LANCE MCCULLERS

Michael Brantley’s grand slam was one of three homers in a 10-run sixth inning that propelled the Houston Astros to a 13-3 win over the Chicago White Sox.

Kyle Tucker extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning, and the AL West-leading Houston Astros rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Rangers.

Justin Verlander earned his major league-leading eighth win, Jeremy Peña and Jose Altuve homered and the Houston Astros snapped their three-game losing streak with a 9-4 victory over the Miami Marlins.

Justin Verlander struck out a season-high 12 in seven sparkling innings, Yordan Alvarez hit a two-run homer and the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 4-1.

Jose Altuve hit a leadoff home run and José Urquidy tied a career high with 10 strikeouts to lead the Houston Astros to a 5-2 win over the Texas Rangers.

Aledmys Díaz hit a grand slam, Jake Odorizzi threw five innings of one-hit ball and the Houston Astros beat the Detroit Tigers 5-0 for a four-game sweep and their seventh straight win.

Michael Brantley delivered a go-ahead single in the ninth inning, Jose Siri hit a homer and a key double, and the Houston Astros edged the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1.

Noah Syndergaard pitched two-hit ball into the sixth inning in a strong Angels debut, narrowly outdueling fellow Tommy John surgery returnee Justin Verlander in Los Angeles’ 2-0 victory over the Houston Astros.

Here are things to know for Tuesday, March 22:

We watched them rise, we watched them fall and we watched many of them leave Houston. However, some are ready to stay until their last breath, it seems.

Another negotiating session produced only minor movement and no proposals on big-money issues, leaving Major League Baseball four days from management’s Monday night deadline for a deal to salvage opening day and a 162-game season.

How Apollo Media won over Astros fans by embracing hometown pride and telling Houstonians there's no shame in supporting this team.

Though the uniform keeps changing, Charlie Morton is becoming a Fall Classic fixture, starting in the World Series for the third time in five seasons this week.

Lance McCullers won't pitch in the World Series for the Houston Astros because of his forearm strain.

Lance McCullers knew there was a “less than 1%” chance that he would be able to pitch in the World Series for the Houston Astros because of a forearm strain. “We remained hopeful," McCullers said Monday, when announcing the day before Game 1 against the Atlanta Braves that he wouldn't be on the Houston roster. After a career-high 13 wins during the regular season, when he also had a 3.16 ERA and 185 strikeouts, McCullers got hurt in the AL Division Series.

After a career-high 13 wins during the regular season, when he also had a 3.16 ERA and 185 strikeouts, McCullers got hurt in the AL Division Series. McCullers, who was left off the AL Championship Series roster, said Monday that he and the team have known there was less than a 1% chance of him getting back for the World Series, but there was no need to write him off until they had to. Chris Conroy will be behind the plate for Tuesday night’s opener between Atlanta and Houston, one of three umpires working the World Series for the first time along with Dan Bellino and Mike Muchlinski.

Framber Valdez will start for the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the World Series against the Atlanta Braves.

Rookie Luis García will start for the Houston Astros against the Boston Red Sox in Game 6 of the AL Championship Series with a trip to the World Series on the line.

Trailing 2-0 in the NL Championship Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers have the Atlanta Braves right where they want them.

Houston’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.

The 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.

The Boston Red Sox became the first team to slug two grand slams in a postseason game, with J.

Houston starter Luis García left Game 2 of the AL Championship Series in the second inning against the Boston Red Sox with right knee discomfort.

Houston Astros ace Lance McCullers is looking for ways to help the team off the field while sidelined with an arm injury during the AL Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox.

Dodgers ace Max Scherzer got the last three outs in the thrilling Game 5 of the NL Divsion Series and is now lined up to throw the first pitch for Los Angeles in the NL Championship Series.

Astros ace Lance McCullers Jr. has been left off the team’s roster for the AL Championship Series against Boston, a huge blow to a team looking to advance to the World Series for the second time in three seasons.

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora will look to take down his former team in the AL Championship Series for the second time in four years after beating the Houston Astros on the way to a World Series title in 2018.

One day before the Houston Astros begin their American League Championship Series with the Boston Red Sox, the status of star pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. is still uncertain.

Boosted by a sharp start from Ian Anderson, Braves pitchers have now thrown 19 straight scoreless innings against Milwaukee in the NL Division Series.

What’s better than the Astros’ first post-season game? A sweet reunion between an 11-year-old and her father.

Lance McCullers Jr. pitched scoreless ball into the seventh inning and Yordan Alvarez homered to lead the Houston Astros to a 6-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox in Game 1 of their best-of-five AL Division Series.

Two septuagenarians will be on the bench when 77-year-old Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa and the Chicago White Sox face the Houston Astros and 72-year-old skipper Dusty Baker in their playoff opener Thursday.

The 106-win Los Angeles Dodgers put their season on the line in the NL wild-card game against the red-hot St. Louis Cardinals.

The 106-win Los Angeles Dodgers put their season on the line in the NL wild-card game against the red-hot St. Louis Cardinals.

With Shohei Ohtani, Bryce Harper and the rest of baseball's MVP front-runners left out of the postseason, there's a chance for some budding stars to cement their place among the game's top names.

Carlos Correa hit his career-high 25th homer with a three-run shot and the Houston Astros clinched the AL West with a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Jose Altuve got straight to the point when asked what Carlos Correa means to the Houston Astros after his mighty swing launched them into the playoffs Thursday night. Correa hit his career-high 25th homer with a three-run shot and the Astros clinched the AL West with a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. “That sounds pretty special," Correa said.

Carlos Correa hit his career-high 25th homer with a three-run shot and the Houston Astros clinched the AL West with a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night.

Drew Rasmussen and three relievers combined for a three-hitter, Brandon Lowe and Ji-Man Choi both homered and the Tampa Bay Rays coasted past the Houston Astros 7-0, giving them the No. 1 seed in the American League playoffs.

Shohei Ohtani scored the go-ahead run in the sixth inning and the Los Angeles Angels snapped a six-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the Houston Astros.

Jose Altuve hit a two-run double in the 12th inning and the Houston Astros, after throwing out Shohei Ohtani at the plate to preserve a tie, broke away to defeat the Los Angeles Angels 9-5.

Kole Calhoun knocked in the go-ahead run with an RBI single and Daulton Varsho homered as the Arizona Diamondbacks scored three runs in the 10th inning for a 6-4 win over the Houston Astros.

Luis Rengifo homered with three RBIs to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 4-2 win over the Houston Astros Saturday night.

Rookie Jake Meyers homered and drove in four runs as the Houston Astros jumped on Yusei Kikuchi early and sailed to an 11-2 win over the Seattle Mariners.

Jake Cronenworth hit a solo home run with one out in the ninth inning and the San Diego Padres beat the Houston Astros 4-3 to take two of three from the AL West leaders.

Abraham Toro hit a grand slam against a player he was traded for last month, connecting in the eighth inning and sending the Seattle Mariners over the Houston Astros 4-0.

Jake Meyers had the last of three singles as part of Houston’s eighth-inning rally against former teammate Joe Smith, scoring Kyle Tucker with the go-ahead run and sending the Astros over the Seattle Mariners 4-3.

Alex Bregman had two hits and an RBI in his first action in more than two months, and he scored the winning run in the 10th inning on a groundout by Jake Meyers to lift the Houston Astros to a 6-5 win over the Kansas City Royals.

Shohei Ohtani has won four straight pitching starts for the Los Angeles Angels and is 7-0 on the mound since his last loss May 28.

Luis Garcia pitched into the seventh inning and two relievers completed a four-hitter to lead the Houston Astros to a 4-0 win over the Kansas City Royals.

Yordan Álvarez homered and drove in four runs as the Houston Astros jumped on Yusei Kikuchi early and cruised to a 12-3 win over the Seattle Mariners.

Aledmys Díaz singled in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning and the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 6-3, avoiding a four-game sweep.

Reid Detmers pitched six innings of three-hit ball to earn his first major league victory, and the Los Angeles Angels avoided a three-game sweep with a 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros.

Rookie outfielder Jake Meyers hit the first two home runs of his career, including a grand slam, and the Houston Astros shook off Shohei Ohtani’s major league-leading 39th homer in an 8-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.

Dallas Keuchel returns to Minute Maid Park this weekend, and he's happy he won't run into Jeff Luhnow.

The Astros are likely to win the AL West even if a team like the Angels is better than some might think. But, if the 'Stros are going to be good, there are a few numbers that would certainly bolster their chances.

^ Keep Houston Press Free Support Us LocalCommunityJournalismI Support Support the independent voice of Houston and help keep the future of Houston Press free. Lance McCullers' inking a five-year contract extension on Wednesday finally gave us a bit of good news, and made us feel a little better about our city. Now, let's hope that, since McCullers' deal is done....Hopefully, Carlos Correa is nextReportedly, the two sides are talking. Also, like McCullers, Correa has expressed a sincere desire to remain an Astros for his career. Also, like McCullers, Correa has spent large chunks of his career, thus far, on the injured list with various maladies.

Whitney Mercilus horrific contract extension looks like it will be shortened down to one more, very expensive season. ^ Keep Houston Press Free Support Us LocalCommunityJournalismI Support Support the independent voice of Houston and help keep the future of Houston Press free. Fast forward to the actual season itself, and the Texans paid Mercilus a boatload of money in 2020 for 21 tackles in 13 games. Cutting Mercilus one year into his extension would have resulted in a bigger cap hit than keeping him. https://t.co/2aNtP3SWJN — Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 24, 2021If nothing else, Mercilus' contract restructure, which essentially makes him a free agent after the 2021 season is over, is a reminder that the purge of this roster is probably a two-year process.

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^ Keep Houston Press Free Support Us LocalCommunityJournalismI Support Support the independent voice of Houston and help keep the future of Houston Press free. His ability to stay healthy in the COVID-shortened season was as important for him as it was the Astros. Because of his injury history, it's difficult to imagine him completing an entire healthy season, which is why his importance to the rotation is a 50/50 proposition. Whitley still has killer stuff and remains the only serious pitching prospect for the Astros ready to play at the major-league level. If he can maintain control and, more critically, stay healthy, he has a chance to have a big impact on the Astros season.

The Astros have out-hit the Tampa Bay Rays 19-10 in the first two games of the American League Championship Series. Monday afternoon's Game 2 felt like a carbon copy of Game 1 with the Astros shooting themselves in the foot as their offense continues to struggle. If the offensive issues weren't enough, there were uncharacteristic gaffes in the field that led directly to the winning runs for the Rays. In the bottom of the first inning, a weakly hit grounder was sent toward Jose Altuve. The Astros in this series are 2-14 with runners in scoring position.

In 2017, the Astros went into the postseason with great hope and a newly acquired Justin Verlander. In 2018, they went into the postseason with experience from the previous year and, again, great hope, even if they were a little banged up. #ForTheH pic.twitter.com/TmDcLupDIn — Houston Astros (@astros) September 26, 2020Still, with a football team in town that's 0-3, who am I to quibble over how or why our baseball team is celebrating a playoff berth, right? The condensed nature of this postseason, with fewer off days than a normal postseason, probably won't help much. Sadly, the Astros offseason carries far more intrigue than anything taking place on the field for them this postseason.

OK, the last couple paragraphs were kind of depressing, so let's go back to our happy place — Justin Verlander's brief, but spectacular Astros career! So where does Verlander's run from September 2017 through the end of the postseason in 2019 stack up compared to other three-year runs from starting pitchers in team history. The single biggest highlight, of course, is the no hitter to clinch the division in 1986, a year in which he won the Cy Young Award. He also finished second for the Cy Young three seasons later in 1989, his only 20-win season. He arrived in early September 2017, went 5-0 down the stretch, won the ALCS MVP, and then followed that up with a Cy Young runner-up in 2018, and a Cy Young Award in 2019.

But Correa is just two seasons from unrestricted free agency making him eligible for a sizable extension sooner rather than later. That is assuming he can justify that payday and this season would seem to be a critical one for his future and the future of this young Astros core. If Correa plays up to his potential this season and stays healthy, it could mean big things for the offense in 2020. As if Osuna needed any help overcoming all of that, former Astros VP Brandon Taubman had to go full a-hole in the clubhouse after the ALCS, taunting reporters about the Astros closer. The Astros are hoping to keep him under that again in the regular season, protecting the arm that has been injured previously.

The questions will rain down on the Astros players and management like a monsoon. We also know that perhaps their most irreplaceable player from 2019, ace pitcher Gerrit Cole, is gone. Even worse, he left to go to the Astros' main competitor in the AL, the New York Yankees. Tucker was decidedly better in his second go round in the big leagues in 2019 than his first in 2018. Lance McCullers spent the entire 2019 season rehabbing his pitching elbow coming off of Tommy John surgery.

How Houston celebrities celebrated 2020's arrival, according to InstagramAstros pitcher Lance McCullers and wife Kara McCullers announced the birth of their daughter on New Year's Eve. >> Keep clicking through to see how other Houston celebrities celebrated the holiday. >> Keep clicking through to see how other Houston celebrities celebrated the holiday. Photo: Screenshot From Instagram Photo: Screenshot From Instagram Image 1 of / 43 Caption Close How Houston celebrities celebrated 2020's arrival, according to Instagram 1 / 43 Back to GalleryWelcome to a new decade. See how Houston celebrities brought in the New Year, according to their social media accounts, in the gallery above.

NEW YORK CITY (KTRK) -- Astros players Carlos Correa and Lance McCullers are definitely enjoying their offseason!Saturday night the pair attended UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden and ran into none other than Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.They each posted photos with the famous wrestler turned highest paid actor in Hollywood, singing his praises in their captions.Correa captioned his photo "If you smell... what the rock is cooking!! Such a great human being! Thanks for your time!! "McCullers said Johnson is an inspiration to millions and described him as the "hardest worker in the room."

NEW YORK CITY (KTRK) -- Astros players Carlos Correa and Lance McCullers are definitely enjoying their offseason!Saturday night the pair attended UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden and ran into none other than Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.They each posted photos with the famous wrestler turned highest paid actor in Hollywood, singing his praises in their captions.Correa captioned his photo "If you smell... what the rock is cooking!! Such a great human being! Thanks for your time!! "McCullers said Johnson is an inspiration to millions and described him as the "hardest worker in the room."

NEW YORK CITY (KTRK) -- Astros players Carlos Correa and Lance McCullers are definitely enjoying their offseason!Saturday night the pair attended UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden and ran into none other than Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.They each posted photos with the famous wrestler turned highest paid actor in Hollywood, singing his praises in their captions.Correa captioned his photo "If you smell... what the rock is cooking!! Such a great human being! Thanks for your time!! "McCullers said Johnson is an inspiration to millions and described him as the "hardest worker in the room."

EMBED >More News Videos ABC13's David Nuno visits with Astros pitcher Lance McCullers and his three pups: Minka, Riggins and Finn. EMBED >More News Videos Astros star pitcher Justin Verlander and super model fiancee Kate Upton enjoy a quiet dinner at Tiny BoxwoodsEMBED >More News Videos George Springer and Charlise Castro exchanged vows under this gorgeous Italian rotunda perched 300 feet above the ocean. HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Our Houston Astros are hoping to bring home another World Series trophy, but who are they going home to each night? Meet the wives, fiancees and girlfriends of the Astros.Many of the Astros are daddies -- married family men with children.Justin Verlander and his supermodel wife Kate Upton welcomed their daughter Genevieve in November 2018. Together they run the non-profit Lance McCullers, Jr. Foundation for animal adoption.If you pay attention to pageants, you may recognize Carlos Correa's fiancee.

Cruz Arcia and his friends were having a blast Tuesday, cheering on their Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park during Game 1 of the World Series. Their experience in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series in New York was a much different one. The whole ordeal caught the attention of injured Astros pitcher Lance McCullers, who gave the group tickets to Tuesday night's World Series game. "I just thank Lance McCullers for giving us the free tickets for all of my friends to enjoy this wonderful game," said Nathan Rocha. "Lance, thank you so much for having me here," said Arcia.

pic.twitter.com/WXpWxSNtN9 ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 18, 2019The #Astros have never won a 7 game series in 5 or fewer games. EMBED >More News Videos Astros outfielder Josh Reddick called Yankees fans disrespectful for throwing debris. EMBED >More News Videos Victory = more color in Houston | You should see the new street art commissioned after each Astros postseason win in 2019. With Jose Altuve at bat, Yankees pitcher James Paxton's wild pitch advanced Springer to second. Game 7, if also necessary, is on Sunday.Otherwise, Game 1 of the World Series is on Tuesday, with the surprise NL champion Nationals visiting the AL winner.

The #Astros have never won a 7 game series in 5 or fewer games. #TakeItBack Greg Bailey (@GregBailey13) October 18, 2019EMBED >More News Videos Astros pitcher Lance McCullers reached out to the fan on Twitter and said, "If we make the World Series, just pick a game and I'll get you a ticket." EMBED >More News Videos Astros outfielder Josh Reddick called Yankees fans disrespectful for throwing debris. EMBED >More News Videos Victory = more color in Houston | You should see the new street art commissioned after each Astros postseason win in 2019. Game 7, if also necessary, is on Sunday.Otherwise, Game 1 of the World Series is on Tuesday, with the surprise NL champion Nationals visiting the AL winner.

EMBED >More News Videos ABC13's David Nuno visits with Astros pitcher Lance McCullers and his three pups: Minka, Riggins and Finn. EMBED >More News Videos Astros star pitcher Justin Verlander and super model fiancee Kate Upton enjoy a quiet dinner at Tiny BoxwoodsEMBED >More News Videos George Springer and Charlise Castro exchanged vows under this gorgeous Italian rotunda perched 300 feet above the ocean. HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Our Houston Astros are hoping to bring home another World Series trophy, but who are they going home to each night? Meet the wives, fiancees and girlfriends of the Astros.Many of the Astros are daddies -- married family men with children.Justin Verlander and his supermodel wife Kate Upton welcomed their daughter Genevieve in November 2018. Together they run the non-profit Lance McCullers, Jr. Foundation for animal adoption.If you pay attention to pageants, you may recognize Carlos Correa's fiancee.

HOUSTON - Hundreds of dogs, cats and other animals were adopted Saturday at the Clear the Shelters event across the Houston area. Potential parents lined up outside at least 30 shelters and fell in love with the animals featured in Clear the Shelters. Even Astros pitcher Lance McCullers made an appearance at Classic Chevy Sugar Land, which hosted a Clear the Shelters event with Fort Bend Animal Services and Fort Bend PAWS. The Houston SPCA also had a large turnout from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. The Clear the Shelters event hopes to spread awareness of the issue of overcrowded shelters and also help animals find loving homes.

EMBED >More News Videos ABC13's David Nuno visits with Astros pitcher Lance McCullers and his three pups: Minka, Riggins and Finn. EMBED >More News Videos The Houston Astros released its new slogan for the upcoming season. EMBED >More News Videos Eyewitness Sports' Bob Slovak takes in the excitement felt ahead of Zack Greinke's Astros debut. Their final home games are a four-game series with Baltimore Sept. 17-20.Houston wraps the regular season with a four-game series in the Bronx against the Yankees Sept. 21-24. The Astros' final series is in Atlanta against the Braves on Sept. 25-27.You can check out the 2020 schedule through the Astros website

HOUSTON, Texas -- There's another Astros baby on the way!Astros pitcher Lance McCullers and his wife Kara announced they're expecting a baby girl this new year, and they couldn't be more excited.The couple shared the big news in a surprise Instagram post and Twitter video on Saturday.The announcement comes just a few months after McCullers' teammate Josh Reddick announced he and his wife are expecting twin boys in October.It's safe to say the Astros fan base is growing!

EMBED >More News Videos Jennifer Lopez performs Selena hit at Houston showEMBED >More News Videos Astros head to the Drake concert. EMBED >More News Videos Ludacris lit up the stage as the Houston Astros celebrated big for team owner Jim Crane's wife's birthday over the weekend. Video credit: Daniella Rodriguez/YouTubeEMBED >More News Videos Justin Verlander and Kate Upton take in Beyonce and Jay-Z concert at NRG StadiumHOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- These are squad goals, for real.The wives of some of the Houston Astros players appeared to add a new member to their tight-knit group of friends: Jennifer Lopez. Daniella Rodriguez , fiancee of shortstop Carlos Correa, and Kara McCullers, wife of pitcher Lance McCullers, were also featured in the epic snapshot.And Kemp was well-dressed for the occasion. She wore a white button down shirt and belted, denim knee-high boots.The outfit emulates the same style that Lopez was captured wearing last August as she stepped out in denim Versace boots.