2013 Houston Astros season


The 2013 Houston Astros season was the 52nd season for the Major League Baseball franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 49th as the Astros, and 14th at Minute Maid Park. Further, it was the Astros' inaugural season as members of both the American League and AL West division, after having spent their first 51 seasons in the National League. The Astros entered the season with a 55–107 record and last-place finish in the NL Central division, 42 games behind the division-champion Cincinnati Reds, Houston's worst-ever record to date, as well the second consecutive of the first two 100-loss seasons in franchise history.
The 2013 season was the first for Bo Porter as manager, the 21st in Astros' franchise history, succeeding Tony DeFrancesco. On March 31, the Astros won their first Opening Day as an American League team, 8–2, while hosting their in-state rivals, the Texas Rangers. Bud Norris was the Astros' Opening Day starting pitcher. It was also the 4,000th win in franchise history.
In the first round of the June MLB draft, the Astros selected pitcher Mark Appel as the first overall pick.
Catcher Jason Castro represented the Astros at the MLB All-Star Game and played for the American League, his lone career selection. On July 19, outfielder Brandon Barnes hit for the cycle while going 5-for-5 for the eighth cycle in franchise history.
The Astros concluded their regular season with a 51–111 record, in last place the AL West, 45 games behind the Oakland Athletics, and worst record in the major leagues. This continued Houston's downward trend starting in 2010 into an unprecedented third 100-loss season, having won 4 fewer than year prior to establish another new club record for losses. This was fewest wins by any MLB club since the 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks, who had an identical 51–111 record. The Astros set another club record by finishing 45 games out of first place to surpass the 1975 team, who placed games behind the NL West division-champion Reds.

Regular season

Summary

Inaugural game in the American League

;Opening Day starting lineup
Houston's first-ever Opening Day as an American League club took place on March 31, where they hosted in-state rivals, the Texas Rangers, at Minute Maid Park, and claimed victory, 8–2. Former Astro Lance Berkman, starting as the Rangers' designated hitter, was recognized during the pre-game ceremony. Texans defensive end J. J. Watt threw the ceremonial first pitch to catcher J. D. Martinez, who promptly obliged Watt by autographing a baseball. Bud Norris was the Astros' choice as the first Opening Day starting pitcher for the AL era, thus delivering the first pitch.
The Astros' first hit as AL team came via Altuve's groundball single in the first inning. The first pinch-hitting decision arrived in the sixth innning for manager Bo Porter, with runners on first and second and two outs. The actor in Porter's move became Rick Ankiel, substituted for Brandon Barnes, and Ankiel launched Houston's first home run as an AL team, a three-run blast to right field, to give the Astros a lead of 7–2. The Astros' first win at an AL club was also the 4,000th in franchise history.

April

For the third time in a single game on April 9, the Astros concentrated as many as 40 total bases during a 16–9 route of the Seattle Mariners. A quartet of Astros went deep for the first time on the season Chris Carter, J. D. Martinez, Marwin González, and Jose Altuve. Seven of nine starters assembled multi-hit efforts as the Astros collected 22 hits, eight going for extra bases. Right-hander Paul Clemens earned the victory with four innings of relief though he surrendered five earned runs and three home runs. Carter attained both his first career multi-homer and four-hit games, while for Altuve, it was his third career four-hit game and first with four runs batted in. González reached base five times via three hits and two walks and scored thrice. The 16 runs scored represented a season-high for the team. The 40 total bases ranked, at the time third-most in club history. The Astros' next bout attaining this threshold was on August 10, 2019, when they set a new franchise record with 50.
The Cleveland Indians handed the Astros a 19–6 defeat on April 20 at Minute Maid Park, their highest score surrendered on the season. Astros starter Philip Humber recorded just one out while being pasted for eight runs on eight hits. Following Humber, the Indians battered Dallas Keuchel for another seven runs over innings, striking a 14–0 lead after just two at bats on their way to scoring at least one run in each of the first five innings. Paul Clemens parlayed the lone bright spot for Houston pitching, delivering one-hit ball over the final frames.

June

On June 23, Chris Carter attained his second career four-hit game—and second of the campaign—while realizing his first with three doubles. In spite of this performance, Houston fell in defeat to their former National League Central-division rivals Chicago Cubs, 14–6. Jeff Samardzija earned the win over Jordan Lyles while Ryan Sweeney collected six RBI, and Anthony Rizzo augmented four hits, four RBI, through three hits.

Brandon Barnes' cycle

On July 19, outfielder Brandon Barnes hit for the cycle, the eighth in franchise history, including a 5-for-5 performance and an inside-the-park home run in the second inning during a 10–7 loss to the Seattle Mariners. Barnes followed up the home run with a triple in the fourth, single in the sixth, and double in the eighth. In the ninth, he singled for the fifth hit of the day.
This was the only cycle in club history featured as portion of a five-hit game, and just the third five-hit game in club history also accentuated by 10 or more total bases. The seventh Astro to hit for the cycle, the only player to do so twice was César Cedeño. Barnes' feat was preceded by Luke Scott on July 28, 2006, and Barnes' then-teammate Jose Altuve succeeded him on August 28, 2023.

September

The Astros concluded the 2013 season on a 15-game losing streak, qualifying as the longest-ever in franchise annals.

Performance overview

During an up-and-down first season as members of the American League, the Astros' 15-game losing streak, plunging their performance to a club-worst 111 losses. On the season, Houston won just 12 series, two of which were sweeps, and none outside of the AL West. They were swept 18 times, finishing 45 games out of first place, winning just two games against the rival Texas Rangers and four games against the Oakland Athletics, getting shut out 14 times. They surrendered 10 runs or more in 17 games.
For the third consecutive year, the Astros set the club record for losses, surpassing the 56–106 record the year prior. They finished 45 games behind the AL West-champion A's. The 45 games behind surpassed another club record set in 1975, when they trailed by games to that year's National League West division-champion Cincinnati Reds, who claimed an incredible record along with that year's World Series.
However, a movement of talented youth portended exciting glimpses of future possibilities. Catcher Jason Castro, the Astros' biggest breakout star, hit.276 with 18 home runs and 56 RBI in just 120 games. Second baseman Jose Altuve hit.284, 52 RBI, and 35 stolen bases. Third baseman Matt Dominguez delivered on one the best all-round performances, ranking second on the club to Chris Carter in home runs and RBI, while being recognized for superlative defense at third base with the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award for the Astros.

Season standings

American League West

American League Wild Card

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Roster

Player stats

Batting

PlayerGPABRHHRRBIBBSBAVG.OBP.SLG.OPS
152626641775523235.283.316.363.678
582102651182418.243.321.319.640
13640846988412111.240.289.346.635
148506641132982702.223.320.451.770
120435631201856502.276.350.485.835
862962474736102.250.272.378.650
152543561312177300.241.286.403.690
601651836113166.218.287.291.578
461672448110127.287.337.371.708
7926235581336181.221.284.431.716
632572969421236.268.332.370.702
72204224541496.221.252.319.571
641911643720100.225.287.361.648
52120162926131.242.313.325.638
Ronny Cedeño51141123111262.220.260.298.558
Justin Maxwell40137213328124.241.311.387.698
Marc Krauss521341128413102.209.267.366.633
Jimmy Paredes4812582411064.192.231.248.479
Brandon Laird257171251130.169.224.423.646
Rick Ankiel256261251130.194.231.484.715
Cody Clark1638140010.105.128.132.260
Fernando Martínez1133161310.182.229.273.501
Matt Pagnozzi921130010.143.182.143.325
Max Stassi37020100.286.375.286.661
Pitcher Totals16221120020.095.174.095.269
Team Totals16254576101307148566426110.240.299.375.674