Crush City Territory: A Houston Astros Podcast

Will Jeremy Peña be ready for Opening Day? What is Brice Matthews' future? And what are some bold predictions for the 2026 Astros? Listeners asked those questions. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome tried to answer them, along with discussing the team's positional flexibility, its murky backup catcher situation and a crucial draft coming up in June. Use our code  TERRITORY...

Josh Hader will start the season on the injured list — putting career setup man Bryan Abreu into the closer spotlight. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss Hader's injury, the importance of this closer audition for Abreu — who is a pending free agent — and the continued success of Tatsuya Imai and Mike Burrows in Grapefruit League play. Get 10 free meals and a...

The World Baseball Classic captivated Houston last weekend. Former Astros outfielder Josh Reddick was part of it. He joined Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss a rowdy Team USA-Mexico game at Daikin Park, the atmosphere surrounding it and what has allowed the WBC to become so popular this season. Reddick also discusses his observations from spending a week in Astros spring t...

Jeremy Peña fractured the tip of his right ring finger, making the Astros happy they haven't traded Isaac Paredes. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss Peña's injury, whether it removes Paredes from the trade block altogether, Houston's reunion with catcher Christian Vázquez and early impressions from the first few games of the World Baseball Classic. See om...

The Astros have an untenable infield situation — and FT Senior Insider Ken Rosenthal wrote about it last week. Rosenthal joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss his latest column, which addresses why the Astros need to move Isaac Paredes to make life easier. Stafford and Rome then discuss the upcoming World Baseball Classic and Rome's story about top prospect Xavier...

Astros fan favorite Josh Reddick is back in spring training — this time as a guest instructor helping to coach Houston's group of young outfielders. Reddick joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss his observations from his first day in camp, what he hopes to see going forward, Brice Matthews' seamless transition to center field and the sentimentality of being back in...

The Seattle Mariners dethroned the Astros last season as American League West champions. Have they overtaken Houston as the team to beat in the division? Longtime Seattle Times beat writer Ryan Divish joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss the Mariners-Astros rivalry, how the two organizations are more similar than one might think and the goals for both teams entering the...

Grapefruit League games have begun and the Astros' roster is beginning to take shape. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome take a crack at projecting the Astros' Opening Day roster, which will likely not feature All-Star closer Josh Hader and still has uncertainties around the outfield. Use our code for 10% off your next SeatGeek order*:  https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TERRITORY1...

A breakout rookie season leaves AJ Blubaugh on the brink of a major role on the Astros' pitching staff. Blubaugh. the first major-league pitcher ever from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss his journey from small-town Bellville, Ohio, his rapid ascent up the Astros' hierarchy and his occasional beekeeping hobby. See omnystudio.co...

Grapefruit League play is underway and the Astros' outfield remains unsettled. Former Astros outfielder Josh Reddick joins The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss the inexperienced group vying for everyday roles, Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai's continued assimilation into the Astros' clubhouse culture, the fallout from MLBPA head Tony Clark's resignation and Reddick's surprise revelation that...

Astros ace Hunter Brown joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss the start of spring training, his ascension into one of MLB's best starters, his humble beginnings at Wayne State University and why throwing 100 mph isn't something he's necessarily after. Stafford and Rome also discuss the latest on the Astros' infield surplus, the sudden resignation of MLBPA head Tony Clark...

Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome react to Houston's surprising reunion with Joey Loperfido in the salary dump of struggling outfielder Jesús Sánchez and what the financial savings mean for general manager Dana Brown, who made it clear the Astros "are not done yet" addressing their roster. Rome and Stafford then analyze who could be the next Astro to move and discuss Ba...

Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the Astros' first spring training workout for pitchers and catchers, which featured news of Josh Hader's bicep injury, Tatsuya Imai's first introduction to the clubhouse and major-league mound, Hunter Brown being named the team's Opening Day starter and general manager Dana Brown's intimation that another trade is looming. Get 10 free meals a...

Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the Astros' intensified trade talks for third baseman Isaac Paredes, the teams involved and Houston's motivation to move Paredes prior to reporting to spring training next week. The two also discuss Cam Smith's planned center field work in spring training and the search for a backup catcher upgrade over César Salazar See omnystudio.com...

Before flying to spring training, Astros pitching coach Josh Miller joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to preview Houston's new-look pitching staff. Miller analyzes the Astros' two biggest additions — Tatsuya Imai and Mike Burrows — while heaping praise on ace Hunter Brown and breaking down the competition for the final spots in the Astros' starting rotation. See omn...

Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the Astros' latest pitching acquisition — Kai-Wei Teng from the San Francisco Giants — and how his arrival intensifies competition for the final roster spots in spring training. Then, the two hosts discuss Isaac Paredes' continued availability in trades and the World Baseball Classic insurance controversy. See omnystudio.com/liste...

Former Astros outfielder Josh Reddick joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve's absence from the World Baseball Classic and Kyle Tucker's mega-deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers before trying to project the Astros' Opening Day lineup and roster as spring training nears. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss revelations from the Astros' annual FanFest at Daikin Park, including Joe Espada's plans for his overcrowded infield, Carlos Correa's concerns about the team's injury prevention, Spencer Arrighetti's return to the mound and how Cam Smith responded to Dana Brown's offseason challenge. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the Astros' outfield uncertainty, their continued trade discussions about Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker – and why dealing one may be their best avenue to supplementing the outfield. Kyle Tucker's mega-deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Ryan Pressly's retirement announcement are also discussed. Quit overspending on wireless with...

New Astros farm director Sam Niedorf joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss his hiring process, the state of Houston's farm system, new initiatives and ideas Niedorf has for the Astros' player development processes and what his goals are in his new role. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Astros outfielder Josh Reddick joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss the Astros' next moves after signing Tatsuya Imai. Could Isaac Paredes or Christian Walker be on the trading block? Might the Red Sox inquire about Paredes after Alex Bregman signed with the Chicago Cubs? The trio discusses all of it, plus Reddick's initial thoughts on Imai's fit in Houston. Get...

New Astros starter Mike Burrows joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss his trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates, his excitement for joining a new team, what he believes the Astros will help him to unlock and his time spent with former Astros pitching coach Brent Strom and Paul Skenes while a member of the Pirates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss Tatsuya Imai's introductory news conference and his genuine happiness to be in Houston and attending sporting events before diving into Jim Crane's desire to expand the Astros' footprint in Asia and the Pacific Rim — and what that could mean for future player acquisitions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome react to the Astros' stunning acquisition of Japanese free-agent pitcher Tatsuya Imai, analyze how the deal came to be, what Imai's presence means for the Astros' rotation and what could be next in Houston's unpredictable offseason. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Astros outfielder Josh Reddick joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome for a special draft to select the best moments of the 2025 Houston Astros season — from Hunter Brown's emergence into an ace to a dominating sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers to Jeremy Peña's evolution into a bona fide superstar. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.