Houston Astros’ Rising Ace Having One of Best Starts in Franchise History
A Houston Astros pitcher is making a major impact this season, joining some of the franchise’s all-time greats with his dominant performance.
The Astros have exceeded expectations in the 2025 MLB regular season, defying the odds despite significant offseason losses. As of June 21, they held a 44-32 record, ranking second in the American League behind the Detroit Tigers.
They also enjoy a 5.0-game lead over the Seattle Mariners in the AL West standings. Despite another slow start to the season, the team quickly regained its momentum, overcoming numerous injuries and underperforming key players. Yet, they have still managed to rack up wins.
A major factor in their success has been their outstanding pitching staff, with one emerging ace, Hunter Brown, leading the charge.
After a strong finish to the 2024 season, Brown, a 2019 fifth-round pick, has carried that momentum into 2025. From mid-May through the end of 2024, Brown was one of the top pitchers in baseball, with only Paul Skenes (Pittsburgh Pirates) and Chris Sale (Atlanta Braves) posting a lower ERA during that stretch. Both of those pitchers went on to win major honors, including NL Rookie of the Year and NL Cy Young.
Now, Brown is in contention to start the 2025 MLB All-Star Game for the American League and could even receive AL Cy Young consideration due to his incredible performance.
Through his first 15 starts, Brown has posted a 1.88 ERA over 91 innings, with 109 strikeouts. His ERA and 213 ERA+ both lead the AL, while his 5.5 H/9 is the best in the Majors.
This has been one of the most dominant starts in franchise history. According to Chandler Rome of The Athletic on X, Brown’s 1.88 ERA through his first 15 starts is the fifth-lowest in team history. Only Nolan Ryan (1.37 in 1981), Roger Clemens (1.51 in 2005), Justin Verlander (1.61 in 2018), and Larry Dierker (1.80 in 1970) have had lower ERA marks during that span.
With Framber Valdez’s future uncertain—he’s set to hit free agency this winter and may price himself out of Houston—the Astros are likely relieved to have another ace to rely on in their rotation.
Leave a Reply