The1988Houston Astros season was the27th season for theMajor League Baseball (MLB) franchise located inHouston,Texas, their 24th as the Astros, 27th in theNational League (NL), 20th in theNL West division, and 24rd at TheAstrodome. The Astros entered the season having completed a 76–86record and in third place, 14games behind the divisionchampionSan Francisco Giants.

On April 5,Mike Scott made his secondOpening Day start for the Astros. They hosted theSan Diego Padres and won, 6–3, also the 2,000th victory in franchise history. During theamateur draft, the Astros selected outfielder Willie Ansley in thefirst round at 7th overall, infielderDave Silvestri in the second round, and outfielderKenny Lofton in the 17th round.

PitcherBob Knepper represented the Astros at theMLB All-Star Game, and played for the National League, his second career selection.

The Astros concluded the season with an 82–80 record, in fifth place and12+1⁄2 games behind the division champion andWorld Series championLos Angeles Dodgers. PitcherNolan Ryan, who led the NL instrikeouts (228) for a second consecutive and in his final season as an Astro, made for the third consecutive season an Astros hurler led the league in strikeouts for the first time in franchise history

• October 13, 1987: CatcherRonn Reynolds was released by the Houston Astros.^[1]
• December 8, 1987: Third basemanEd Whited was traded by the Houston Astros with pitcher Mike Stoker (minors) to theAtlanta Braves forRafael Ramírez and cash.^[2]
• January 8, 1988: PitcherJoaquín Andújar was signed as a free agent by the Astros.^[3]
• March 10, 1988:Ernie Camacho was signed as a free agent by the Astros.^[4]
• March 25, 1988:Robbie Wine was traded by the Astros to theTexas Rangers forMike Loynd.^[5]

Opening Day starting lineup^[6][7]

On April 5, the Astros hosted theSan Diego Padres onOpening Day, with right-handerMike Scott making his second consecutive Opening Day start. In the top of the eighth, he surrendered two runs to the Padres. However, in the bottom of the inning,Kevin Bass' two-run single keyed a five-run rally which stood as Houston held on for the 6–3 win. Hence, the decision for the pitching win went to Scott.^[8] The Opening Day victory was also the 2,000th win in the history of the Houston Astros franchise.^{[Note 1][9][10]}

Having gone more than two years since his most recentcomplete game, on May 13,Nolan Ryan went the distance to lead an 8–2 win over theChicago Cubs. First basemanGlenn Davis collected fourruns batted in (RBI), whileGerald Young stroked fourhits to lead the Astros' offense.^[11]

With strong windy conditions all aroundPittsburgh on May 23, the Astros held a 3–0 advantage going into the ninth inning. However, the game was called due to debris on the field atThree Rivers Stadium, and Mike Scott, who had held thePirates scoreless for 8 innings, got the win.^[12]

On June 12, Mike Scott was denied a second careerno-hitter whenKen Oberkfell of theAtlanta Braves laced a clean single to right field with two outs in the ninth inning. Okerkfull's single was the only blemish on an otherwise stellar evening for Scott as he fanned eight, walked none, and led the Astros to victory, 5–0.Terry Puhl,Kevin Bass andCraig Reynolds each contribute three hits.^[8]

Craig Biggio made his major league debut at catcher on June 26 in a 6–0 win over theSan Francisco Giants. Though he went hitless, Biggio stole second base and scored Houston's final run.^[13]

Biggio was the starting catcher on July 9 as thebatterymate for veteran Nolan Ryan's 100th career win as an Astro. It was just the 12th contest for Biggio as a major leaguer.^[14]

On July 17, Glenn Davis connected for the 100th home run of his career, launching an offering fromMike Maddux deep to left field. This shot occurred in the top of the sixth atVeterans Stadium, breaking a scoreless tie.^[15]

On August 22,Craig Biggio cranked his first major league home run, a tie-breaking solo shot served byRich Gossage that touched off anextra-innings rally past theChicago Cubs.^[16] Later in the top of the tenth inning,Gerald Young scored on a misplay ofKevin Bass' fly ball to center field, and Davis followed with a single to score Bass and raise the score, 9–6. In the bottom of the tenth, abalk called onJuan Agosto scoredShawon Dunston; however, Agosto buckled down to record the final out and preserve a 9–7 Houston triumph.^[17]

Nolan Ryan concluded the season as the NL leader in strikeouts (228), his second consecutive (270 in 1987), and in his final season as a Houston Astro.^[a][18] Counting Mike Scott's strikeout title in1986 (306), this was the third consecutive season that an Astros hurler had led the league in strikeouts, the first time in franchise history that this had been accomplished. It was Houston's fifth individual strikeout title in 11 seasons. Moreover, Ryan joinedJ. R. Richard as the second Astros hurler to win consecutive strikeout titles (303 in1978 and 313 in1979).^[19] Ryan departed for theTexas Rangers during the offseason.^[18]

This roster included pitchers with a portfolio of eight careerno-hitters, with five (at the time) by Nolan Ryan,^[b] two byBob Forsch, and one by Mike Scott.^[20]

• July 23, 1988:Mark Bailey was traded by the Astros to theMontreal Expos forCasey Candaele.^[21]
• August 31, 1988:Denny Walling was traded by the Astros to theSt. Louis Cardinals forBob Forsch.^[22]

• June 1, 1988:1988 Major League Baseball draft
  • Dave Silvestri was drafted by the Astros in the 2nd round. Player signed October 18, 1988.^[23]
  • Kenny Lofton was drafted by the Astros in the 17th round. Lofton signed on June 16, 1988.^[24]

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Awards

• Fred Hartman Award for Long and Meritorious Service to Baseball:^[26] Jim "Doc" Ewell
• Houston-Area Major League Player of the Year:^[26]Greg Swindell (CLE)
• Houston AstrosMost Valuable Player (MVP) Award:^[26]Glenn Davis
• Lou Gehrig Memorial Award:^[27]Buddy Bell
• MLB All-Star Game—Reserve pitcher:Bob Knepper
• NL Player of the Week:^[28]
  • May 22—Billy Hatcher
  • August 14—Mike Scott

NL batting leaders

• Caught stealing:Gerald Young (27—led MLB)

NL pitching leaders

• Strikeouts (SO or K):Nolan Ryan (228)
• Strikeouts per nine innings pitched (K/9):Nolan Ryan (9.3)

Footnotes

Sources

• 1988 Houston Astros season at Baseball Reference

• Houston Astros seasons
• 1988 Major League Baseball season
• 1988 in sports in Texas
• 1988 in Houston

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