INSIDER
Jose Urquidy and Cristian Javier both had Tommy John surgery | Now what?
Read full article: Jose Urquidy and Cristian Javier both had Tommy John surgery | Now what?The Houston Astros were dealt a crushing blow to their pitching rotation in the early portion of the summer, as the team announced starting pitchers Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy were both ruled out for the remainder of the 2024 season.
Astros pitcher Jose Urquidy may require surgery to right arm, expected to miss rest of 2024 season
Read full article: Astros pitcher Jose Urquidy may require surgery to right arm, expected to miss rest of 2024 seasonJose Urquidy is expected to miss the rest of the 2024 season, and is expected to require surgery on his right arm, three sources with knowledge of the situation tell KPRC 2 Sports.
Astros say Urquidy will return to Houston to see doctors, has forearm stiffness per source
Read full article: Astros say Urquidy will return to Houston to see doctors, has forearm stiffness per sourceAstros right-handed starting pitcher Jose Urquidy is headed back to Houston to be examined by team doctors, Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters Saturday in West Palm Beach.
Injury updates on Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez, Jose Urquidy
Read full article: Injury updates on Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez, Jose UrquidyFresh off of a big series win against the Rangers the Astros got even better news after returning home for their six game home-stand ahead of the All-Star break. Two important players to their roster are nearing a return sooner rather than later.
Houston starter Jose Urquidy placed on IL with shoulder injury
Read full article: Houston starter Jose Urquidy placed on IL with shoulder injuryHouston Astros right-hander Jose Urquidy was placed on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his right shoulder before the start of a series against the San Francisco Giants on Monday.
Astros and the arbitration process: These are the deals that got done, those that didn’t and what’s next
Read full article: Astros and the arbitration process: These are the deals that got done, those that didn’t and what’s nextHey guys it’s Ari Alexander, covering the Astros offseason and I’m looking at ARBITRATION DAY! Friday the 13th was when most arbitration deals get done and the Astros knocked out six of their eight very quickly.
JUST KEEP WINNING: A look back and forward as the Astros head to the ALDS
Read full article: JUST KEEP WINNING: A look back and forward as the Astros head to the ALDSHey guys it’s Ari Alexander, We made it! 162 got played, even if it started late. Let’s run through some notes in the last regular season newsletter. After this week, it gets (more) intense!
Phillies down Astros for 1st playoff berth since 2011
Read full article: Phillies down Astros for 1st playoff berth since 2011Aaron Nola took a perfect game into the seventh inning and Kyle Schwarber homered twice as the Philadelphia Phillies clinched their first playoff berth in 11 years with a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros Monday night.
Ari Alexander’s picks for the Astros playoff roster
Read full article: Ari Alexander’s picks for the Astros playoff rosterHey guys, it’s Ari Alexander and we’re closing down the season with a loooong homestand. 8 straight games at home so if you don’t have playoff tickets, it’s a perfect time to see the Astros at Minute Maid for the last time this season. Of course since the playoffs are looming, let’s cover a few playoff topics including roster construction, the #4 starter and potential matchups.
Trout HR 6th game in row; Ohtani blister, Angels top Astros
Read full article: Trout HR 6th game in row; Ohtani blister, Angels top AstrosMike Trout homered in his sixth straight game to set an Angels franchise record, Shohei Ohtani threw five solid innings before exiting because of a blister and Los Angeles beat the Houston Astros 6-1.
Rookie Bradish spins gem as Orioles blank Astros 2-0
Read full article: Rookie Bradish spins gem as Orioles blank Astros 2-0Rookie Kyle Bradish pitched a gem, throwing eight strong innings before two relievers completed the four-hitter to lead the Baltimore Orioles to a 2-0 win over the Houston Astros.
Chicago pounds out 15 hits, beats Texas 8-2 for series split
Read full article: Chicago pounds out 15 hits, beats Texas 8-2 for series splitAndrew Vaughn had a two-run home run among his three hits, Luis Robert hit a two-run double, and AJ Pollock had two doubles in a three-hit game as the Chicago White Sox beat the Texas Rangers 8-2 to split a four-game series.
Stanton HR ends Yanks’ 16 1/3-inning hitless slump vs Astros
Read full article: Stanton HR ends Yanks’ 16 1/3-inning hitless slump vs AstrosGiancarlo Stanton homered against Houston’s José Urquidy with one out in the seventh inning, ending the New York Yankees’ hitless drought at 16 1/3 innings and spoiling the Astros’ efforts to throw a second consecutive no-hitter in the Bronx.
Verlander solid again as Astros complete sweep of Mariners
Read full article: Verlander solid again as Astros complete sweep of MarinersJustin Verlander turned in another solid start, and Alex Bregman had three hits and three RBIs and the Houston Astros completed a three-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners with a 7-2 win.
Astros scramble after pitchers pounded for 25 runs by Boston
Read full article: Astros scramble after pitchers pounded for 25 runs by BostonHouston’s pitching staff will need to adjust quickly after allowing 25 runs and 32 hits to Boston in the first three games of the AL Championship Series, a barrage that made the loss of injured Lance McCullers Jr. seem acute.
LEADING OFF: LA hopes to maximize Scherzer with extra rest
Read full article: LEADING OFF: LA hopes to maximize Scherzer with extra restThe Dodgers are ready to start ace Max Scherzer in Game 2 of the NL Championship Series against Atlanta, a day after manager Dave Roberts scratched the veteran right-hander to get him an extra day of rest.
Urquidy solid, Astros belt three HRs in 7-2 win over Rangers
Read full article: Urquidy solid, Astros belt three HRs in 7-2 win over RangersJake Meyers and Marwin Gonzalez hit consecutive homers in a three-run second inning, Kyle Tucker had a home run among his three hits, and Jose Urquidy allowed one run and two hits in six innings for his seventh win of the season as the Houston Astros beat the Texas Rangers 7-2.
Mariners score 4 in 11th to earn 6-3 win over Astros
Read full article: Mariners score 4 in 11th to earn 6-3 win over AstrosTy France tied the game with a solo home run in the ninth inning and put the Seattle Mariners on top with an RBI single in the 11th before Kyle Seager belted a three-run homer in a 6-3 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Jones drives in career-best 4 RBIs, Astros rout M’s 15-1
Read full article: Jones drives in career-best 4 RBIs, Astros rout M’s 15-1Rookie Taylor Jones had a career-high four RBIs and finished a single shy of the cycle, and Yordan Alvarez hit a three-run homer as the Houston Astros routed the Seattle Mariners for the second straight game, 15-1.
Astros’ Yuli Gurriel, Jose Urquidy to partner with Kroger to provide vaccine access to underserved Houston communities
Read full article: Astros’ Yuli Gurriel, Jose Urquidy to partner with Kroger to provide vaccine access to underserved Houston communitiesTwo star Astros players are teaming up with Kroger to help steer vaccinations to Houston’s underserved areas.
Altuve slugs way into MLB history as Astros down Rangers 8-4
Read full article: Altuve slugs way into MLB history as Astros down Rangers 8-4Jose Altuve homered twice and made major league history by hitting a leadoff homer one game after belting a walk-off grand slam to lead the Houston Astros to an 8-4 win over the Texas Rangers.
Valdez pitches 7 strong innings, Astros beat Red Sox 2-1
Read full article: Valdez pitches 7 strong innings, Astros beat Red Sox 2-1Framber Valdez pitched seven strong innings and Kyle Tucker had two hits as the Houston Astros handed Nick Pivetta his first loss of the season in a 2-1 win over the Boston Red Sox.
Ohtani fans 5 in return to mound; Harper HR on 1st swing
Read full article: Ohtani fans 5 in return to mound; Harper HR on 1st swingThe 2018 AL Rookie of the Year is off to a strong start this spring on both sides. PHILLIES 3, PIRATES 0Bryce Harper homered on his first swing of spring training, launching a opposite-field drive to left. Chad Kuhl made his second start for Pittsburgh, allowing two runs on three hits. Brad Keller worked three innings in the start for the Royals and allowed a run on four hits and two walks. BRAVES 4, TWINS 0 (7)Kyle Wright fared much better in his second start for Atlanta, allowing one hit in three shutout innings with two strikeouts.
Astros minus 8 pitchers because of coronavirus protocols
Read full article: Astros minus 8 pitchers because of coronavirus protocolsIt was not known whether the eight pitchers had tested positive for the virus or had come in close contact with someone who had tested positive. Earlier this week, the Astros lost starter Framber Valdez when he suffered a broken left finger while fielding a ball in an exhibition game. They list 23 pitchers on their 40-man roster, plus 16 more nonroster pitchers in camp. Nineteen big league players and six staff have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of spring training, a positive rate of 0.07% among 34,541 tests. All players on 40-man rosters and players with minor league contracts invited to big league training camp are screened.
LEADING OFF: Altuve, shaky Astros in 2-0 hole vs Rays
Read full article: LEADING OFF: Altuve, shaky Astros in 2-0 hole vs RaysI’m sure he’ll do that.”The Astros have also had a lousy go with runners on base. THE KID AND THE ACEOff to an impressive start in his first postseason, rookie Ian Anderson tries to give Atlanta a 2-0 lead in the NL Championship Series when he faces Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw. CHANGE OF SOXAfter ending a 12-year playoff drought, the Chicago White Sox are looking for a new manager. The club announced Monday that Renteria won’t return after guiding the White Sox to a 35-25 record in his pandemic-shortened fourth season. Hahn said Renteria’s replacement probably will come from outside the White Sox.
LEADING OFF: Stanton's HR streak, Kershaw at home, Acuña hit
Read full article: LEADING OFF: Stanton's HR streak, Kershaw at home, Acuña hit(AP Photo/Gregory Bull)A look at what's happening around the majors on Wednesday:STANTON'S STREAKYankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton has homered in all four of the team's postseason games this year. The two-time NL home run champion is from the Los Angeles area and says “that SoCal air" is helping the ball fly. If the Dodgers advance to the NL Championship Series or World Series, fans will be allowed at those games. “At this point I think we’ve grown accustomed to it.”Alcantara insisted he didn’t intend to hit Acuña and that Miami’s game plan is simply to pitch inside to him. Springer’s 17 postseason homers tied Nelson Cruz and Jim Thome for most through a player’s first 54 postseason games.
Springer hits 2 HRs, Astros beat A's 5-2 for 2-0 ALDS lead
Read full article: Springer hits 2 HRs, Astros beat A's 5-2 for 2-0 ALDS leadHouston Astros' Carlos Correa, left, and George Springer celebrate after the Astros defeated the Oakland Athletics in Game 2 of a baseball American League Division Series in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. The Houston Astros can't miss these days. “With every victory, the energy and the confidence grows,” first-year Houston manager Dusty Baker said. Five of Springer’s postseason homers have come at Dodger Stadium, where the Astros beat the Dodgers in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series. The scandal led to season-long suspensions of Houston general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch, who both were fired.
Astros sweep as Twins lose 18th straight in playoffs
Read full article: Astros sweep as Twins lose 18th straight in playoffs"But what are they going to say now?”Nine months after Houston's rules-breaking, sign-stealing system was revealed, the Astros advanced to the Division Series in Los Angeles. The Twins are 0-18 in the playoffs since winning Game 1 of their Division Series at the New York Yankees on Oct. 5, 2004, a total of seven rounds lost. Since that date, the Astros are 43-35 in postseason play, winning 10 of 15 rounds with three trips to the World Series. In a three-game division series sweep by the Yankees last year, the Twins totaled seven runs and 22 hits. Baldelli declined to confirm whether Buxton was experiencing a recurrence of concussion symptoms that kept him out of the last two regular season games.
A capsule look at the Astros-Twins playoff series
Read full article: A capsule look at the Astros-Twins playoff seriesA capsule look at the best-of-three playoff series between the Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins in Minneapolis beginning Tuesday:___HOUSTON ASTROSRecord: 29-31. Projected Rotation: RHP Zack Greinke (3-3, 4.03 ERA, 67 Ks), RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (3-3, 3.93, 56 Ks), RHP Jose Urquidy (1-1, 2.73, 17 Ks) or LHP Framber Valdez (5-3, 3.57, 76 Ks) or RHP Cristian Javier (5-2, 3.48, 54 Ks.) Manager: Rocco Baldelli (second season). Projected Rotation: RHP Kenta Maeda (6-1, 2.70 ERA, 80 Ks), RHP José Berríos (5-4, 4.00, 68 Ks), RHP Michael Pineda (2-0, 3.38, 25 Ks in 5 starts). Series Summary: The Twins haven’t won a playoff series since 2002, failing to advance in eight consecutive rounds.
Astros magic number 1 for AL playoff spot after win at Texas
Read full article: Astros magic number 1 for AL playoff spot after win at Texas(AP) – Alex Bregman’s three extra-base hits included one of Houston’s four home runs, and the Astros trimmed their magic number to one for clinching the American League’s last playoff spot with a 12-4 win over the Texas Rangers on Thursday night. Josh Reddick also had three hits, capped by a two-run homer in the ninth. The Astros (29-28) have to win only one of their three remaining games against Texas to secure second place in the AL West, and a spot in baseball’s expanded playoff during the pandemic-shortened season. He held the Rangers without a run until Willie Calhoun's two-run homer in the sixth. Bregman, Springer, Altuve and Reddick have been mainstays for the Astros in their recent playoff runs, including the 2017 World Series title and another AL pennant last year.
Here are 5 Astros who need to step up in a Verlander-less rotation for playoffs
Read full article: Here are 5 Astros who need to step up in a Verlander-less rotation for playoffsHOUSTON – For two months, the Astros hoped they would get Justin Verlander back to lead the team through the playoffs. Now the team’s ace will be Zack Greinke for the playoffs with a patchwork of young and recently-injured pitchers to finish out the season. Here’s a look at who the Astros have left in their rotation. The veteran got his ERA as low as 1.84 before giving up at least three runs or more in his past six starts. He will likely be the Astros #3 starter in the playoffs if he’s healthy.
Trout sets franchise HR mark, Angels rally to beat Astros
Read full article: Trout sets franchise HR mark, Angels rally to beat AstrosOne out later, Adell lined a two-run single to right off Enoli Paredes (1-2) for his first game-ending hit. Kyle Tucker homered and drove in three runs for the Astros, who lost in walk-off fashion for the second straight game. With two outs and runners on second and third, Martin Maldonado hit a two-run single to right-center. After Yuli Gurriel's two-run single in the third, Tucker extended the lead to 4-1 with a run-scoring infield single. It is the seventh game to start with triple-digit temperatures since the ballpark opened in 1966.
Dbacks beat Astros 5-4 on Calhouns single in ninth
Read full article: Dbacks beat Astros 5-4 on Calhouns single in ninthPHOENIX Kole Calhoun lined a two-run single in the ninth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied to beat the Houston Astros 5-4 Thursday night to win their first series of the season. ROSTER MOVESArizona designated INF Ildemaro Vargas for assignment and optioned RHP Yoan Lopez to its alternate training site to get its active roster down to 28. The Astros got down to the 28-player limit by optioning RHP Bryan Abreu and INF Jack Mayfield to their alternate training site. TRAINING TABLEAstros: Reigning AL rookie of the year Yordan Alvarez took batting practice and did some running at the team's alternate training site. Diamondbacks: RHP Luke Weaver (0-2, 14.73) looks to get his shaky start to the 2020 season on track in Arizona's series opener against San Diego on Friday.
Baker wins debut, Astros top M's in 1st game post sign scam
Read full article: Baker wins debut, Astros top M's in 1st game post sign scamHouston Astros manager Dusty Baker (12) kneels for social justice with players before a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners Friday, July 24, 2020, in Houston. The 71-year-old Baker posted a victory in his 3,500th regular-season game as a manager. Houston tied it at 2 on an RBI single by Altuve that chased starter Marco Gonzales (0-1). Martn Maldonado tied it with an RBI single in the Houston third an added an RBI with a single in the sixth. Hell be opposed by Seattle RHP Taijuan Walker, who appeared in just one game last season after having Tommy John surgery in 2018.
'It's over now' - Astros eager to put scandal behind them
Read full article: 'It's over now' - Astros eager to put scandal behind themHOUSTON The Houston Astros spent the offseason reeling from a sign-stealing scandal that cost manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow their jobs. The change didnt stop the Astros from being the villains of baseball this spring. The Astros are preparing for the possibility of being without designated hitter Yordan Alvarez for the start of the season and potentially longer. The Astros are counting on McCullers to have a big season in his return after missing last season following Tommy John surgery. Tucker, who can play outfield and first base, has appeared in just 50 MLB games over the past two seasons.
Correa asks wife to stay out of salons until season ends
Read full article: Correa asks wife to stay out of salons until season endsHOUSTON Houston Astos shortstop Carlos Correa is so serious about not contracting the coronavirus that hes asked his wife, Daniella, a former pageant queen, to stay out of beauty salons until the season is over. When I talk to my wife she knows, he said Sunday. Were going to focus on the baseball season and once everything is done, then you can go to get your nails done and do everything else." Correas wife was Miss Texas in 2016. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within weeks.