HOUSTON (AP) — Already without a general manager, the Houston Astros could be searching for a new manager this offseason, too.
Manager Joe Espada’s contract expired Wednesday when the Astros were swept in the Wild Card Series by the White Sox. Team owner Jim Crane said Monday that he’d sit down and talk with Espada to determine what’s next.
Espada was asked if he’d like to return next season just minutes after Houston’s 7-3 loss in Game 2.
“Absolutely,” he said.
He added that he’d been given no indication about his future with the team.
“Jim has been very clear about his process and when he wants to have that conversation,” Espada said. “I respect the process and how blessed I’ve been of being here for over nine years and experienced so many division titles, championship series, World Series, winning one. As a bench coach, as a manager, I have witnessed so many great moments, so obviously I would like to continue enjoying those moments.”
Espada has spent the last three seasons as Houston’s manager after he was promoted from bench coach when Dusty Baker retired following the 2023 season. He worked as the team’s bench coach from 2018 until becoming the manager.
His overall record is 256-229.
Espada’s uncertain future comes after the team parted ways with general manager Dana Brown in August. Three assistant general managers and Hall of Famer and special adviser Jeff Bagwell took over his responsibilities for the remainder of the season while Crane sought a replacement.
With that search ongoing, a second search for a new skipper might soon be underway.
The Astros went 81-81 to win the AL West for the fifth time in six years and become the first team in MLB history to reach the playoffs without a winning record.
They then lost Game 1 of the wild card 6-3 before being eliminated with Wednesday’s defeat. It’s a second straight playoff trip where the Astros have been swept at home in the wild card, after losing both games to Detroit in 2024.
Their loss Wednesday was their ninth straight postseason loss at home and leaves Espada winless as a manager in the playoffs.
It was a disappointing end to a season where the Astros fought through multiple injuries to reach the playoffs for the ninth time in 10 years after missing out last season. It’s a remarkable stretch in which the Astros reached the American League Championship Series seven straight times from 2017-23 and advanced to the World Series four times, winning championships in 2017 and 2022.
Star slugger Yordan Alvarez, who is the favorite to win MVP, was asked if he hopes that Espada returns next year.
“I don’t control that, so I don’t know,” he said in Spanish through a translator.
Second baseman Jose Altuve lauded Espada’s leadership.
“He’d show up every day, willing to win,” Altuve said. “I think he did everything he could to keep us there and to keep winning.”
While Espada hopes to return, he knows there’s a possibility that he won’t and reflected on the time he's spent in Houston.
“I’ve been here for a long time,” he said. “I’ve been in a few piles. I’ve been soaked in Champagne. I have created some really great relationships. I have witnessed some Hall of Fame players that I coached and I created. I’ve been a part of some really special years… every manager’s dream is to coach and lead players like this in an organization that gives you the opportunity to always get the best players so you can consistently win divisions and go to the World Series.”
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Houston Astros relief pitcher Peter Lambert (38) hand the game ball to manager Joe Espada for a pitching change during the sixth inning in Game 2 of baseball's American League Wild Card Series against the Chicago White Sox, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
Houston Astros manager Joe Espada interviews with media before a baseball game against the Athletics, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
CLEVELAND (AP) — Stephen Vogt and Will Venable don't need to pore over extra scouting reports as the Cleveland Guardians get set to host the Chicago White Sox in Saturday's Game 1 of the AL Division Series.
The AL Central rivals last faced each other two weeks ago, when the Guardians took two of three and moved into the division lead. Cleveland ended up winning its third straight division title and 14th since 1995.
Chicago won the season series 7-6 after Cleveland took 11 of 13 in 2025.
It's the third straight year the Guardians will open the postseason against a division opponent. They faced Detroit in the 2024 Division Series and in the Wild Card Series last year.
“There’s a little bit of a rivalry there because all three years that’s who you’ve been racing with to get in. There’s emotion. There’s a lot of things that make this series really exciting,” said Vogt, Cleveland's manager. “I do think there’s no secrets. We know them. They know us. So it’s just go out and execute and let’s see who can win three games before the other team.”
Venable pointed out that only one run separated the teams this season. Chicago had a 58-57 edge.
“I mean, it really has been crazy kind of the back and forth that we’ve had all year. So we’re excited about the opportunity to play these guys, but we know full well how challenging it is to beat them,” the White Sox manager said.
Chicago comes in with momentum after its two-game Wild Card Series sweep at Houston. Nine players made their postseason debuts in that series, including second baseman Chase Meidroth and catcher Kyle Teel. Meidroth went 4 for 7 with a homer and four RBIs against the Astros, while Teel was 3 for 10. Teel also was successful on all five of his ABS challenges behind the plate.
Cleveland (85-77) has the third-youngest lineup in the American League and used 145 different batting orders this season. Depending on final roster decisions, the Guardians could have as many as seven players making their postseason debut, including Jo Adell, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels near the trade deadline.
Both teams will send rookies to the mound in Game 1 with Chicago’s Hagen Smith opposing Cleveland’s Parker Messick. According to Sportradar, it will be the 23rd postseason game in which both teams used a rookie starting pitcher.
Chicago will begin the series with a bullpen game. Smith will be the opener again after throwing three scoreless innings in Tuesday’s 6-3 victory at Houston in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.
Smith (3-3, 1.29 ERA) made three appearances against Cleveland in the regular season, going 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA. The left-hander allowed the go-ahead run during the sixth inning of Cleveland’s 6-3 victory on Sept. 16 that moved the Guardians into the AL Central lead.
“I think he gives us a really good shot up front here. I do feel like we can lean on some of the bullpen arms to get us through some bulk here and Hagen is as good as any for us,” Venable said.
Messick (12-9, 2.56 ERA) will go against the White Sox for the fifth time this season. The left-hander is 2-1 with a 2.81 ERA and has won his last two starts against Chicago.
“Every lineup you’re going to face is pretty good. And I’ve got just as much information on them as they do on me, so I think it’s just best stuff on best stuff and whoever executes more pitches is going to win and whoever hits more mistakes is going to win,” Messick said.
The heartiest of White Sox fans, including Pope Leo XIV, could have envisioned their dramatic turnaround from three consecutive 100-loss seasons to winning their first postseason series in 21 years.
Vogt saw signs beginning last season that Chicago's rebuild would take root.
“I thought they had some really good players last year but records don’t always tell the full story of a team. You could tell at spring training (this year) this is going to be a different team. What they’ve done putting it together has been really cool,” Vogt said.
Cleveland is batting .255 since the Aug. 3 trade deadline, second-best in the American League. The Guardians were 14th with a .231 average before adding Adell and Nathaniel Lowe. Adell had a team-leading 32 RBIs since coming to the Guardians while Lowe drove in 27, including a big league-best eight sacrifice flies.
Steven Kwan's .353 batting average since the All-Star break was best in the majors.
While Cleveland was the only team in the majors without a batter who hit 20 home runs, Chicago had three with at least 30. Japanese rookie slugger Munetaka Murakami led the way with 35, followed by Miguel Vargas (33) and Colson Montgomery (31).
Vargas went 14 of 46 with three homers and 10 RBIs against the Guardians this season. Montgomery also had three homers but was 9 of 47, and Murakami went 3 of 19 while going deep twice.
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Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable (1) reaches for the game ball from relief pitcher pitcher Sean Newcomb (15) to make a pitching change during the fifth inning in Game 1 of baseball's American League Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt walks to the mound to make a pitching change during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
