Who’s to Blame for the Astros’ Slow Start?

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 11: Bryan Abreu #52 of the Houston Astros pitches against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on April 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Astros fans, who do you blame for the slow start to the season?

I’ve written several times that I’m not ready to panic just yet, but I’d be lying if I said there isn’t some real concern. After all, this team currently holds the worst record in Major League Baseball, and the issues aren’t isolated to just one area. The shortcomings are showing up across the board, but none more glaring than with the pitching staff.

Shortstop Carlos Correa recently summed it up well, saying this is a good baseball team playing bad baseball. That sentiment feels accurate. The talent is there. This is still a roster capable of making a playoff run. And despite the rough start, they’re only three games out of first place. It’s early, very early, and there’s plenty of time to right the ship.

Even after being swept by both the Colorado Rockies and the Seattle Mariners, this team leads Major League Baseball in runs scored. The offense has started to click, thanks in large part to a healthy Yordan Alvarez and a resurgent Christian Walker.

But the positives on offense haven’t been enough to outweigh the issues elsewhere.

Injuries have certainly played a role. Key players like Jeremy Peña, Hunter Brown, and Cristian Javier have all missed time. Still, Correa and others in that clubhouse have been adamant about not using injuries as an excuse.

And frankly, the numbers back that up.

The problems start with the pitching staff.

When your bullpen has logged more innings than your starting rotation, that’s a massive red flag. The Astros currently own the worst ERA and WHIP in baseball, the highest opponent batting average, and they lead the league in walks allowed. That’s a recipe for disaster. Add in an eight-game losing streak, the longest since 2013, when the franchise lost over 100 games and it paints a troubling picture.

One of the biggest surprises has been Bryan Abreu.

When Josh Hader went down, there wasn’t much panic. The assumption was simple: Abreu, widely considered one of the best setup men in baseball, would step in and handle closing duties without missing a beat.

Instead, the opposite has happened.

Rather than shutting the door, Abreu has struggled mightily, failing to get out of jams, putting runners on base, giving up home runs, and blowing leads. His ERA ballooned north of 20. For a team already struggling on the mound, that’s been a crushing blow.

So again, the question remains: who’s to blame?

Is it general manager Dana Brown for not doing enough to reinforce the pitching staff, particularly after losing Framber Valdez in free agency, by adding veteran starters?

Do you point the finger at manager Joe Espada? As Correa said, this team is playing bad baseball, and the manager is often the first to take the heat. Then again, in today’s analytically driven game, how much control does the manager really have when front offices heavily influence daily lineup decisions?

Or do you chalk it up to injuries and trust that this team will eventually bounce back?

Maybe the blame falls squarely on the struggles of Abreu and a pitching staff that simply hasn’t delivered.

However you see it, one thing is clear: the Astros have work to do and the clock is already ticking. I mentioned it before, but Lucas Giolito is still out there and could add immediate help to the rotation. Are they willing to add or are we headed towards a fire sale?

So, Astros fans, who do you blame? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.