Houston Astros are rising in value

The Astros saw one of the biggest year-over-year value increases in Major League Baseball.

Driving the news: Of the 30 MLB teams, the Astros ranked 11th by franchise valuation at $2.4 billion as of March, according to Forbes.

The intrigue: That's 8% higher than Forbes' valuation of the team in 2023, a marked difference from the league's average year-over-year growth rate of 4%.

• The only teams that saw higher year-over-year increases were the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers, each with 14%.
• The Houston Business Journal attributes the increase in part to the team's massive sponsorship deals and league-leading ticket sales in 2023.

State of play: The 'Stros are off to a 1-4 start after a rocky series with the New York Yankees.

• Yes, but: On Monday, right-hander Ronel Blanco threw the team's first no-hitter of the season against the Toronto Blue Jays, giving the Astros their first win of the season.