Astrosโ Abreu suspended 2 games by MLB, which says he intentionally threw at Garcรญa
Houston Astros pitcher Bryan Abreu was suspended for two games and fined by Major League Baseball, which said he intentionally threw at Adolis Garcรญa of the Texas Rangers during Game 5 of the AL Championship Series.
McCullers 1st to give up 5 home runs in World Series game
Houston starter Lance McCullers Jr. became the first pitcher to allow five home runs in a World Series game, serving up long balls to Philadelphia's Bryce Harper, Alec Bohm, Brandon Marsh, Kyle Schwarber and Rhys Hoskins in the first five innings of Game 3.
Astros sweep Yankees in ALCS, advance to World Series again
Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman delivered big hits and the Houston Astros advanced to the World Series again, finishing a four-game sweep of New York in the AL Championship Series with a 6-5 victory aided by another defensive gaffe from the Yankees.
Astros sweep Yankees in ALCS, advance to World Series again
Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman delivered big hits and the Houston Astros advanced to the World Series again, finishing a four-game sweep of New York in the AL Championship Series with a 6-5 victory aided by another defensive gaffe from the Yankees.
Javier, Astros romp 5-0 over Yanks, Cole, take 3-0 ALCS lead
Cristian Javier and Houstonโs bullpen combined on a three-hitter, Chas McCormick followed a dropped flyball with an early two-run homer and the Astros beat Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees 5-0 to take a 3-0 AL Championship Series lead.
Ari Alexanderโs picks for the Astros playoff roster
Hey guys, itโs Ari Alexander and weโre closing down the season with a loooong homestand. 8 straight games at home so if you donโt have playoff tickets, itโs a perfect time to see the Astros at Minute Maid for the last time this season. Of course since the playoffs are looming, letโs cover a few playoff topics including roster construction, the #4 starter and potential matchups.
McCullers agrees to $85M deal with Astros for 2022-26
Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. throws during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. โ Pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. and the Houston Astros have agreed to an $85 million, five-year contract covering 2022-26, a deal awaiting announcement by the team. McCullers agreed on Jan. 15 to a $6.5 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. โHouston is where I want to be," he said at spring training on Feb. 28. who broke his left ring finger in his first spring training appearance. McCullers is 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA over seven innings in three spring training games.
Astros tender contract offers to 3 players
HOUSTON โ The Houston Astros have tendered contracts to three arbitration-eligible players: shortstop Carlos Correa, infielder Aledmys Dรญaz, and right-handed pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. Additionally, the club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with right-handed pitcher Austin Pruitt. The deadline for Major League Baseball clubs to tender contracts to their arbitration-eligible players was 7 p.m. Wednesday. Selected by the Astros with the first-overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, Correa is entering his seventh Major League season with the Astros in 2021. He then made three starts for the Astros during the 2020 postseason, starting Game 1 of the ALDS at OAK, and Games 2 and 7 of the ALCS at TB. Pruitt, 31, was acquired by the Astros from Tampa Bay on Jan. 9, in exchange for two prospects, right-handed pitcher Peyton Battenfield and outfielder Cal Stevenson.
Astros fall to Rays, 4-2, in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series
The Rays will face either the Los Angeles Dodgers or Atlanta Braves in the World Series in Arlington, Texas, starting Tuesday night. Tampa Bayโs only other World Series appearance was in 2008, when it lost to the Philadelphia Phillies. Boston went on to win its first World Series in 86 seasons. Morton and McCullers became the first pair to pitch in the same winner-take-all postseason game as teammates and later start against each other in a winner-take-all game. Homer recordArozarena is only one homer away from matching the major league record of eight homers in any single postseason.
Arozarena, Rays top Astros 4-2 in Game 7, reach World Series
Arozarena homered again, 36-year-old Charlie Morton was brilliant against his former team and the Rays silenced the Houston Astros 4-2 to reach the World Series for just the second time. The Rays will face either the Los Angeles Dodgers or Atlanta Braves in the World Series in Arlington, Texas, starting Tuesday night. Tampa Bayโs only other World Series appearance was in 2008, when it lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in five games. Under new manager Dusty Baker, the Astros were trying to reach the World Series for the third time in four seasons. โCash made the right move again โ shocker,โ kidded ace Tyler Glasnow, now lined up to start the World Series opener.
Astros, Rays prepare for ALCS closeout Game 7. Winner advances to World Series
HOUSTON โ Raise your hand if you thought there would be a Game 7 of this 2020 American League Conference Series between the Houston Astros and the Tampa Bay Rays. Houston won three straight and now are a win away from their third World Series in four years. Lance was solid Monday in Game 1 when he struck out 11 in seven innings giving up one earned run and four overall. He will be opposed by Rays ace and former Astros star Charlie Morton, who also happens to be good friends with McCullers. He needs his curveball to be a go-to pitch, high velocity and try to match the seven innings he gave manager Dusky Baker in Game 2.
Springer, Valdรฉz help Astros top Rays 7-4, force ALCS Game 7
George Springer and Josรฉ Altuve delivered big hits, Framber Valdรฉz pitched six brilliant innings and the Astros beat the Tampa Bay Rays for the third straight time, 7-4 Friday to force a deciding Game 7 of the AL Championship Series. Despite blowing a 3-0 series lead, they remain one win from the second World Series in franchise history โ and one loss from joining the 2004 Yankees in ignominy. Game 7 on Saturday night will feature the pitchers who started and finished Houstonโs Game 7 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2017 World Series. He has yet to win a World Series as a manager. As a player, he helped the Los Angeles Dodgers win four straight World Series games in 1981 after falling behind the New York Yankees 0-2.
Astros beat Rays 7-4 to force Game 7 in ALCS
Houston chased starter Blake Snell in the fifth before Springer hit a go-ahead, two-run single and scored on Altuveโs double. The Red Sox stunned the New York Yankees to win the ALCS before winning their first World Series in 86 seasons. Game 7 on Saturday night will feature the pitchers who started and finished Houstonโs Game 7 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2017 World Series. Right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. will go for the Astros while 36-year-old Charlie Morton is expected to start for the Rays. As a player, he helped the Los Angeles Dodgers win the World Series in 1981 against the New York Yankees.
LEADING OFF: Altuve, shaky Astros in 2-0 hole vs Rays
Iโm sure heโll do that.โThe 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 wonโt return after guiding the White Sox to a 35-25 record in his pandemic-shortened fourth season. Hahn said Renteriaโs replacement probably will come from outside the White Sox.
Altuve's 2 early throwing errors doom Astros in ALCS Game 2
โWe were down 0-2 in the World Series last year with (ALCS Game 3 starter) Josรฉ Urquidy and (ALCS Game 4 starter Zack) Greinke coming up next to pitch for us,โ shortstop Carlos Correa said. The Astros have made three errors in two games, while the Rays have played sparkling defense all across the diamond. Iโm sure heโll do that.โAfter the second error, Correa moved into the spot normally occupied by Altuve in the shift. Altuve's first error put the Astros in a hole they never escaped, even with a superb start from McCullers. After getting nine hits and just one run in Game 1, the Astros ended their 13-inning scoreless streak with Correa's homer.
Margot's homer, catch highlight Rays' 4-2 win over Astros
Asked which was bigger in the 4-2 victory against the Houston Astros, Margot said through a translator: โDefinitely the home run. He played one game in right field in 2016 and the rest of his time in San Diego was spent in center. โTo have the ability to know where youโre at, and kind of be able to say, โForget it, I know Iโm going to hit something but Iโm going in,โ and still hang on to the ball, was really, really impressive,โ manager Kevin Cash said. It was an unbelievable play that he made on the right field line, putting himself in a dangerous place. โEverybody is really, really supportive of him and just so happy for what he's accomplished.โMorton improved to 4-0 with a 0.90 ERA in the last two postseasons.
Astros fall to Rays in Game 2 of ALCS
It followed a throwing error by second baseman Josรฉ Altuve from shallow right field on a grounder by Ji-Man Choi. Game 3 in the best-of-7 series is Tuesday night, when the Rays will send Tyler Glasow against Houstonโs Josรฉ Urquidy. Nice playWhile the Astros struggled on defense, the Rays made some nice plays. Astros: Urquidy started Houstonโs Game 3 loss to Oakland in the ALDS, giving up four runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings. That should line up Zack Greinke to start Game 4, although Baker wasnโt ready to commit to that on Monday.
Astros vs. Rays: A look at the pitching matchup for ALCS Game 2
HOUSTON โ One game into the ALCS and some bad habits returned for the Astros. Monday, the Astros and Rays meet again, and going down 0-2 will not bode well for the Astrosโ chances of returning to the World Series next week in Arlington. McCullers needs to go deep for Dusty Baker. He will be opposed by former Astros pitcher and 2017 World Series hero Charlie Morton. If they get down 0-2, the Astros will be in a hole thatโs tough to climb out of.
LEADING OFF: Fans back as Braves, Dodgers open NLCS in Texas
The Los Angeles Dodgers work out in Globe Life Field before the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct 11, 2020. They will be allowed into Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, when the Dodgers and Braves meet in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series. Morton again faces his former team when he starts Game 2 of the AL Championship Series at Petco Park. Then in the World Series, McCullers started Game 7 and Morton wound up with the win. OPENING UPWalker Bueher, troublesome finger blister and all, starts the opener for the Dodgers when they play Atlanta in the NL Championship Series at Arlington, Texas.
Correa, Springer rally Astros past A's 10-5 in ALDS opener
Houston Astros' Carlos Correa, left, celebrates with George Springer after they defeated the Oakland Athletics in Game 1 of a baseball American League Division Series in Los Angeles, Monday, Oct. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)LOS ANGELES โ A home run derby broke out during a hot, dry day at Dodger Stadium, and suddenly the Houston Astros have their swing and swagger back. โWhen you get the leadoff guy (Springer) getting on base every single time, good things are going to happen. Altuve's line-drive single to left scored Maldonado and Springer to put the Astros back in front, 6-5. Chris Bassitt put the potential tying and go-ahead runs on in the fifth with back-to-back singles by Springer and Altuve.
Astros out to 'silence the haters' in ALDS against Athletics
FILE - In this Nov. 1, 2017, file photo, the Houston Astros celebrate after Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles. On Monday, Oct. 5, the Astros and the Oakland Athletics will open their ALDS matchup at Dodger Stadium. The coronavirus pandemic largely has protected the Astros from having public scorn heaped on them this season. He hasn't been particularly effective this season, and didn't start against them when the A's took seven of 10 games from the Astros this season. โWe never did anything in our rotation to make him miss the Astros,โ Aโs manager Bob Melvin said.
Gonzales shuts down Astros as Mariners roll to 6-1 victory
And when you do that to anybody I think it takes the wind out of their sails,โ Gonzales said. Thatโs it.โGonzales was dominant on the mound, Evan White broke open a tight game with a three-run homer in the seventh and the Mariners beat the Astros 6-1 Monday night. The win also improved Seattleโs slim hopes of catching the Astros for second place and a guaranteed playoff spot. It was just the third victory for Seattle in its past 27 meetings with Houston over the last two seasons. McCullers struck out Jose Marmolejos and Luis Torrens, but couldnโt get White.
Here are 5 Astros who need to step up in a Verlander-less rotation for playoffs
HOUSTON โ For two months, the Astros hoped they would get Justin Verlander back to lead the team through the playoffs. Now the teamโs ace will be Zack Greinke for the playoffs with a patchwork of young and recently-injured pitchers to finish out the season. Hereโs 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 heโs healthy.