Hunter Brown is on the IL with a grade two shoulder strain. The ace is out for weeks, potentially months. That's the gut punch that opened this week.

Then Tatsuya Imai went out to West Sacramento, made one mechanical fix, and threw five and two thirds innings of shutout ball with nine strikeouts to earn his first career MLB win. One ace out. One ace in.

Also this week: the Astros go 1-4 but lead the American League in runs scored, Isaac Paredes keeps driving in winning runs despite the front office trying to trade him all offseason, and all four minor league affiliates play their first games within 48 hours of each other.

Prospect Spotlight: Kevin Alvarez — the 18-year-old Cuban-born number one prospect in the system who delivered a walk-off double in his second professional game at Fayetteville.

The Astros Universe covers the full Houston Astros organization every Wednesday — Single-A to the Show. Follow us on X: @AstrosUniverse

The Houston Astros went 0-2 to start the season and ended the week leading the majors in runs scored. Week one was a lot.

Lance McCullers Jr. took the mound Monday against Boston and delivered seven innings, one run, and nine strikeouts — his longest outing since September 2022. The crowd gave him a standing ovation. It was earned.

Also this week: Tatsuya Imai makes his MLB debut at Daikin Park with four walks in three innings, the Astros score 11 unanswered runs in a single comeback win, Isaac Paredes keeps making the front office regret trying to trade him, and all four minor league affiliates open within 48 hours of each other.

Prospect Spotlight: Miguel Olla, the $75,000 signing from the Dominican Republic who carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning in his 2026 debut.

The Astros Universe covers the full Houston Astros organization every Wednesday — Single-A to the Show. Follow us on X: @AstrosUniverse

The 2026 season arrives March 26 at Daikin Park — and the Houston Astros have something to prove.

This week: a full Opening Day roster breakdown, the injury situation heading into the season, a farm system check with top prospect profiles, and a bold 89-win AL West title prediction.

Hunter Brown starts against the Angels. Yordan Alvarez is healthy after playing just 48 games in 2025. Jeremy Peña is racing to return from a fractured finger. Josh Hader opens on the IL. And a new arm from Japan joins a rebuilt rotation.

The universe starts now.