Defense is an bright spot for the Astros so far.
Measuring defensive efficiency is an arcane science, if it is a science at all. But if you go by the advanced stats we use today, the Astros have been one of the top defensive teams in baseball, albeit in small sample, and sample size is especially important when measuring defense.
Despite having totally inexperienced left and right fielders, the Astros are rated fourth in Fangraph’s overall Def rating at 4.6. In DRS (Defensive runs saved above average) they are also fourth with seven, and in OAA (outs above average ), they are second with 12.
Who’s doing the job?
Among starters, Jeremy Pena leads the team in overall Def rating at 2.9 followed by Jake Meyers at 2.3. Both have three defensive runs saved and three outs above average. Pena is third in overall Def rating among shortstops in MLB, and Meyers is fourth among center fielders, the two premier defensive positions. Although second baseman Brendan Rogers and first baseman Christian Walker are former Gold Glovers, they both are posting negative scores of -0.2 and -1.9, respectively.
One pleasant surprise, the supposed defensive downgrade at third, Isaac Paredes, passes both the eye test and the stat test, posting a 1.5 Def rating and four defensive runs saved. He is twelfth in MLB in overall Def. (I’m sure you want to know. Alex Bregman is 24th).
What about those newbie corner outfielders?
Cam Smith has an overall 0 Def rating, meaning average, while accumulating four DRS and one OAA. Jose Altuve is -1.9, which isn’t awful. (OK, 31st isn’t exactly great either)
Besides terrible batting so far, Yainer Diaz has been as much of a defensive liability as well. What a bad season so far. His overall Def rating of -1.8 is 53rd, second-worst in the majors. Victor Caratini is at least a little above average at 0.4.
As stated earlier, defensive stats are highly variable in the short term. But this is a snapshot of the Astros’ defense thus far in 2025. Overall, positive, and with the team’s subpar hitting, a welcome development, with surprise success at third base and right field.