The 2020 Houston Astros season was the 59th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in Houston, Texas, their 56th as the Astros, eighth in both the American League (AL) and AL West division, and 21st at Minute Maid Park. The team entered the season having won a franchise regular season-record 107 games, as both the defending champions of the American League and of the AL West, the runners-up of the 2019 World Series, with three consecutive 100-win regular seasons, and entrants into three consecutive American League Championship Series (ALCS); both of the latter two achievements had been unprecedented in franchise history.
The 2020 season was the first for both Dusty Baker as the Astros' manager, the 24th in franchise history, and James Click as general manager. The pair replaced A. J. Hinch and Jeff Luhnow, respectively, who were terminated for their role in the team's sign-stealing scandal which had been revealed during the 2019–20 offseason. As part of the team's punishment, they forfeited both their first- and second-round picks in the 2020 and 2021 MLB drafts.
As a response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the MLB season was shortened from the standard 162-game schedule to 60 games, resulting in a delayed start to the season. The season commenced on July 24 with Justin Verlander making his third consecutive Opening Day start for the Astros, who hosted the Seattle Mariners and won, 8–12. The Astros' top overall selection in the MLB draft was Alex Santos, a compensatory pick between the second and third rounds.
By virtue of a Los Angeles Angels loss on September 25, the Astros clinched a playoff berth, reaching their fourth consecutive postseason tournament, fifth in the last six years, and 14th postseason season appearance in franchise history. It was also their fourth wild card title and second as an AL club. Baker became the first major league manager to guide five different teams to the postseason. In spite of finishing the regular season 29–31, Houston became the second AL team to reach the playoffs with a losing record following the 1981 Kansas City Royals, also during a shortened season. Hence, under the newly-expanded playoff format, Houston received the No. 6 seed in the AL.
On September 30, the Astros became the first sub-.500 team to win a playoff series, eliminating the Minnesota Twins in a two-game sweep in the AL Wild Card Series (WCS), becoming the first sub-.500 team to win a playoff game the day before (as of 2023, they remain the only sub-.500 team to ever win a playoff game or series). The Astros advanced to the American League Division Series (ALDS), where they defeated the AL West-champion Oakland Athletics three games to one. During the ALDS, the Astros batted in a historic 33 runs (and 12 home runs) across 35 innings. Next, the Astros advanced to their fourth consecutive ALCS, where they were defeated by the Tampa Bay Rays in seven games. Having trailed three-games-to-none to start the ALCS, the Astros nearly completed a dramatic comeback in forcing a Game 7.
Offseason Summary
The Astros concluded the 2019 season with an record for the most wins in baseball and as AL West division champions, ten games ahead of the runners-up Oakland Athletics. The Astros won their second AL pennant, but were defeated in the World Series in seven games by the Washington Nationals. The 107 regular-season wins surpassed the club record of 103 set just the season before, with the Astros having won 100 or more games for a third consecutive, unprecedented in franchise history. Justin Verlander won the AL Cy Young Award, the second of his career and fourth by an Astros pitcher, while Yordan Alvarez was recognized as AL Rookie of the Year, the third player in team history.
Electronic sign-stealing controversy For years, some individuals on other teams had suspected the Astros of stealing signs, but there was no public reporting on the subject until November 2019, when The Athletic reporters Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich at The Athletic published an article detailing the team's activities. Mike Fiers, who pitched for the Astros from 2015 to 2017, informed The Athletic that the organization used a video camera in center field at Minute Maid Park to film the opposing catcher's signals to the pitcher regarding the next pitch. Astros players or team staffers watching the live camera feed behind the dugout used various audio cues to signal to the batter what type of pitch was coming next. MLB opened an investigation into the allegations and confirmed in January 2020 that the Astros illegally used a camera system to steal signs during the 2017 regular season and postseason, during which they won the World Series, as well as in part of the 2018 regular season. MLB found no evidence of illicit sign stealing in the 2019 season, in which the Astros advanced to the World Series but lost.
For failure to prevent the rules violations, Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow and field manager A. J. Hinch were suspended for the entire 2020 season. The Astros were fined the maximum allowable $5 million and forfeited their first- and second-round picks in the 2020 and 2021 drafts. No players were punished because they had been given immunity by MLB in exchange for their cooperation. The Astros subsequently fired both Luhnow and Hinch on the day their suspensions were announced. MLB's investigation also determined that Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora helped mastermind the Astros' sign stealing while serving as Hinch's bench coach in 2017; Boston and Cora mutually parted ways the following day, and MLB later suspended Cora through the 2020 postseason. Carlos Beltrán was the only Astros player from 2017 who was specifically named in the report; he had been hired to manage the New York Mets in November 2019 but parted ways with the team after the results of MLB's investigation were announced.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic On March 12, 2020, MLB announced that as a response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks in addition to the remainder of spring training being cancelled. Four days later, it was announced that the start of the season would be pushed back indefinitely due to the recommendation made by the CDC to restrict events of more than fifty people for eight weeks. On June 23, commissioner Rob Manfred unilaterally implemented a 60-game season. Players reported to training camps on July 1 in order to resume spring training and prepare for a July 24 Opening Day.
The 2020 All-Star Game was also canceled due to the delayed start.
Transactions Coaching staff changes On December 7, 2019, first base coach Don Kelly departed for the position of bench coach with the Pittsburgh Pirates, joining the coaching staff of newly hired manager Derek Shelton. The first base coach position went to Omar Lopez, a long-time manager in the Astros' minor league system. On January 13, Astros owner Jim Crane fired Jeff Luhnow and A. J. Hinch, after both were implicated in MLB's investigation into the Houston Astros' sign stealing scandal. Crane temporarily assumed control of baseball operations while a search was ongoing for new personnel. On January 29, the Astros hired Dusty Baker as the new manager for the 2020 season with an option for 2021.
Releases and departures On December 18, 2019, the New York Yankees announced they had signed RHP Gerrit Cole to a 9-year contract, which was rumored to be worth $324 million, the fourth-richest contract in MLB history. Cole had elected free agency at the conclusion of the 2019 season, and had rejected a $17.8 million qualifying offer from the Astros to return for 2020.
Signings Astros signed C Dustin Garneau to a 1-year contract Astros re-signed RHP Joe Smith to a 2-year contract Astros re-signed C Martín Maldonado to a 2-year contract Astros signed RHP Jared Hughes to a minor league contract
Regular season Summary July + Opening Day starting lineup Player Position 4 George Springer Center fielder 27 Jose Altuve Second baseman 2 Alex Bregman Third baseman 23 Michael Brantley Left fielder 10 Yuli Gurriel First baseman 1 Carlos Correa Shortstop 22 Josh Reddick Right fielder 16 Aledmys Díaz Designated hitter 15 Martín Maldonado Catcher 35 Justin Verlander Pitcher Venue: Minute Maid Park • Final: Houston 8, Seattle 2 Sources:
The Astros hosted the Seattle Mariners for Opening Day on July 24. Justin Verlander made his third consecutive Opening Day start for the Astros, while Marco Gonzales was his mound opponent. Kyle Lewis led off the top of the second inning with a home run of Verlander for the first Mariners' run of the game and season. In the bottom of the third inning, Josh Reddick led off with double for the Astros' first hit of the campaigh, and scored their first run on Martín Maldonado's run batted in (RBI)-single to left field. In the top of the fourth, Kyle Seager homered off Verlander, but this would be the extent of the Mariners' scoring. In the bottom of the fifth, Jose Altuve's infield single scored Aledmys Díaz. Alex Bregman then singled, and Michael Brantley connected for a three-run homer to score Altuve and Bregman. In the bottom of the sixth, Maldonado collected another RBI single to score Abraham Toro, and, the following inning, Carlos Correa doubled home Yuli Gurriel. The Astros won, 8 to 2, as Verlander worked six innings to earn the victory. Brantley's home run was his second consecutive on an Opening Day. The triumph extended a winning streak of a franchise-record eight successive Opening Days for Houston, which spanned until the inauguration of the 2022 campaign, also tying an all-Major League record.
After making the Opening Day start, Verlander stopped throwing as of July 24 due to a right forearm strain. On September 19, it was announced that Verlander would undergo Toomy John surgery and miss the remainder of the season, as well as 2021.
On July 27, Alex Bregman connected for the 100th home run of his career, a three-run shot off Kendall Graveman of the Seattle Mariners, giving Houston a 4–3 lead.
August On August 23, Zack Greinke threw a eephus pitch to Trent Grisham of the San Diego Padres, which was the slowest pitch thrown for a strike by a pitcher since Henderson Álvarez of the Philadelphia Phillies tossed a eephus for a called strike against Ozzie Albies of the Atlanta Braves on September 23, 2017. The Padres defeated the Astros, 5–3, and swept the series.
After having appeared in just two games, on August 28, Yordan Alvarez underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, ending his season.
Performance overview After the season, pitcher Cristian Javier was named a finalist for the 2020 AL Rookie of the Year Award, finishing third in voting.
Game log
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1 || July 24 || Mariners || 8–2 || Verlander (1–0) || Gonzales (0–1) ||—|| Minute Maid Park || 1–0 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2 || July 25 || Mariners || 7–2 || McCullers Jr. (1–0) || Walker (0–1) ||—|| Minute Maid Park || 2–0 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 3 || July 26 || Mariners || 6–7 || Altavilla (1–0) || Devenski (0–1) || Williams (1) || Minute Maid Park || 2–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 4 || July 27 || Mariners || 8–5 || Bielak (1–0) || Graveman (0–1) || Osuna (1) || Minute Maid Park || 3–1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 5 || July 28 || Dodgers || 2–5 || Graterol (1–1) || Valdez (0–1) || Jansen (1) || Minute Maid Park || 3–2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 6 || July 29 || Dodgers || 2–4 || Santana (1–0) || Sneed (0–1) ||—|| Minute Maid Park || 3–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 7 || July 31 || @ Angels || 9–6 || Bielak (2–0) || Andriese (0–1) || Scrubb (1) || Angel Stadium || 4–3
|- style="background:#fbb;" | 8 || August 1 || @ Angels || 4–5 || Buchter (2–0) || Rodríguez (0–1) ||—|| Angel Stadium || 4–4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 9 || August 2 || @ Angels || 6–5 || Taylor (1–0) || Barnes (0–2) ||—|| Angel Stadium || 5–4