yordan Alvarez has been named AL Player of the Month, and the Astros are set to use an opener against the Dodgers.
Key points
Joe Espada's job security is uncertain amid losing streaks
Yordan Alvarez named AL Player of the Month
Astros to use opener strategy against Dodgers
Astros finished road trip with a 3-3 record
Team's defense showed improvement in recent games
Mentioned in this story
Joe Espada
Steven OkertHouston AstrosYordan Alvarez
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 22: Yordan Alvarez #44 of the Houston Astros celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning during the game between the Houston Astros and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Grace Hoppel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The latest news on the Houston Astros and from around MLB:
**Is Astros Manager Joe Espada’s job hanging by a thread? MLB Insider Bob Nightengale addressed that and more with our Craig Larson Jr. in Four Big Questions:**
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 4, 2026
**Astros will go the opener route Monday against the Dodgers:**
Steven Okert will open for the Astros tomorrow against the Dodgers.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler\_Rome) May 3, 2026
**It only took about 2 and a half weeks:**
The Astros have won consecutive games for the first time since April 14-15. They finish this road trip 3-3.
Q&A
Is Joe Espada's job at risk with the Houston Astros?
Yes, there are concerns that Joe Espada could be fired if the Astros continue to lose.
Who was named the AL Player of the Month for April 2026?
Yordan Alvarez was named the AL Player of the Month for April 2026.
What is the Astros' upcoming pitching strategy against the Dodgers?
The Astros plan to use Steven Okert as an opener in their game against the Dodgers.
How did the Astros perform in their recent road trip?
The Astros finished their recent road trip with a 3-3 record, winning consecutive games for the first time since mid-April.
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— Chandler Rome (@Chandler\_Rome) May 3, 2026
**AJ Blubaugh, who has not been pitching in longer outings recently, gave the Astros a very important 11 outs Sunday:**
AJ Blubaugh has thrown 3 2/3 innings on 59 pitches. His previous season high was 44 pitches. Steven Okert was warming through the sixth, apparently in case Jarren Duran came up again. Blubaugh prevented that by getting Caleb Durbin to pop out with two on. Still 1-1.
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) May 3, 2026
AJ Blubaugh with a big game out of the @astros bullpen.
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) May 3, 2026
**Its a commandment: Thou shalt not steal on Christian Vazquez:**
Si un equipo en MLB debería conocer las habilidades de Christian Vázquez para sacar corredores son precisamente los #MediasRojas .
El boricua fusila a Monasterio con este certero disparo a la 2B y garantiza la entrada en cero. pic.twitter.com/vAgE8eBXdf
— Javier Gonzalez (@Astros\_Coverage) May 3, 2026
**The Astros have mostly gotten vintage Carlos Correa since acquiring him:**
Carlos Correa in 80 games since returning to the #Astros.
.296 avg
.368 obp
.441 slg
.808 ops
To go along with excellent defense and outstanding leadership. Continues to do his part.
— Don Dougan (@don\_dougan) May 2, 2026
**Brice Matthews and Mauricio Dubon text each other to talk trash. This is awesome.**
Brice Matthews said Mauricio Dubón texted him to "catch the ball" on Thursday after Matthews couldn't haul in Adley Rutschman's grand slam in Baltimore. After catching Willson Contreras' deep fly ball today, Matthews said he plans to text Dubón that "and some other choice words"
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler\_Rome) May 3, 2026
**Bryan Abreu pitched 2 innings without giving up a run for the win Sunday. Yes, this is real life.**
The Astros “didn’t have a ton of options” to navigate a bullpen game Sunday. Extending AJ Blubaugh and an encouraging day for Bryan Abreu helped them escape Boston with a series win, while highlighting a staff stretched thin:
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) May 4, 2026
Espada calls on Abreu, and embattled reliever delivers big-time
"Hopefully this is a trampoline that gets him going. I’m really proud of him for those two innings.”
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) May 4, 2026
**Houston’s much-maligned defense performed better this weekend at Fenway:**
What two defensive moments – one ground ball, one fly ball – reflected for Spencer Arrighetti and Brice Matthews in an Astros win Saturday at Fenway Park:
— Javier Gonzalez (@Astros\_Coverage) May 3, 2026
**Astros dodged a major bullet with Christian Walker avoiding injury after getting beaned:**
Christian Walker said he cleared concussion testing and feels "OK, luckily" after being hit in the helmet by a pitch in Saturday's ninth inning:
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) May 3, 2026
**Spencer Arrighetti continued to give the Astros innings and got his 4th straight win to start the season:**
Spencer Arrighetti didn't allow a run until the fifth inning while the Astros scored six runs to set the stage for a win over the Red Sox. pic.twitter.com/szybD2No5e
— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) May 2, 2026
**Zach Dezenzo is starting to find his rhythm at the plate on his rehab assignment:**
Zach Dezenzo homered for the first time this season. He’s on a rehab assignment with the Hooks and is on a 4-game hitting streak. pic.twitter.com/vMp64yOfv2
— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) May 3, 2026
**Xavier Neyens. Boss Tendencies:**
Xavier Neyens leads all of qualified minor league hitters with an average exit velocity of 98 MPH, per Astros Player Development.
That’s absolutely smoking the ball.
— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) May 3, 2026
Change for change sake doesn’t always work:
First home series since firing the manager, the hitting coach and various other coaches. Red Sox hit .107 with a .492 OPS with runners in scoring position. 7 runs scored. 29 runners left on base.
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared\_Carrabis) May 3, 2026
**Laz Diaz is still an awful umpire:**
Umpire Laz Diaz was the lowest rated umpire of the day and missed 21 calls in the Astros Red Sox game.
He had 6 calls overturned by ABS challenge and now has the 2nd most calls overturned this season. pic.twitter.com/tiNmphNtmQ
— Umpire Auditor (@UmpireAuditor) May 4, 2026
**Baseball mourns the passing of legendary broadcaster John Sterling:**
John Sterling, longtime radio voice of the New York Yankees, has died at 87 after a 36-season career.
The New York native called 5,420 regular-season games and 211 postseason games before retiring in April 2024. pic.twitter.com/8nAT09vbBC
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 4, 2026
**Red Sox 1B Willson Contreras thinks the Boston clubhouse has been a little more at ease without Alex Cora on the bench:**
Willson Contreras said the guys "got loose a little more" after Alex Cora was fired, adding that he felt the tension was gone.
"That's what I felt. That's my opinion. When Alex wasn't in the dugout, the team, was like [exhales] loose."
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) May 3, 2026
**Contreras also managed to tick off his young teammates:**
Willson Contreras told the media today that it probably doesn’t help that the Red Sox lineup has many young players not used to slumping.
Marcelo Mayer minutes later:
“To me, that’s kind of an excuse: blame the young guys. But at the end of the day, we’re all playing baseball,… pic.twitter.com/exV30gmS4Y
— Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) May 4, 2026
**The Braves have done something the franchise hasn’t done in over 130 years. Thankfully they don’t play in the AL West.**
The #Braves have won 25 of their first 35 games for the first time in modern franchise history (since 1900).
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) May 3, 2026
Things that should not happen, but somehow did:
The Royals tonight were the first team in major league history to:
walk zero times
strike out 17+ times
hit zero home runs
win
— Rany Jazayerli (@jazayerli) May 3, 2026
Maybe not the mother of all backfires, but that did not look like it went as planned:
Video has surfaced
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) May 4, 2026
**Deals like this are probably why the Red Sox aren’t doing so well:**
The Atlanta Braves pulled off one of the biggest thefts in baseball history, courtesy of the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox sent Chris Sale + $17,000,000 cash to Atlanta in exchange for a prospect that hasn't panned out.
— The Voice Of Reason (@SportsAndStock1) May 3, 2026
Chris Sale is pitching his way into Cooperstown:
7 innings
3 hits
1 run
11 strikeouts
He is about to go 6-1 with a 2.16 ERA and 46 strikeouts with Atlanta leading 8-1 over the Rockies at Coors Field.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 3, 2026
**Shohei Ohtani was the victim of a vicious plunking:**
This 75 MPH pitch almost ended Shohei Ohtani pic.twitter.com/gGTRvg5C4D
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 4, 2026
**Bob Nightengale’s best and worst of the first month of the season – and the Astros didn’t land on any worsts:**
MLB awards 2026 for wacky first month: Best player, biggest flop
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 4, 2026
**All or nothing:**
White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has 13 HRs and 0 doubles:
Players with 40+ and 15 or fewer 2B in a season:
Babe Ruth, Yankees
1932: 41 HR, 13 2B
Harmon Killebrew, Twins
1964: 49 HR, 11 2B
Frank Howard, Senators
1970: 44 HR, 15 2B
Hank Aaron. Atlanta, 1973: 40 HR, 12 2B
