HOUSTON -- Could a player the Astros tried to trade in the offseason and throughout the spring wind up being their most valuable piece in 2026?
Isaac Paredes -- who was regarded as the odd man out in the Astros’ clogged infield picture with Carlos Correa at third base, Jeremy Peña at shortstop, Jose Altuve at second base and Christian Walker at first base -- has started at three positions in four games and delivered a pair of clutch hits.
Paredes, who sparked Saturday’s come-from-behind win with a two-run double, delivered the game-winning hit with a two-run double in the eighth inning Sunday afternoon to send the Astros to a 9-7 victory over the Angels and a split of the four-game series at Daikin Park.
“It’s the beginning of the season and I’ve already played three positions, but it’s something I’m going to get used to and be comfortable,” Paredes said.
Paredes was Houston’s starting third baseman for the first half of last season before a severe hamstring strain caused him to miss two months. By the time he returned to action in mid-September, the Astros had reacquired Correa and planted him at third base. The infield surplus became a big story throughout the offseason, but Paredes is proving his value.
Astros manager Joe Espada is getting creative in ways to give Paredes -- who has perhaps the best strike-zone judgment on the team -- consistent at-bats, which means changing positions. Paredes even moved from third base to first in Thursday’s season opener.
Paredes, who has also played at second base, has batted third in all four games behind Yordan Alvarez, who was intentionally walked three times in the series. The Angels walked him in the eighth inning Sunday prior to Paredes coming through with his clutch hit.
With the game tied and runners at second and third base, Paredes hit a line drive to center field in front of a diving Jo Adell that allowed Cam Smith and Alvarez to score. Altuve drove Paredes home with a double, and Bryan King closed the door after a shaky start to the ninth by Bryan Abreu.
Paredes has reached base all three times following the intentional walks to Alvarez, including on walks in the third inning Thursday and in the sixth inning Saturday.
“He knows who’s hitting in front of him,” Espada said of Paredes. “There’s a reason why he’s hitting behind him.”
The Astros, who scored 11 runs to wipe out a six-run deficit Saturday en route to their first win of the season, scored four times in the second inning Sunday, including a two-run single by Christian Vázquez. They spotted Japanese star Tatsuya Imai a four-run lead in his Major League debut, but he couldn’t hold it.
Imai was tagged for four runs in 2 2/3 innings, with three of the runs coming on a bases-clearing double by Jorge Soler in the third. Imai was lifted after giving up a game-tying single to Adell, finishing his debut with 74 pitches (36 strikes).
A two-run homer by Zach Neto off Roddery Muñoz put the Angels ahead, 6-4 in the fourth, but the Astros tied it in the fifth on a two-run double by Walker, who’s 4-for-13 with three walks and one strikeout in four games.
“We’re doing a lot of things well, and our pitching, it’s a really good staff,” Espada said. “We got to pick them up because I know they’ll pick us up here.”