Hunter Brown Named Astros' Opening Day Starter, Strikes Out Nine in Debut

Hunter Brown has been designated as the Houston Astros' new staff ace and Opening Day starter for the 2026 season. In his inaugural start, Brown showcased dominant stuff by recording nine strikeouts over 4.2 innings of work. However, his outing was cut short due to a high pitch count resulting from four walks. The organization looks for Brown to anchor the rotation, drawing comparisons to past leaders like Bud Norris as he takes on the responsibility of leading the pitching staff.