Brown’s Control Crisis | Houston Astros News

Houston Astros News Today | 2 Minute News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 20, 2026 · 1m

Hunter Brown is back on the mound for the Astros, physically healthy but struggling to replicate his Cy Young form—his fastball still hits 95, but his control is crumbling, walk rate nearly doubled, and hitters are punishing him by staying patient. His swing-and-miss rate outside the zone is at a career low, forcing him to rely on his sinker for survival rather than his elite breaking balls. While his ERA looks decent, the underlying stats reveal a pitcher losing command, and the Astros’ offense is carrying him—something unsustainable for a team chasing the playoffs. The real test? Can he…