Crush City Territory: A Houston Astros Podcast
A Houston Astros show podcast by The Athletic beat reporter Chandler Rome, former Astros outfielder Josh Reddick and Tyler Stafford. Crush City Territory brings you inside info and analysis on the 'Stros all year long. CCT is part of the Foul Territory Network: Baseball the way it should be covered!
The Many Connections Between The Blue Jays & The Houston Astros
In this episode of Crush City Territory, Mitch Bannon and Chandler Rome of The Athletic break down many connections between the Jays and Astros franchises, the parallels between their 2026 seasons and preview Houston’s upcoming series in Toronto.
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Astros Trending Up? Todd Kalas Joins the Show
The Astros are 15-10 since May 22, but need to start stacking more wins if they want to be a legitimate playoff threat. Todd Kalas, the team's television voice on Space City Home Network, joins The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss whether the team is turning a corner, the two offensive players Houston must receive more from to become more dynamic and whether Tatsuya Imai could be on borrowed time in the Astros' rotation.
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Brown to Hader: The Astros' Winning Blueprint Returns
Astros ace Hunter Brown made his long-awaited return in a series win that featured two saves from Josh Hader. Having both pitchers back provides a boost to a team in desperate need of one. Former Astros outfielder Josh Reddick joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss the impact both arms will provide, how Brown looked in his first start since March 31 and a temporary move to the bullpen for embattled starter Mike Burrows.
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Astros Waste Opportunity On The Road — Can Hunter Brown Save Them?
At a time when they need to start stacking wins, the Astros mustered just a 3-3 road trip against two of the American League's worst teams. Might Hunter Brown's return from the injured list be the boost they need? Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the disappointing results from the road and Tatsuya Imai's unacceptable start on Friday before previewing Brown's return to a big league mound.
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The Astros' Rotation Shakeup Is Coming
Cristian Javier looked great in his second minor-league rehab start. Hunter Brown made his final one on Wednesday. What will the Astros do when both are back? Tyler Stafford and The Athletic’s Chandler Rome discuss the dilemma during the first ever live edition of Crush City Territory. The duo answers listener questions about Lance McCullers Jr, the trade deadline and Jeremy Peña's future.
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Zero Conversations: Astros Make Their Deadline Intentions Clear
Astros general manager Dana Brown said the team has had "zero conversations" about trading AL MVP favorite Yordan Alvarez — and he doesn't believe the Astros will be selling at all by Aug. 3. Former Astros outfielder Josh Reddick joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss Brown's comments, the trade speculation surrounding Alvarez and Jeremy Peña and how Houston may handle their catching position upon Yainer Diaz's return.
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Whole Again: Altuve Returns, But Burrows' Problems Persist
Jose Altuve's return from the injured list made the Astros' lineup whole again — and helped to kickstart a series win against the division rival A's. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome break down the series win, what Altuve's return means for a run of soft spot of their schedule and how they might address Mike Burrows' continued problems in the starting rotation.
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Astros Outfield Shakeup & Yordan's MVP Opportunity
Eight games under .500 and seeking a spark, the Astros shook up their struggling outfield by signing LaMonte Wade Jr. and sending Joey Loperfido to Triple-A Sugar Land. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss Wade's arrival and the decision to demote Loperfido before revisiting some missed opportunities this winter to solidify the outfield. The two then discuss whether slugger Yordan Alvarez is the new MVP favorite in the wake of Aaron Judge's rib fracture.
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Down 5, Never Out: Astros Pull Off a Miracle Against Pittsburgh
Down to their final four outs — and staring at 98 percent odds to lose — the Houston Astros authored the most improbable comeback of their imperfect season, scoring six two-out runs in the eighth inning to stun the Pittsburgh Pirates at Daikin Park. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the wild comeback, Cam Smith's heroics, Josh Hader's much-anticipated return and whether a win like this can springboard a team that's been teetering all season.
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Astros Fall Short, Imai Steps Forward Against Misiorowski
Tatsuya Imai went toe-to-toe with Milwaukee Brewers phenom Jacob Misiorowski and delivered the most encouraging start of his major-league career. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss Imai's progression and debate whether he's turned the corner before analyzing the rest of an encouraging series against the Brewers, including Joe Espada's management of game one and how to handle Bryan Abreu.
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The Yordan Alvarez MVP Campaign Is Officially On
Yordan Alvarez became the fastest player in Astros history to reach 20 home runs in a season. His power is propelling the Astros back to relevance and has his teammates in awe. Former Astros outfielder Josh Reddick — Alvarez's former teammate — joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss Alvarez's dominance, his candidacy for AL MVP, why people sometimes miscast the slugger and what the most amazing part of his offensive profile may be.
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Lone Star Lockdown: Inside The Astros’ Historic No-Hitter
Tatsuya Imai, Steven Okert and Alimber Santa teamed to throw the 18th no-hitter in Houston Astros history in a 9-0 win against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on May 25. Few of the other 17 felt more improbable. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss Imai's six hitless innings and whether they showed any progress before digging into Santa — the first rookie since 1900 to appear in a no-hitter during his major-league debut.
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Sweep Dreams in Chicago: The Astros Are Back in the AL West Hunt
For the first time since 2013, the Astros won a game at Wrigley Field. Even better, Houston swept the Chicago Cubs and, for the first time this season, has tangible momentum heading into a massive series in Arlington. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome break down the sweep, Christian Walker's continued resurgence, the stabilization of Houston's pitching staff and how the bullpen could use Josh Hader.
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The Astros’ Hottest Bat? Jason Schiavone Talks Promotion and Power
Astros catching prospect Jason Schiavone leads all of Minor League Baseball with 18 home runs and just received a promotion to Double-A Corpus Christi. Schiavone joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss his breakout season, some swing adjustments that have allowed him to unlock power, the nuances of calling games as a catcher and what his goals are for the remainder of his season in Double-A.
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The Astros' Bats Are Missing In May
Down Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Yainer Diaz, the Astros have one of baseball's worst offenses in May and are watching their season start to slip away. Former Astros outfielder Josh Reddick joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss the Astros' dispiriting series loss to the Twins, the disastrous state of their lineup and what — if anything — can be done to fix it. The trio also discusses Tatsuya Imai's step forward and Lance McCullers Jr.'s latest trip to the injured list.
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Did Beating the Rangers Really Change Everything for the Astros?
The Astros had perhaps their most satisfying series win of the season, taking two of three from their intrastate rival Texas Rangers while staying afloat in the AL West.
Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome break down the series win, Spencer Arrighetti's excellent performance and his powerful quote after it before analyzing Jose Altuve's oblique injury and what it means for the rest of the Astros' roster.
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After Seattle: Is There Any Way Back for The Astros?
The Astros were outscored 24-10 en route to losing three out of four games against the Seattle Mariners. They're now 11 games below .500 and 6.5 games back in the American League West. Former Astros outfielder Josh Reddick joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to search for solutions and things that offer hope before breaking down Tatsuya Imai's dismal return to a major-league mound.
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Inside the Astros’ Early Trade Deadline Plans
The Astros are 10 games below .500 and teetering toward a trade deadline sell-off. The deadline may be more than two months away, but Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome still discuss possible trade candidates, the difficulty of determining who will be making those decisions and the two questions owner Jim Crane must answer before putting a plan in place. Before that, Foul Territory's injury expert Will Carroll joins the show to discuss Carlos Correa's season-ending ankle surgery, the recovery and how it will affect him going forward.
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Banged-Up Astros Limp Into Crucial Mariners Showdown
Playing without all of Carlos Correa, Yainer Diaz and Jeremy Peña caught up to the Astros, who scored one run in their final 18 innings of a series loss in Cincinnati to fall nine games below. 500. The defending AL West Champion Seattle Mariners come to town on Monday. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome preview the series and discuss what can be done to mask the offense's absences before weighing in on a controversial decision made by manager Joe Espada.
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Astros Crossroads: Seven Divisional Games, Massive Stakes
A 13-game stretch starts on Friday that could define the Astros' season. Seven of them are against divisional opponents and — at 15-23 — the Astros can't afford to fall further behind. Former Houston outfielder Josh Reddick joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss how critical the stretch will be, the ways in which the Astros can mitigate Carlos Correa's absence, Houston's catching situation without Yainer Diaz and how morale inside an injury-ravaged clubhouse can improve.
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Correa Down: Can the Astros Still Save This Season?
Carlos Correa needs season-ending ankle surgery and the Astros' season is officially on the brink. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss Correa's injury and how the Astros will proceed without him before delving into Tatsuya Imai's minor-league rehab start, his impending return to the major-league rotation and whether anything can get this 15-23 team back on track.
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Two Big Astros Wins at Fenway, Bigger Test vs. L.A.
The Astros won a series at Fenway Park and, for the first time since April 14-15, won consecutive games. Their reward? A showdown with Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Tucker and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the series win against the Red Sox, Bryan Abreu's clutch performance, Brice Matthews' big weekend and how Houston cobbled its pitching together before turning their eyes toward the Dodgers. 🌶️
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Astros Head to Boston & The Manager Carousel Debate
The Astros are 12-20 and, now, will face a team that's already changed managers. Could that be beneficial? Former Astros outfielder Josh Reddick joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss a series loss in Baltimore, the value of managerial consistency and why managers get blamed more than they should before previewing this weekend's series at Fenway Park between the Red Sox and Astros. 🌶️
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Astros Mailbag: Future Plans, Front Office Pressure & Tatsuya Imai's Status
The Astros are 11-19 and trying to stave off a total spiral. Fans are frustrated, curious and have questions. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome answer some of the best ones, including about Dana Brown's job security, Joe Espada's future, Tatsuya Imai's early-season struggles and possible trade talks to improve a roster in need of it.
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Astros Stumble vs. Yankees as Dana Brown Backs Joe Espada
The managerial carousel is already spinning, but Astros GM Dana Brown gave a vote of confidence to embattled manager Joe Espada amid Houston's 11-18 start. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss Espada's status and Brown's comments before analyzing the team's series loss against the Yankees — including strong starts from Spencer Arrighetti and Mike Burrows along with a walk-filled showing from the bullpen.
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Lone Star Slugfest: Yordan vs. Judge at Daikin Park
It's Aaron Judge against Yordan Alvarez at Daikin Park, perhaps an early preview for the AL MVP race. Former Astros outfielder Josh Reddick joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss Judge's prowess, Alvarez's awesome start to the season, what could have been if Ben Rice had become an Astro and the Astros' disinterest in recently-signed Lucas Giolito.
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Astros Steady the Ship: Series Win and the Yordan Alvarez Show
Despite yet another injury, the Astros won a series against the Cleveland Guardians for a much-needed breath of fresh air. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the series win, Yordan Alvarez's MVP start to the season, Bryan Abreu's awkward fit on the roster and how the pitching staff may be starting to stabilize.
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Swept and Searching: Are the Astros Starting to Spiral?
The St. Louis Cardinals continued the Houston Astros' calamitous start to the season, sweeping them in three games at Daikin Park to send the Astros to 8-15. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome analyze the biggest problems with the roster, Bryan Abreu's continued implosion, the bad look for general manager Dana Brown on Sunday afternoon and whether any of this is fixable before it is too late.
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Arrighetti Deals, Astros Rebound & A Ticking Clock on Cam Smith
Spencer Arrighetti stepped up for an injury-ravaged Astros rotation and helped the team take two of three from the Colorado Rockies. Former Astros outfielder Josh Reddick joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss Arrighetti's return to the rotation, the Astros' new home run celebration, Tatsuya Imai's continued assimilation to American life and whether the window is closing to extend Cam Smith.
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Astros Spotlight: Tatsuya Imai Gets Honest, Hunter Brown Gets Defensive
Tatsuya Imai is struggling to adjust in Major League Baseball and Hunter Brown defended himself against his GM's assertion that he threw too hard in spring training. All in a day's work at Daikin Park. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss Imai's viral comments, what the Astros can do to help him and how Dana Brown erred in his public analysis of Hunter Brown before previewing Spencer Arrighetti's return to the starting rotation.
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Injury, Defeat, Repeat: Astros’ Nightmare Weekend in Seattle
The Astros are on a seven-game losing streak and have lost three starting pitchers to injury during this disastrous, 10-game road trip. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the latest blows, including Tatsuya Imai's bout with "arm fatigue," the bullpen's inability to throw strikes, the scarcity of starting pitching and where this injury-ravaged team goes from here.
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Bounce Back or Breakdown? Astros Face Mariners Test
After a sobering sweep at the hands of the Colorado Rockies — and two more significant injuries sustained during it — the Astros are in need of a bounce back at T-Mobile Park against the defending AL West champion Seattle Mariners. Former Astros outfielder Josh Reddick joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss how Houston can right the ship, what it may do to stabilize its injury-ravaged pitching staff and the continued impressive approach throughout its lineup.
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Coors Field Catastrophe: Astros Get Swept and Suffer More Injuries
The Astros were swept by the cellar-dwelling Colorado Rockies and suffered three substantial injuries to Cristian Javier, Jake Meyers and Hunter Brown. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss how the Astros will navigate the injuries, who will step up for the injured pitchers and how manager Joe Espada may enhance his lineup to score more runs.
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Brutal Blows: Astros Lose Series and Ace Hunter Brown
Astros ace and reigning American League Cy Young finalist Hunter Brown is on the injured list with a right shoulder strain — dealing a devastating blow to a rotation without another defined stalwart. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss Brown's injury and who must step up in his absence before recapping the Astros' series loss in Sacramento, highlighted by another brutal outing from fill-in closer Bryan Abreu.
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Everyday Peña Is Back — But What About the Rest of the Astros Infield?
The Astros start their first road trip of the season with good news: shortstop Jeremy Peña will resume playing back-to-back days. What does that mean for Isaac Paredes? Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the Astros' overcrowded infield, where Paredes fits in to the plans and how Yordan Alvarez playing left field could help to solve the problems.
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Altuve Ignites, McCullers Deals, Correa Closes: Astros Sweep Boston
The Astros made an early-season statement by sweeping the Boston Red Sox in three games at Daikin Park. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the performances from Yordan Alvarez, Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve; Lance McCullers Jr.'s dominant return to the starting rotation and the new, patient approach Houston's lineup is exhibiting.
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Split Decisions: Astros Flash Offense, Search for Pitching Early
The Astros walked a franchise-record 28 batters and saw their four starters post a 7.64 ERA ... and somehow salvaged a season-opening split against the Angels. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the inauspicious debuts for Mike Burrows, Cristian Javier and Tatsuya Imai, some encouraging signs from Houston's lineup and what to think of closer Bryan Abreu's difficult weekend.
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Opening Day Letdown: Astros’ Bats Go Silent in 3-0 Loss
Much of what plagued the 2025 Astros was on display during the 2026 season-opener. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the Astros' deflating 3-0, Opening Day loss against the Los Angeles Angels. The duo analyzes Houston's disappointing offensive performance, Hunter Brown's uneven afternoon and AJ Blubaugh's eye-opening stint as a reliever.
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Previewing The 2026 Astros: Predictions, Pivotal Players and Pressure To Win
Opening Day is here and the 2026 Astros have a lot to prove after missing the playoffs last season. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss Houston's new-look starting rotation, the questions surrounding its lineup and the pressure on both general manager Dana Brown and manager Joe Espada — each of whom is in the last year of his contract.
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Astros Prospects Spotlight: Insight on Neyens, Frey, Alvarez, Janek & More | Crush City Territory
The Astros' Spring Breakout game made national headlines with a crazy walk-off. Farm director Sam Niedorf joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discusses some of the top participants, including Xavier Neyens, Kevin Alvarez, Walker Janek and James Hicks, before analyzing their next steps in the Astros' farm system.
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