HOUSTON — The Houston Astros extended their winning streak to five games, taking down the Texas Rangers 5-3 on Thursday night. The run has pulled the team to 51-51 and 2.5 games out of a wild card spot. Framber Valdez delivered seven strong innings, allowing just two earned runs.
The streak follows a 2-8 stretch that had many writing off Houston's playoff hopes. Jose Altuve has been the catalyst, batting .380 with two home runs and six RBIs over the last five games. Kyle Tucker added a crucial two-run shot against the Rangers — his 23rd of the season.
This is not a hot streak against weak opponents. The Astros beat the division-leading Rangers twice and swept a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners. Manager Joe Espada has watched his team's ERA drop to 3.55 over this stretch, well below their 4.21 season average. The bullpen has been sharp, allowing just one earned run in 15 innings.
Beyond the field, the real story is Houston's aging core and the contract decisions coming fast. Altuve is locked in through 2027 at $30 million annually, but Alex Bregman, 32, is playing on the final year of his deal at $28.5 million. His .235 batting average and 12 home runs make an extension at that price a difficult call for General Manager Dana Brown. The franchise has to decide whether this veteran group has another championship run in it before writing another big check.
Upcoming series against the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees will test whether this momentum is real. Both clubs rank among the American League's top offenses, and Houston's starting rotation still sits outside the top 10 in quality starts. The bullpen can carry a hot week — it cannot carry a pennant race.
