Which team has been the bigger disappointment, the Astros or Red Sox?

TL;DR

The Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox are both struggling this MLB season, with the Astros currently having a worse record. Houston's pitching is notably poor, leading the league with a 6.08 ERA.

Key points

Astros and Red Sox are struggling in the 2026 MLB season
Astros have a worse record than the Red Sox
Houston's pitching leads the league with a 6.08 ERA
Red Sox are 3.5 games out of playoff contention
Astros have multiple players on the injured list

Houston AstrosBoston Red Sox

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 01: Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros reacts after hitting a home run in the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Daikin Park on April 01, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images The last time we took a broad look at the “upside down” standings was two weeks ago, when the MLB season was at the 1/8th mark. This weekend marks the 1/5th mark, 20 percent of the way through the season. Out of all 30 teams, here are the bottom six:

The preseason Over/Under on Caesars for those six teams: PHI 89.5 BOS 87.5 KC 82.5 70.5 HOU 85.5 NYM 90.5 It’s a good reminder that, as much as it doesn’t seem that way based on recent events, Boston isn’t the only city whose baseball team has greatly disappointed thus far. And possibly the most appalling tidbit in that screenshot is that the Red Sox are just 3.5 games out of the playoffs as we enter the month of May. Remember the first week of the season when the Astros handily swept the Red Sox in Houston, and it looked like Boston wasn’t even in the same league as the team they were playing? They then went on to lose nine of their next ten, including being swept by the (not terrible) . The Astros have a worse record than the Red Sox this season. We see the Astros again this weekend, and they are 4-12 on the road on the season. Their injured list includes pitchers , , , and . It includes shortstop and outfielders and . Houston’s pitching is the worst in all of baseball this season, with a team ERA of 6.08, almost a full run worse than the next team (Washington – 5.11). The of 6.63 is particularly alarming. The Sox will face (6.25 ERA), (2.00), and a new addition to the rotation in (2.75) in this series. As a team, Houston is walking batters at an MLB worst 13.7%. Take a strike this weekend, will ya? Which of these teams, the Astros or the Red Sox, has been the bigger disappointment thus far? What about throughout the entire league? (The answer is probably the Mets.) Discuss in the comments and enjoy the weekend!

Q&A

What are the current records of the Astros and Red Sox in the 2026 MLB season?

As of now, the Astros have a worse record than the Red Sox, despite both teams being among the bottom six in the league.

Why is the Astros' pitching considered the worst in baseball this season?

The Astros have a team ERA of 6.08, which is nearly a full run worse than the next team, and their bullpen ERA is alarming at 6.63.

How many games out of the playoffs are the Red Sox as of May 2026?

The Red Sox are currently 3.5 games out of the playoffs as we enter May 2026.