Orioles Sweep Astros Even Without Their Star Catchers

It’s hard to believe a baseball team could thrive when its primary catchers are out, yet that’s exactly what the 2026 Baltimore Orioles managed on Sunday night in Houston. With three‑time All‑Star Adley Rutschman on the sidelines and rookie Samuel Basallo leaving the game early with a shoulder niggle, the club turned to a freshly‑signed Sam Huff – added just 20 minutes before tip‑off – to take charge behind the plate.

And, as odd as it sounds, the plan worked beautifully. Baltimore’s offense clicked, the pitching staff stayed composed, and the final box score read 5‑2 in the Orioles’ favor, completing a three‑game sweep of the Astros and stretching Baltimore’s winning streak to seven.

Brandon Young, the lanky right‑hander from Lumberton, Texas, showed he wasn’t rattled by the mid‑game catching shuffle. He delivered seven solid innings, allowing just one run. That effort lowered his ERA to a team‑best 3.25 and reminded everyone why he flirted with a perfect game back in August.

The rotation as a whole has been a bright spot lately. Dean Kremer, Trevor Rogers and Young have combined to surrender a mere four runs over 17⅓ innings this weekend – a stretch that has the Orioles’ front office breathing a little easier.

Off the field, the Orioles finally shook off the offensive funk that had plagued them for two nights. Gunnar Henderson opened the scoring in the third inning with a solid hit, then showcased his speed with a slick hit‑and‑run that positioned him at third. A daring double steal with Pete Alonso (yes, the veteran slugger) saw Henderson race home for the team’s first run.

Leody Taveras, who has been a reliable bat with runners in scoring position all season, answered the call in the fifth. With the bases loaded, he smashed a two‑run single that sent Astros ace Hunter Brown packing and put Baltimore up 4‑1.

The sixth inning added a bit of drama. Astros manager Jose Espada opted for a left‑handed reliever against 24‑year‑old right‑handed power hitter Coby Mayo. The decision backfired spectacularly – Mayo belted a home run that padded the lead to 5‑1. Mayo, slated to be Baltimore’s everyday third baseman while Blaze Alexander recovers, has been a menace against lefties all year, posting a dazzling 1.115 OPS.

Houston’s lone runs were courtesy of a tidy RBI double by Yordan Alvarez in the third and a solo homer by future Hall‑of‑Famer José Altuve in the eighth, both of which were enough to keep the game honest. Reliever Grant Wolfram, making his first big‑league save, capped the night with a clean ninth inning.

This victory is especially sweet because it ends a long stretch of short streaks. The Orioles went 95 games without a run of more than three consecutive wins, but they rattled off four straight victories to close the first half and have now started the second half with three wins in a row. They sit just 1½ games back of the final AL wild‑card spot, breathing new life into a season that felt middling for far too long.

Only the Boston Red Sox are hotter right now, riding a 13‑game streak and clinging to the third wild‑card berth. That sets up an intriguing showdown at Fenway on Monday, where the two clubs will combine for a 20‑game winning streak heading into the series. Who will emerge as the next wild‑card contender? Time – and a lot of baseball – will tell.