The Launch Briefing: April 20, 2026 – Loperfido, Refsnyder, Ohtani Welcome to the Launch Briefing, a daily feature, where you will find a roundup of news and interesting stories from the Astros clubhouse and from around the league.  Discuss and share in the c…

The Launch Briefing: April 20, 2026 - France, Donovan, Diaz
#Astros

@sanantoniotim.bsky.social

Finally, A Win I Can Feel Good About; Astros Win 9-2 Over Guardians Spencer Arrighetti might be the Astros’ “ace” for now. I only partially joke about that assertion. To be clear, I don’t view Arrighetti as a savior of this pitching staff. T…

Finally, A Win I Can Feel Good About; #Astros Win 9-2 Over Guardians

I spent too long after reading this thinking about what Talking Heads song you were talking about until I realized oh Eric Byrnes not David Byrne

Maybe they’re suggesting he start. Couldn’t hurt at this point

Should the Astros Trade Yordan Alvarez? (POLL): Astros at Guardians, 4-20-26, 5:10 CT Game 24 Preview and Thread Yordan Alvarez is the best player on the Houston Astros, and one of the best, if not the best, hitter in the majors. The Houston Astros are a train wreck who, as its stands, don’t look to be …

Is it blasphemy to suggest trading Yordan? His value may never be higher, and a limited no trade clause kicks in next year. Vote and comment!

@launchanglehou.bsky.social

launch-angle.com/2026/04/20/s...

Pitching Depth Is An Illusion: Astros at Mariners, 4-11-26, 8:40 CT Game 15 Preview and Thread In February, I was actually feeling decently optimistic about the Astros’ pitching depth. Yes, Josh Hader was a possibility to miss the start of the season, which did happen, but everything e…

Pitching Depth Is An Illusion: #Astros at Mariners, 4-11-26, 8:40 CT Game 15 Preview and Thread

A Few Fun (and Not-so-Fun) Facts About the Astros on this Off-Day Before Mariners Series Everything about the Astros’ young season is topsy-turvy. Here are a few fun facts that prove that baseball prognostication is more dada than science.

A Few Fun (And Not-So-Fun) Facts About The #Astros On This Off-Day Before Mariners Series

Guide to The Launch Angle A guide to the many ways to be a part of The Launch Article community. Read the articles, comment and discuss, ioin the Discord server, follow on SM, support on Patreon, or even write or submit pho…

Guide to The Launch Angle
#Astros

The Astros might be down at the moment, but we’re not. We have big plans for @launchanglehou.bsky.social Check out the guide to learn more about the community we’re building.

And a shoutout to @mhatter106.bsky.social for creating this guide and all of his improvements in making the site better!

The Injuries Pile Up In High Altitude, Astros Swept By Rockies In 9-1 Loss So, since last weekend, the Astros have lost Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, and Jake Meyers to injuries. Josh Hader and Bennett Sousa are still on the IL. Five of what everyone presumed were key co…

The Injuries Pile Up In High Altitude, #Astros Swept By Rockies In 9-1 Loss

Reddit disagrees

Javier’s Visible “Invisiball” and 100 Posts: Astros at Rockies, 4-8-26, 2:10 CT Game 13 Preview and Thread In the 100th post of The Launch Angle, we examine what has happened to Cristian Javier’s Invisiball, ahead of the final game of the Astros-Rockies series at Coors Field.

Javier's Visible "Invisiball" and 100 Posts: #Astros at Rockies, 4-8-26, 2:10 CT Game 13 Preview and Thread

@evanlang27.bsky.social @sammieb27.bsky.social @reneedechert.com

Populist Dinger and Classist Orbit: Astros at Rockies, 4-7-26, 7:40 CT Game 12 Preview and Thread If you compare the Houston Astros to the Colorado Rockies, top to bottom, there aren’t a lot of areas where the Astros don’t get the checkmark. I’ll take the Astros #1 offense ove…

Populist Dinger and Classist Orbit: #Astros at Rockies, 4-7-26, 7:40 CT Game 12 Preview and Thread

Astros Can’t Outslug Their Own Pitching Staff in 9–7 Defeat To Rockies To be honest, entering this season, I was much more bullish about the pitching staff than the lineup. Only 11 games into the season, I might eventually be proven correct in that assessment. But the…

#Astros Can’t Outslug Their Own Pitching Staff in 9–7 Defeat To Rockies

Really? I couldn’t even finish Old Dads because it felt *too* real, and I was getting all worked up.

Especially that dude on a scooter on the street saying “share the road”

@adamdubbin.bsky.social

April Questions: Astros at Rockies, 4-6-26, 7:40 CT Game 11 Preview and Thread April games count just as much as September games, but that doesn’t mean that April decisions are made the same way September ones are. With 5+ months of games ahead of you, your goals are di…

April Questions: #Astros at Rockies, 4-6-26, 7:40 CT Game 11 Preview and Thread

Early returns on the Astros’ offensive approach are encouraging So far, the Astros’ offense has sprinted out of the gate. It’s a small sample but the offensive results have been at or near the top of the league. Small samples over a handful of games…

Early returns on the #Astros’ offensive approach are encouraging

Left Field on the outside looking in A look at the best non-cheaters

Left Field On The Outside Looking In
#Astros

I see @chandlerrome.bsky.social
(This was not a recent photo)

Jo Adell celebrating Easter by denying someone three times

This Time The Comeback Falls Short As Bryan Abreu Implodes Again; Astros Lose 12-10 To A’s My working title for this recap was “Astros Murder Sacramento, 44-1.” Yes I am a very optimistic, glass half-full sort of lad. Things didn’t play out that way, did they? First Inn…

This Time The Comeback Falls Short As Bryan Abreu Implodes Again; #Astros Lose 12-10 To A’s

Hunter Brown put on Injured List Astros’ ace starting pitcher Hunter Brown was placed on the Injured List with a right shoulder strain. At this early point, we have no information on the severity of the issue. The Astros cal…

Hunter Brown Put On Injured List
#Astros

Return of the Mac: Astros at Athletics, 4-5-26, 3:05 CT Game 10 Preview and Thread Happy Easter, everyone! Spring has sprung. The birds are singing. The Astros are hitting. The Imai’s are dealing. The Teng puns are pouring out (It’s Kai-Wei or the highway!) And in the…

Return of the Mac: #Astros at Athletics, 4-5-26, 3:05 CT Game 10 Preview and Thread

I’m still a big fan of your “well sir all I can say is if I were Adell, I’d be swinging” post

He’s come a long way from the guy who helped a home run get over the fence.

The Minor League Season The Astros minor leaguers are back in action. Evaluations generally come out in the winter and those were not pretty. The gold standard is Baseball America, which has their stuff seriously paywalle…

The Minor League Season
#Astros