The Houston Astros had a period of dominance between 2017-2022. However, since their elimination in 2023, Houston missed the playoffs in 2024, and then did the same in 2025. Houston has seen the exodus of Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, Frambler Valdez, and more. Unfortunately, even with the great seasons so far from Christian Walker and Yordan Alvarez, Houston has struggled and have a 15-22 record. Not to mention, the Astros have one of the worst pitching staffs in the MLB, making the situation worse.
Carlos Correa Done for 2026
At last seasons deadline, Houston decided to reunite with Carlos Correa. Correa has never hit more than 26 homers in his career, however, he brings an elite batting average and power when healthy. Yet, his career numbers show a hitter who struggles to stay healthy:
2022: 136 GP, .291, 22 HR, 64 RBI
2023: 135 GP, .230, 18 HR, 65 RBI
2024: 86 GP, .310, 14 HR, 54 RBI
2025: 144 GP, .276, 13 HR, 52 RBI
And now this season, Correa hit .279 with three home runs and a 16 RBIs in 32 games. Unfortunately for the Astros, Correa will undergo a surgery to repair a tendon in his left ankle, as Jeff Passan reported:
Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after tearing a tendon in his ankle, he told reporters in Houston. He will soon undergo surgery and be out six to eight months.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 6, 2026
Such an injury hurts a lot for Houston.
What Does This Mean For Houston?
For the Astros, this means that Alvarez is probably going to be the number one name to be traded. Houston’s lineup, which isn’t very good, now takes a huge blow with the loss of Correa. A playoff push from this team now also seems like a far-fetched dream for Houston. To put it simply, Houston could be forced to focus on a rebuild. The good thing is, the Astros have young hitters like Cam Smith that they can build around.
Even Isaac Paredes is 27 years old, and others are still pretty young. For Houston, it is simple, a playoff push in 2026 is likely not even close to a reality. The season isn’t over by any means, especially with how the American League has been, however, this is bad news for Houston.
Main Image: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
